By Brenna Eller
McPHERSON, Kan. — Tammy Nestor, known to many throughout the county for her catering business Tammy’s Country Catering invited the community out to her recently opened restaurant Tammy’s Salad Soups and More at 1352 N Main Street in McPherson for an official ribbon cutting on Wednesday, Oct. 11.
Emilie Rains, Executive Director of Bluestem PACE welcomed everyone at the Ribbon Cutting and thanked Nestor for her support catering for community and Bluestem events.
“We have been so appreciative of Tammy and her team for a number of years,” Rains said. “She [Tammy] is a big supporter of our Bluestem PACE Race 5K, which is a really great event for us and only is made possible and successful by sponsors.”
Rains said the PACE team has been recommending the salad bar to her for a while and she has been wanting to try it out. Rains said she is glad to have a new healthy lunch option in town.
Chad Hitt, from McPherson BPU and current McPherson Chamber of Commerce President congratulated Tammy and the Nestor family on their success, sharing that he has also heard positive feedback from the community and is also excited to have the healthy meal option in town.
“The fact that I can come in here and grab something fast, quick and healthy, it’s awesome.” Hitt said. “You guys have been doing a great job.”
Tammy Nestor shared that her most asked question when she happens to be in the restaurant is if she is Tammy.
“I’m rarely in here because we also have the catering side, so I’m always out catering,” Nestor said. “We cater in town, out of town, Wichita, Hutch, Salina…all around.”
Nestor said she has been cooking for forever and originally comes from the farm. She and her husband Tom have been married for about 39 years.
Nestor worked for Farmers Alliance and a few other jobs before working for Creative Dining, which she stayed with for 18 years. Nestor then was Food Service Director at McPherson College and Central Christian College for several years before she decided to become her own boss and start her own catering business.
“We did that right at the start of COVID,” Nestor said. “COVID pretty much killed catering. That’s when we went to all the casseroles.”
In the back of the restaurant, there is a freezer full of casseroles customers can purchase.
“Everything is from scratch,” Nestor said. “We don’t do anything out of the box to make a casserole.”
Nestor had a booth selling casseroles at The Ark Antiques & Flea Market for about three years, but the state changed regulations and it was difficult to have someone there all day to sell at The Ark, so that led to her opening the salad bar in June of this year. They added sandwiches to the menu to see what people would like.
“What does the public want? I don’t know,” Nestor said. “We just keep trying different things and doing different things.”
Cord Nestor, Tammy and Tom’s son is the Manager of Tammy’s Salad Soups and More, and you might also see him at events running the Whiskey Wagon since he is the Owner and CEO of the mobile bar.
Mayor Tom Brown was next to congratulate the Nestor family on behalf of the City of McPherson at the Ribbon Cutting.
Mayor Brown has known Tammy since he first moved to McPherson 44 years ago and said he is glad that she had the opportunity to leave Farmers Alliance to pursue her passion for cooking and catering. Mayor Brown said he eats her food regularly and the city used the Whiskey Wagon for the 150th Anniversary Celebration.
“The whole family has been doing a great job for us and we really appreciate it,” Mayor Brown said. “I hope that you’re successful and I hope your family enterprises are successful.”
Ben Coffey, McPherson Main Street Board President-Elect and Owner of The Ark Antiques & Flea Market presented Nestor with her Main Street paver as a welcome to the McPherson Main Street community.
Coffey has known Tammy since he was in the third grade.
“I’ve known her for a long time and worked with her at the Ark,” Coffey said. “Tammy, Cord, Tom, everybody is super invested in the community.”
Breakfast Hours
Monday – Friday 6 a.m. – 10 a.m.
Regular Hours
Monday – Friday 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Saturday 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Sunday closed
