Nickie is a 37 year veteran of the Napa Valley restaurant community. Beginning in 1976, Nickie was an opening partner of the legendary Yountville “Diner”. The “Diner” was a community minded place serving diner style comfort food made in house using high quality, fresh, and local products. After 16 years at the “Diner”, she and her husband to be, Peter Zeller, decided that the town of Napa might be the new frontier. They opened The Brown Street Grill in 1991 and in 1993 received a 3 star review for their “California home style cuisine” from Patricia Unterman in the San Francisco Chronicle. In 1995 they opened “Pearl”, a smaller café in a modern style mission building with a charming patio and courtyard. In 1997 they closed the other location to focus on “Pearl”. Nickie, Pete and their chef of 22 years, Jose Bravo, continue to produce delicious food in the warm, friendly and casual atmosphere of “Pearl”.
Nickie and Pete live in Napa with their two dogs Archie and Sugar. They are avid supporters of Napa Humane.