
08/22/2025
Okay friends, here’s the update I’ve been meaning to share.
As most of you know, a fire destroyed The Pipe, my home and full time job and means of providing for my kids. On top of that I was also self financing my expansion of the Olive Branch in the Food Riot space, so I had to figure out what to do next. I tried to keep pushing toward the bistro dream, but honestly—trying to self-finance a full-time restaurant while living in Dickinson, commuting to Killdeer, raising my kids, and running Olive Branch catering jobs just became too much and I needed to reevaluate my plan of action for what is sustainable long term so I don’t lose my passion all together. Thankfully my sweet Jill from Food Riot was beyond understanding and encouraging of me doing what I need to not burn out. Love you so much girl!
Guys, When I say my work family is amazing, I don’t exaggerate a bit.
My incredible boss Nan has been nothing less of supportive in giving me a kitchen space for my catering, the opportunity to be creative with specials and desserts and encouraging my ideas to expand into doing catered breakfast/brunch Bakken Boxes for breakfast for crews or individuals to go, starting a dine in weekend brunch menu, hosting fun events with fun menus and so much more and if I’m going to commit all of my time and energy into a place to help make it successful however I am able then I'm so blessed to be able to do it at The Buckskin, in memorium of The Pipe, for my amazing work Family and the community that has shown me what it feels like to have a HOME.
I have been and will continue to be fulllllll-time at The Buckskin bartending, working with an amazing manager and chef, and putting my heart into food specials and desserts.
And Olive Branch isn’t going anywhere—it’s just shifting. I’ll keep taking charcuterie and grazing box orders, I’ll still be catering for corporate now expanding to the oilfield companies in that area as well as all the weddings and events, and I’ll be making deliveries to Dickinson so my hometown doesn’t lose me.
The truth is, this collaboration with The Buckskin just makes sense. It’s my second family. The community has welcomed and loved me and my zillion silly quirks through my healing metamorphosis, and I finally feel like I’m where I’m supposed to be.
So keep watching for lunch specials, desserts, grazing box announcements, and catering openings. I’m still here, still cooking, still creating—I’m just doing it in a way that’s sustainable and lets me actually enjoy the ride.