meet the chefs
Nick KapheimCo-owner Spats Fine Food & Spirits
Born and raised in Appleton, returning Chopped Chef Champion Nick Kapheim began his culinary career working in local area kitchens before earning his culinary degree in Denver at Johnson and Wales University where he met his wife, Bri. The husband and wife duo have worked in kitchens across the country from California to New York, including more recently at Bartolotta’s Lake Park Bistro, in Milwaukee and North Shore Country Club in Mequon.
Both are the new owners of Spats Fine Food and Spirits on College Avenue which has been in business 35 years in a historic, 100-year-old building. They have basically overhauled the menu, creating a more upscale dining experience with chef-driven, scratch comfort food. Guests can expect Spats classic Friday Fish Fry and Reubens, along with awesome drinks, excellent food, amazing service and overall hospitality.
Yee Lee
Owner, Bowl 91 & Little Siam
Named in honor of Chef and Entrepreneur Yee Lee’s family, who arrived in this country in 1991 as refugees when she was just four years old, Bowl 91 is more than a restaurant—it’s a testament to resilience, ambition, and the transformative power of food. Born from Yee’s lived experiences, Bowl 91 embodies her vision of a space where every guest can enjoy a thoughtfully crafted meal while feeling inspired to embrace life’s possibilities.
Her cuisine is a fusion of Asian culinary traditions, blending bold flavors, fresh ingredients, and innovative techniques to create dishes that tell a story—one of heritage, adaptation, and fearless creativity. At Bowl 91, each bowl is a celebration of cultural harmony, where the familiar comforts of home meet exciting new tastes. From fragrant broths and to sizzling stir-fries and shareable small plates, the menu reflects Yee’s journey—honoring the past while reimagining the future.
Marcos Ramirez,
Executive Chef, Town Council Kitchen & Bar
Marcos Ramirez has been cooking for over 25 years in kitchens in New York and the Fox Valley. His favorite cuisine to cook is Italian and he loves making fresh pasta for all his beautiful customers. On his days off, Marcos likes to spend time listening to music, shopping and cooking for his boys Ezra and Christian. Ezra is like his Dad because he also likes to cook. Christian mostly likes to eat his brother's cooking! Marcos is enjoying his new role as Executive Chef at Town Council, because it gives him an opportunity to spread his knowledge and learn new leadership skills.
