About NoNo's Cafe
Who is NoNo?
NoNo's Cafe is named after Sonda's father. NoNo means "Grandpa" in Italian and has been his nickname since becoming a Grandfather. Some of the menu items are his own recipes. You may notice Sonda's mother, Mayme, being credited for some recipes as well.
Sonda & Brian Brewster, Owners
Sonda & Brian opened NoNo's Cafe in 1996. The restaurant has been a dream in the making since they moved to Denver from New Orleans, in 1993.
Brian & Sonda enjoy dining out, which is usually the preferred past time of native New Orleans folk. "Growing up with the flair of seasonings, sauces, gravy, blackening and cajun spices, our taste buds felt homesick for New Orleans flavor," says Sonda. "We knew right away that NoNo's Cafe would be a unique concept in this area. The response we've received in four years has been phenomenal."
We love being at the restaurant...it doesn't feel like work. We feel like the customers are guests in our home, which is most important to us as owners. We've been rewarded time and again by relationships we've built with our customers and staff -- our "family."
Our Story
Having a restaurant has always been a dream of Brian's. It's something we talked about at different times since we married in 1985. Looking back, remembering that I didn't even know how to boil spaghetti when we first got married is pretty amusing. I was coming into a new role with great responsibilities and I wanted to be the best I could be as a wife for my new husband. If I remember correctly, it was a wedding gift that I received from a good friend of my mother's, "The Good Housekeeping Illustrated Cookbook" that inspired me; along with many calls to my Grandmother (Josephine Pechon, deceased September 5, 1990), and my Mother (Mayme) and my father (NoNo) for help.
I enjoyed trying new recipes on Brian, adding different ingredients to make them taste even better. Cooking was something that I really enjoyed and pursued constantly. I liked being in the kitchen, and still do. Even back then, we found ourselves always entertaining, sharing meals, and exchanging recipes with family and friends. We figured when we were both in our 40's having a restaurant would be something we would love to achieve. Surprisingly, our dream came to pass sooner than we expected.
In March of 1990, Brian, myself, our son Caleb (six) and daughter Caroline (seven months), moved to the beautiful State of Colorado. We instantly felt at home and knew this was the right place for us. A question I get asked often is "What made ya'll move here?" Well, a question I've often asked myself is "Why didn't we move here sooner?" Louisiana was where Brian and I both were born and raised, and where most of our relatives reside. In the past, we would come to Colorado to visit Brian's brother, Burke Brewster, and go skiing in the magnificent Rockies.
Not only was the scenery breathtaking, but the weather seemed incredible! Ya'll from the South can identify with me when I say that the humidity and the roaches are something we don't miss! Moving away from family was difficult, but in our hearts we knew that Colorado was where we wanted to live. Since our children were young, making a new start in a new environment made the change easier for us. Brian's plans of working in Landscaping with his brother changed a few months after moving. Brian enjoyed working with his brother but knew that the Landscaping business wasn't really for him. It was then in mid 1993 that we started our three year preparation for NoNo's Cafe.
Brian learned the basics of restauranteurship while managing at Applebees and Black Eyed Pea Restaurants. I chose our favorite recipes and tested them on our hungry friends and the local media and businesses. Brian's parents, C.B. & Theresa Brewster, offered their help and inspiration, which continues today; C.B., a finance professional, mentored Brian in financial and business matters, while Theresa mentored Brian in his management style to value consistency and attention to detail.
Like many of you, Brian and I enjoy dining out, trying different restaurants, finding favorites. It wasn't too long before we realized that our dream of opening our own restaurant could be pursued. We knew that the concept had to be special in a market with so many restaurants. My brother, Tré Pechon, flew in to visit and it didn't take him long to see for himself how incredible Colorado is. I think it wasn't but sixteen days after Tré had left us that he excitedly returned back to Colorado with all of his belongings to reside, and to help us open the restaurant.
We're very proud, and flattered by our customers' response. We concentrate on food quality, presentation, service, cleanliness, and atmosphere. We desire for your experience with us, whether it's your first time or not, to always be special. It's important that a homey and cozy environment is what you feel when you are with us, making each experience with us a memorable one, enough for you to want to return, and to tell others. God has been behind the success of our restaurant. Our credit goes to Him. He's given us wisdom, courage and the people that are needed to make it all run smoothly.
We are so blessed with such a wonderful staff, or should I say, "family." The restaurant business should never be taken for granted and never overlooked. We have been so rewarded with all the relationships that we've built with our customers, sales representatives, and employees. You put a smile on our face when we see you. You make our day!
Sincerely Yours, Sonda