Cowgirl Kitchen Rides into Rosemary Beach
The restaurant serves breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks and food to go. The food is fresh, casual and delicious. Specialties include breakfast tacos, waffles, overstuffed sandwiches, salads, chips & dip, pizza, and sweets, along with casseroles, soups and spreads to go. The menu is ideal for a picnic on or off the beach or to take home to enjoy later. Cowgirl Kitchen has a liquor license so patrons can enjoy beer, wine, frozen margaritas, Bloody Marys and more.
Nickerson took advantage of the move to add new items to the menu. There’s now a kids’ menu for the “Little Buckaroos”, and two new entrée-sized salads. Dinner additions include tacos, meatloaf and pizzas. Several casseroles have joined the list of favorites: Old Fashioned Mac and Cheese, Portabella Penne and two breakfast casseroles.
“I knew the kinds of dishes I wanted to add to the menu and was fortunate to find people like Jeffrey Fehr to join the staff and create the new items,” said Nickerson. “We’ve been busy from the first hour of the first day in this location,” she continued. “The new place is designed to be more of a gathering place than the old one was. I love being right here in the heart of Rosemary Beach’s business district. We’re close to everything – the beach, Town Hall, the homes and the other businesses. I think it’s ideal.”
Her customers agree. On a recent Saturday afternoon, the shop hosted a steady stream of local residents, vacation homeowners and even first-time visitors. Each was greeted with a warm smile and welcome from Nickerson and her staff, several of whom have worked at Cowgirl Kitchen for years. Nickerson has an amazing ability to remember people’s names and enjoys introducing her customers to each other. It’s not surprising to learn that she is a successful 30-A realtor, working with home buyers and sellers through The Nickerson Real Estate Group, a Keller Williams Realty company.
“I know it seems a little odd that a real estate agent would also own a restaurant,” said Nickerson. “When I moved to the beach, I quickly became a big fan of Cowgirl Kitchen and came in often, either on my own or with my real estate clients. I became friends with the former owner, Nancy DuPree. When I found out Nancy was planning to retire, I followed my heart and bought Cowgirl Kitchen at the end of 2005.”
Somehow Nickerson manages to juggle her two professional responsibilities. Real estate clients become Cowgirl Kitchen customers, and customers become clients. All become friends. “I met Nikki through friends and worked with her to buy my vacation home,” said Kevin Murphy, during a recent stop at Cowgirl Kitchen. “She found the perfect place for my family. The kids can ride their bikes everywhere and we can walk to Cowgirl Kitchen.”
The new shop features a red, cream and silver color scheme with both indoor and outdoor seating. It was designed by Tim McNamara and Dana Hicks of TMc Architecture and decorated by local interior designer Emily Smith. On the left side as patrons enter, there is an inviting, red custom-built bar with a big-screen TV overhead. Tables and chairs line the right side of the space, with soft lambskin covers for the benches. The cooler of take-out food and beverages is near the counter, so customers in a hurry can come and go. Judging by the clientele, however, the new Cowgirl Kitchen is the perfect spot to pull up a chair, sit, sip, munch and chat.
“It’s already become a great local gathering place,” said Jamey Price, a Rosemary Beach resident. “I’ve come in three times in the past three days. Everything here is good, but I especially like the Mexican Tuna Salad”.
Seems like everyone has a favorite. Frequent customer Karl Rove, former Deputy Chief of Staff to President Bush, said he is especially partial to the Wild Rice and Chicken Casserole, “Although several members of my family also love the King Ranch Chicken Casserole,” he said.
“Cowgirl Kitchen is a wonderful addition to our town,” said Geri Golding, owner of G.G.’s Fab Kids, just a few doors down on Main Street. “Her restaurant is keeping people in the community, and I’ve been amazed at how many of my customers told me they’d been waiting for the restaurant to open,” she said.
Cowgirl Kitchen, “Where Beach Meets West” is open Tuesday-Sunday from 7 a.m. – 9 p.m. Call 850-303-0708 or visit www.cowgirlkitchen.net for more information.
