Chef Erin Grimsley has always loved cooking. In 2012, she enrolled in LeCordon Bleu Culinary Academy where she excelled in their culinary program to become salutatorian of her class, and her team won the title of Iron Chef. A visit to her restaurant, The Farmwife Kitchen in Friona, Texas provides a testament to this achievement. Her ever-changing menu features Southern favorites made from scratch using meat and produce that are locally sourced.
The Farmwife Kitchen opened in 2020 in a different, much smaller location. Chef Erin was not only able to keep the restaurant afloat but thrived during the pandemic by providing carryout orders and meal prepping. The Farmwife Kitchen moved to their current location on Main Street in May of 2022 where Erin has plans to renovate the second story into a conference area and party room rental.
Shane Groff, her SBDC at WTAMU consultant, visited with Erin regarding the best way to acquire funding to renovate the new location of the restaurant. The warehouse-style building had been a tractor supply store at one time and sat vacant for 50 years. Extensive funding was required to restore the building to today’s codes. Shane continues to give Erin advice on marketing strategies to build a better presence in the Texas Panhandle. It seems to be working because she sees groups come in from surrounding towns and even from New Mexico. Of course, the food is definitely worth the drive.
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