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Lodge at Leathem Smith Assembles Kitchen Dream Team

Nicki Himebauch

Paul Meleen, owner and operator of The Lodge at Leathem Smith, is building a kitchen dream team, including two chefs who have appeared on Guy’s Grocery Game on the Food Network. The team is bringing a new level of creativity to private events, catering and the Kona Bay restaurant.  

Nicki Himebauch cooked her family’s Thanksgiving dinner at 12 years old. Six years later, she enrolled to earn her certificate through Fox Valley Tech and participated in an apprenticeship program at Oneida Country Club, where she refined her skills in French cuisine. For 10 years, she was part owner of Classic’s Restaurant and Lounge in Shawano.

Neller Card

Neller Card started visiting Door County as a baby and made homemade pasta and bakery with her grandmother as a little girl. When she turned 30, she enrolled in culinary school and since then has worked for Maggiano’s, Juniper’s Gin Joint, Roots Restaurant and Wine Bar, Nuwave Oven, Food Fight Restaurant Group and Sysco Corporation. Card was a contestant on Guy’s Grocery Game in 2016.

Emilie Rose Bishop

Emilie Rose Bishop is from Sturgeon Bay and recently moved back. She’s made appearances on Guy’s Grocery Game in 2018 and on Oct. 2, 2019. She earned her cooking cred in San Francisco, New York City, Chicago and Puerto Rico.