First: GRAZERS

A menu designed with the goal of meeting everybody’s dietary needs can be found at GRAZERS on 123 N. Water St.

Co-owners Stacey Lasher and business partner Carl Bauer began GRAZERS in 2015 as elementary school teachers looking to make a difference in the world through nutrition.

“We decided to quit teaching and open a restaurant that focused on quality food,” Lasher said. “Fresh ingredients, somewhere where anybody could eat, whether or not they had dietary restrictions or food choices.”

Inspiration came from Lasher and Bauer themselves, as Bauer, who recently passed away in February, had food allergies along with his daughter who has additional intolerances. 

“I have issues with food preservatives,” Lasher said. “Frankly, nobody should be eating food preservatives, so that was our focus when we started grazers.”

Along with vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free options, GRAZERS offers meat protein options. Lasher said they have responsibly-raised meat, including cage-free chicken and steak tenderloin, because they want everyone to be able to eat there. 

Lasher described the support from the Kent community as amazing, satisfying and validating.

“To go out there in the world and say ‘I’m going to do this to make a difference’, and then for people to say ‘Hey, we love what you’re doing and you are making a difference’ … the recognition is an honor,” she said. 

Lasher said Bauer was the mastermind behind the menu, he was the chef and loved to cook. 

“Luckily, I have an amazing staff that knows all of his recipes and can continue to cook the food without him,” she said. “It’s very difficult looking to the future of running GRAZERS without him.” 

The chicken rice bowl is GRAZERS’ number one seller, with all eight of their protein options being gluten-free. Their most popular vegan item is the falafel feast, which is a great introduction to vegan food, Lasher said. 

Lasher said she wants the community to know that she will be doing her absolute best to keep GRAZERS open, and to continue the mission she and Bauer started together. 

“We need more people to come through the door every day in order to stay open long-term without him around anymore,” she said. “We even have a VIP program so people can earn points when they come eat with us.” 

From 2 to 4 p.m., customers earn double points with the program. Lasher is also tossing around a new “meal-prep” idea to help college students that want to eat healthy. 

Knowing some college students struggle with food shopping and meal preparation, she said she wants to create a menu where people can pick out what they want in bulk, including veggies, rice and proteins, so they could have meals for the week. 

“As a student, you don’t have a fancy kitchen with tools and the time,” she said. “Even for those who do have the time, I would rather be walking my dog or enjoying the sunshine and let somebody else prepare the vegetables, and then just pick them up as I walk by.”

She said she understands how hard it is to eat fresh and healthy food. As someone who went to college and taught elementary school, she said it’s not always easy to get the healthy options that one might want. 

Lasher said she and Bauer discussed this while he was sick and in the hospital prior to a surgery. 

“He had health challenges,” she said. “He was a very healthy eater, and he probably put years on his life by eating healthy. I wish he would have had more years, but unfortunately, there were complications.”

Lasher explained the recognition and appreciation GRAZERS gets from the university’s community and students, and how they want to show that appreciation back.

She said students can contact her through the contact form on GRAZERS’ website. Responses go directly to her, and she would like to know how she can help the student community get healthy options that they want to eat. 

Kent’s downtown community recently came together to raise funds and support GRAZERS after Bauer passed. 

“It was amazing. I was floored,” Lasher said. “I was overwhelmed in a good way. Carl really did change so many lives and I want to continue his legacy with GRAZERS, and I want to change lives.”

One option that might not be considered healthy at GRAZERS is their mac and cheese, although it is made without any artificial color or the sodium-based flavor enhancer, MSG. Lasher said it is so popular that Bauer also created a vegan version.

“When we were teachers together, Carl always brought mac and cheese,” she said. “So when we knew we were going to open a restaurant, the first thing we had to have on our menu was mac and cheese. He was known as mac and cheese man.”

To find out more about GRAZERS, call 330-968-6612 and to learn more about Carl Bauer, visit GRAZERS’ website.

Audrey Trevarthan is a campus editor. Contact her at [email protected].