Submitted by Westport Winery Garden Resort
Nikki Demmert has rejoined the Westport Winery Garden Resort team by accepting the position of executive chef. Demmert previously worked for the Roberts family as a sous chef. A graduate of the Seattle Art Institute specializing in baking and pastry, Demmert trained under two certified master chefs.
Demmert said, “Returning to work with the winery is a little like coming home. Over the years they have built the restaurant up from scratch. Now as we go to a seven day a week lunch and dinner schedule it gives me the opportunity to express my creativity with unique daily specials while maintaining the casual coastal cuisine for which we are known.”
Her first culinary adventure is to create the winery’s iconic lighthouse image as a gingerbread sculpture. For the holiday season she is creating incredible gingerbread lighthouse cookies in the winery’s bakery.
Winery co-owner, Kim Roberts said, “In any small business the most valuable team members are utility players. We’re excited to have Nikki back in our kitchen, but at the same time we’re excited to cross train her as an assistant to winemaker Jen Bauer and Director of Winemaking Dana Roberts. She has a great palate and is already participating with them in blending trials for our 2016 bottling.”
Demmert, a mother of two originally from Craig, Alaska, is a ten year South Beach resident. She’s an avid outdoor enthusiast enjoying the community’s abundance of surfing, clamming, fishing and hunting.
An accomplished artist, Demmert created one of over 40 sculptures by local artists on display in the resort’s 15-acres of display gardens. Her Skookumchuck sculpture is located at the water feature on the south end of the winery’s nine-hole executive golf course.
The resort’s tasting room, gift shop, restaurant, bakery, nursery and gardens are open daily from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. (With the last dinner seating at 6:30 p.m. daily)
Westport Winery Garden Resort is located on the corner of Highway 105 and South Arbor Road halfway between Aberdeen and Westport. For more information contact Westport Winery Garden Resort at 360-648-2224 or visit the website at www.westportwinery.com.
