Dreams do come true…

For over 25 years Chef BJ has had his fingers in the restaurant business. It started when he put himself through college by owning a greek restaurant near the campus of Florida State University (Go Noles!) However, after college with his Marketing/Finance degree in-hand BJ left the restaurant world for Corporate America where he enjoyed a very successful career. However, once he and his wife, Nicole, (who was also successfully working in Corporate America) got married and started a family, they both discovered that they had an entrepeurial spirit that traditional jobs couldn't satisfy. They longed to work in an environment where they could work in their priorities, rather than someone else's.

Nicole's opportunity arrived first when almost 16 years ago she started a business selling lipstick and developing leaders for a "world-famous cosmetics company". (It is a company that fiercely guards its trademark, but here's a hint: two of her 8 company cars have been pink Cadillacs! For more clues go to: www.marykay.com/nmikoda)

Success in Nicole's business paved the way for BJ to re-enter the restaurant world (locally, you may recognize him from the original downtown Piatto or perhaps from LeFever's), and eventually the purchase of the Valley Cafe in August 2008. His background in fine dining, his southern roots, coupled with his love of basic homemade dishes gives the food a unique flavor that you won't find anywhere else.

The rest, as they say, is history.

So, stop in and say hello! BJ's at the restaurant most days and occassionally you'll see the rest of the family helping out as well. They are all just here "living the dream" and invite you to be a part of it. (No wonder they got married at Disney World… SERIOUSLY! They did!)