Chatham Street Cafe offers casual, relaxed dining on Chatham St in Downtown Cary

	Our Story

Gayla Bonke - Owner & Head Chef

Meet Gayla Bonke
Owner and Head Chef

THE EARLY YEARS - DILLY BEANS & CHOCOLATE ECLAIRS

Gayla Bonke grew up on a farm outside of Rochester, New York where an abundance of delicious, homegrown, high-quality food was part of her birthright. From her first batch of Rice Krispie treats at age 4 through the many hours spent in the kitchen with her mother canning tomatoes and salsa, icicle pickles and dilly beans, Gayla’s future as a full-fledged “foodie” was sealed. One of Gayla’s fondest childhood memories is partaking of her mother’s homemade chocolate éclairs, baked with fresh eggs from the farm.

GO WEST, YOUNG CHEF - JARLSBERG MUSHROOM & PARSLEY SALAD

When it was time for Gayla to choose her life’s work, she knew food had to factor into the equation. So she set off for the University of Arizona where in 1985, she earned a degree in food science. Gayla’s first catering job was for Don Luria the founder of Tucson Originals and 2004 president of CIRA ( Council of Independent Restaurants in America) and one of the most talented chefs and cookbook authors in the Southwest, Donna Nordin. Through her work at Luria and Nordin’s Tucson restaurant and catery, Café Terra Cotta, Gayla learned the food service business from the ground floor. One of her favorite dishes from this time period was Nordin’s Jarlsberg Mushroom and Parsley Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette. Don’t be surprised if you see it featured as a daily special one day at Chatham Street Café & Catering!

Gayla’s commitment to high-quality, creatively prepared food and amazing customer service eventually landed her a starring role as Terra Cotta’s catering manager. Her catering clientele was demanding and exacting, and created an ideal environment in which Gayla earned her culinary chops. Gayla rose to the challenge, feeding amazing “extreme” meals to celebrities, film industry execs and other assorted VIP’s.

A DIVERGENT PATH - ADULT CUPCAKES

In 1988, Gayla moved to Minneapolis and started her own catering business, branching out to test recipes for cookbook authors and booking chefs at a local cooking school along the way. After moving to Raleigh in the early ‘90’s, Gayla took a job in technology, diverging slightly from her culinary path but never losing her passion for creating and serving delicious meals. Gayla continued to do catering jobs and made countless amazing dishes for friends and families. Her New Year’s Eve Lobster Bakes were enthusiastically anticipated each year and are still the stuff of legend. Of her friends many culinary requests, the most frequent is for a batch of Gayla’s famous chocolate and cream-cheese filled “Adult Cupcakes”, so named because they are simply too decadent to be shared with children.

Becoming the sole proprietor of her own restaurant in May 2008 is the realization of a life-long dream for Gayla. She would like to thank her friends and family who have always supported her culinary adventures and you, her customers and clients. Gayla hopes you begin to think of her as a small part of your family, at least while you are enjoying dining in the casual, relaxed atmosphere of the Chatham Street Café.

About Chatham Street Café & Catering

Chatham Street Café & Catering is one of Cary's most beloved restaurants; situated in the heart of downtown Cary, alongside small art galleries and unique and eclectic shops.

We prepare each dish with fresh, seasonal and local ingredients. The beauty of each dish, the explosion of taste in each bite and the knowledge and care we have for each customer's experience is reflected in the varied presentations offered during lunch and dinner and for each specifically designed catered event.

Additionally, Chatham Street Café & Catering also has a full assortment of catering options that offer an exciting and eclectic range of selections for your event. Our staff takes the time to get to know their customers, and focus on the small details that are important for each specific catering presentation.

Whether visiting Chatham Street Café & Catering as a guest or attending a catered affair, the goal of Chatham Street Café & Catering is to make every patron feel as if they are part of an ever-growing family. Our house is your house. Please come and join us.