A Café is Born!
Café Thyme, a Refined. Global. Comfort food café is ready to be born in the heart of downtown Chanhassen, MN coming late Fall 2018. Chef Owner Jessica Pettingill and her team’s passion and philosophy is to provide exceptional food and service at an approachable price point to the ever growing population of Chanhassen and surrounding communities. Café Thyme will be the first of its kind in the area, bridging a gap in the local dining scene by being something the area’s communities have been crying out for.
Check out our article in the Minneapolis Business Journal!
Meet Chef Jess
Jessica Pettingill, owner and chef of Café Thyme has been preparing her whole life to be a restaurateur. Born and raised on a small family farm in Bismarck, ND, she learned to get her hands dirty working in the kitchen, gardening and tending to her chickens.
Jessica chose Western Culinary Institute, Portland, OR in 2002 for her culinary arts education. After graduating at the top of her class she moved to the San Francisco Bay Area. This began a thirteen year journey of working in high profile restaurants, hotels and private catering across the Bay Area.
Jessica's knowledge combined with her positions in California became a powerful combination. Joining the owner of a French/Indian inspired restaurant, her French techniques were incorporated with bold, global flavors. She spent 5 years working in an organic café where her palate was refined by the abundance of fresh seasonal ingredients. These experiences along with her love and appreciation for great food sparked what she knew Cafe Thyme could become someday.
In 2007, Jessica met her husband Ryan, a native Californian. They married in 2010 during the Aquatennial celebrations in Minneapolis, MN. After their daughter, Olivia was born in 2013, they decided to return to the Midwest to embark on their next adventure. They fell in love with the community and neighborhoods of Chanhassen, and now call MN home. It was "time" to open an amazing locally owned restaurant. Café Thyme was born! Chef Jessica's' culinary journey continues…
Hand Crafted Fare and Service
Our offerings incorporate bold and fresh seasonal ingredients supporting local farms on our globally inspired menu. Choose from fresh made soups, salads, small plates for sharing, tantalizing entrees, house spun ice cream and sorbet, sweet treats, fresh squeezed spritzers, local brews and fine wines. Catering options will also be available. Sample global menu items include curried cauliflower soup, kale and little gems caesar salad, citrus and chile house smoked salmon nicoise salad, short rib poutine with house pickles and Oaxaca cheese, fennel crusted salmon and garam masala rubbed flank steak, strawberry rhubarb spritzers, candy cap mushroom ice cream and Jessica's lemon bars. A selection of homemade options for your kiddos are available too. We will offer a full deli case of daily changing grab and go salads and savory tarts. Counter service will be provided for a quick grab and go lunch or dinner and we will offer seated service as well. Chef Jessica brings along with her a highly trained staff that shares her passion and vision. We can’t wait to get cooking in our very first, very own kitchen and better serve our neighborhood!
Our Rewards
Become a Cafe Thyme Supporter and your name will be added to our wall of supporters in the restaurant and on our menu. You will also be among the first to receive updates on our project progress.
Totes McGoats - Receive one of our reusable biodegradable tote bags to use with every future take-out order. Bring in your tote and let us package your order in it and you will receive an incentive for your order. You will also be recognized on our wall of Cafe Thyme supporters located in our restaurant and on our website.
Inside Scoop- Receive one scoop of our hand spun ice cream or sorbet every time you dine in with us. Our flavors change seasonally. Your name will be recognized on our wall of Cafe Thyme supporters located in our restaurant and on our website.
Get in the Mix - Enjoy one fresh squeezed non- alcoholic spritzer of your choice every time you dine in with us. Our hand mixed concoctions change seasonally. Your name will be recognized on our wall of Cafe Thyme supporters located in our restaurant and on our website.
The Lunch Lady- Let Chef Jess and her team cook up lunch for you. Take a time-out and enjoy a fresh made soup or daily changing salad selection, a gourmet sandwich, and a scoop of our hand spun ice cream or sorbet. Does not include a beverage. Your name will also be recognized on our wall of Cafe Thyme supporters located in our restaurant and on our website.
Early Bird- The Early Bird gets the worm! You and one guest will receive a 3 course brunch on us. Menu choices include a fresh made soup or seasonal salad, brunch entree and our signature Lemon Ricotta Beignets. Does not include beverages. Your name will also be recognized on our wall of Cafe Thyme supporters located in our restaurant and on our website.
VIP Access- You will be rewarded with 2 VIP passes to our pre-opening viewing party. Get a sneak peak inside our cafe, meet and greet with Chef Jess and her team and enjoy tasting offerings. This event does not include beer and wine as per Kickstarter guidelines but will include offerings of our non-alcoholic fresh squeezed spritzers. You will also receive one of our reusable tote bags for use with future take out orders. Your name will also be recognized on our wall of Cafe Thyme supporters located in our restaurant and on our website.
The Lunch Box- We will provide a delicious box lunch for your office or small gathering to be served "family style" This reward will serve up to 8 people. The menu will include choices of our daily changing picnic salads, sandwiches, fresh squeezed spritzers and dessert. You will also recieve one of our biodegradable reusable totes that can be used for future take-out orders and a recognition on our wall of Cafe Thyme supporters located in the restaurant and on our website.
Cooking Demo- Do you and your friends or family like to cook together, eat together and enjoy learning about new ways to use interesting ingredients? If so than this reward is for you! Chef Jess will host a cooking demo for you and 7 guests. The menu will feature a key ingredient highlighted in a 4 course meal. This reward does not include beer or wine as per Kickstarter guidelines but will include choices of our fresh squeezed non-alcoholic spritzers. This event can be scheduled during our closed for business hours. Your name will be recognized on our wall of Cafe Thyme supporters in our restaurant and on our website.
Private Party- Are you planning on hosting a special event soon, holiday party, birthday party, bridal or baby shower? Let us do the hard part for you. We will provide the embiance, food, and service for up to 45 guests. This reward does not include beer and wine as per Kickstarter guidelines but will include choices of our fresh squeezed non-alcoholic spritzers. Your party can be scheduled during closed for business hours. You and each of your guests will receive one of our reusable biodegradable tote bags to use on your future take-out orders at Cafe Thyme. Your name will be recognized on our wall of Cafe Thyme supporters in our restaurant and on our website.
Risks and challenges
With all startups in general, there can be an array of risks and challenges that can come about. We are ready to face those challenges head on and believe that our experiences in the business have prepared us to do so. We are currently undergoing a partial buildout in a pre-existing restaurant space and are looking for support from the community to make our project happen. We are working with local restaurant contract company Kalcon Commercial Construction and Andy Campbell from ACDC Design Company for our buildout and are confident with their abilities. Our space is in need of an HVAC hood system upgrade which is estimated at $20,000. Without this upgrade we will have to rely on counter top industrial toaster ovens and that is not what Café Thyme is about. We want to produce wholesome foods made fresh daily and to do that we need your support. We are ready as it is Café Thyme!
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Funding period
- (60 days)