02 Broadcaster Press November 4, 2014 www.broadcasteronline.com The Art of Success Series: How Café Brule built on passion, consistency By Alan Dale alan.dale@plaintalk.net Let it be said that Vermillion has a number of professional businessmen and women who have done some remarkable things over the years. Remarkable things. That spurred The Plain Talk to what it hopes will be the first in a number of series about Vermillion and Clay County. ‘The Art of…” is a concept that we hope to share with readers that discusses different elements of the culture and society that Vermillion is built upon. We begin this project with ‘The Art of Success” series and with that we will focus on some of the more successful businesses in Vermillionarea proper. We will share the how, the why, the what, the where, and most importantly, the who from these stories. There are only so many more we can write about, but after extensive questioning of a number of people we have a solid list of businesses we believe can give readers a sense of what it takes to be a success and how these establishments have helped Vermillion. Thus begins the Art of Success as we spotlight Café Brule which is more than halfway through its fourth year of existence. The Dream Team They were two talents successful in their own ways of doing things within the world of restaurants, cooking, and baking. Then when James Waters and Monica Iverson joined forces they gave birth to French fusion cuisine unlike any other in Vermillion. Thus began the rise of Café Brule in Vermillion back on April 7 of 2011. The restaurant/café located on 24 Main Street in downtown Vermillion is rarely seen less than full with customers during any major meal time, seven days a week. Even during those bridge times between breakfastand-lunch and lunchand-dinner, there is still a strong smattering of patrons taking in the various meals, pastries, and drinks. “It just sound cool to mean to have kicked up American and kicked down European,” Waters said of the genesis for Café Brule. “It’s absolutely a fusion café.” Chef Waters grew up in a family that lived and worked in a restaurant world. Iverson grew up baking an assortment of goodies with the women in her family and both matured with a passion TODD’S ELECTRIC SERVICE “The Line To Power” Design/Build • Fiber Cabling • Commercial • Residential Service Calls • Boom Truck with Auger • Trenching Serving the Beresford and Vermillion Areas 1-800-560-2518 1221 Cornell St., Vermillion, SD • 605-624-5642 201 NW 13th St., Ste. 3, Beresford, SD • 800-560-2518 Cafe Brule makes plenty of progress with its customers thanks to its respected customer service from 70 employees. (Alan Dale) belying the years they committed to their crafts. She also lent her experiences with French culture to the concept of Café Brule. Those two forces found each other over a decade ago. Iverson was working at Jones Food Center baking birthday and wedding cakes through contract work, while Smith plied his trade at Mr. Smith’s Café inside the same building. That building currently houses Ace Hardware, Wells Fargo Bank and Mr. Smith’s. Waters wanted to step out and try something else as did Iverson. Presto…. “I took over the bakery management at the Jones Food Center which was more where she was at,” Waters said of Iverson. “She was looking for a place outside and I started looking for a place too. Then she heard I was spotted in this building and she approached me. We were both looking at the same time and decided to work together.” Iverson was confident about joining up with Waters. “I knew he was passionate and he is an amazing chef,” Iverson said. “I knew he was honest. Those were the three things that I could deal with.” Waters felt Iverson’s strengths compliment his. “She is an amazing decorator, a very, very hard worker and she is very compassionate,” Waters said. “Her cakes are tops. They are the best. She’s an award winner.” The menu caters to all types of tastes with a blend of European tastes and a hybrid of American fare. It’s easy to find meals more synonymous with country eats sitting on the same page of a menu with orders one would find in a big city. Cakes By Monica was also able to come to life as Iverson whips up a number of cakes, muffins, and other sweets that the restaurant is ready to serve up to tantalized tastebuds. The entire teaming and concept has been successful since the Family. Friendly. Affordable. 597 $ ceramic crowns (605) 624-0070 *Bring this coupon to Siouxland Dental Health Vermillion to redeem. Payment due at time of service. Cannot be combined with any other offers, insurance promotions or discount programs. No cash value. Offer expires 12/31/14. Walmart 3734 Walmart Store #3734 recently celebrated their newly remodeled store with a Re-Grand Opening. The Vermillion Walmart Supercenter is located at 1207 Princeton, Vermillion, SD. They are open 24 hours and can be reached at 605-724-0215 or feel free to visit their website at www.wal-mart.com. Their Store Manager is Ashley Miller. beginning. Their reputations as strong players in the local restaurant business helped push the duo to early success. “It almost started by day one,” Waters said. “We did a very soft opening and didn’t tell anybody we were opening. We had brown paper on our windows and we came in on a Thursday morning and pulled paper off of them. The massage therapist down the street Lois Halverson walked by and told people we were open and she was our first customer. By the end of the day we were filling up.” One thing that works for the establishment is the idea that about 70 part-time employees work, mostly up front, and yet the symmetry rarely fails to rise to high levels. Waters said most of the full time workers work in the kitchen. A number of the workers are college students, a number of which have laid down roots as reliable workers. n CAFE, Page 09