– Thea's Kitchen –
Chef AnnMarie Nelms
IN HER OWN WORDS
"When I was a little girl, I loved the excitement of the kitchen, I loved when I got to go to work with my mom, and I would stand by my Thea, (Greek for “aunt”), and watch her preparing astounding food and pastries with passion, care, and love. My mother, Sophia, also learned from Thea and learned her exquisite cooking techniques and recipes. She taught us “you need to put love into it.” After culinary school, I returned and worked at various places including all of my families restaurants, but when the time was right I went to work with my mother in her restaurants and became chef for Sophia’s. Now I am our family’s Thea and in the tradition of both my mother’s and Thea’s passion for food and hard work, I am opening my own restaurant where I want you to feel at home… like you are visiting your own favorite aunt and sitting at her table.
I have created culinary dishes that are unlike any other in the Capital Region. I designed the restaurant to be casual yet upscale. The tables were built by my mother’s partner, Trevor Sybrandt, and are made from trees on his farm. They are rich in their look and unique in their design.
In many of my food creations, I use ingredients grown by Trevor, from seeds on the family farm. We have a private dining space called Thea’s Table which is perfect for families or business groups. The fireplace provides a cozy feeling to the room where natural sunlight streams in during the day and the moon at night.
Thea understands that your dining experience is not just about eating delicious food, but also about superior service. With that in mind our servers have been well trained and our manager, Kim, is warm, hospitable, and professional. With Kim at the front of the house, I can focus on the kitchen and my work as Thea’s chef.
Most important to me is that you experience one of a kind cuisine made with love and passion in a relaxed, comfortable setting.
This restaurant is dedicated to the care and love of my Thea."
AnnMarie Nelms
Owner / Chef
