The NEXT Best Thing for Shopping, Dining

Liz Cook, owner of Elizabeth’s Closet, and husband David Cook, head chef of Daveed’s NEXT Restaurant.

If you love fabulous shopping, wine and food, you’re in luck.

Inspired to provide customers with designer quality products without the big designer price Liz Cook, owner of Elizabeth’s Closet, and husband David Cook, head chef of Daveed’s NEXT Restaurant, came up with the idea to host events focused on “Sipping and Shopping.”

The Cooks began their business ventures when they opened Daveed’s, a fine dining restaurant in Mt. Adams. Then, seven years ago, Liz opened Elizabeth’s Closet in the upstairs portion of the restaurant, as a local boutique featuring the latest handbags and accessories.

“I shop New York, Las Vegas and other areas to bring the latest fashions back to my customers in the Greater Cincinnati and Dayton area,” she says. “My selections are moderately priced for the quality.”

After years of success with Daveed’s, the Cooks decided to rebrand their restaurant to Daveed’s NEXT Restaurant and Catering and move it to Loveland in 2012. The new concept allowed them to transition their once four star fine dining restaurant into a four star casual dining restaurant, and also create a better setting for Elizabeth’s Closet customers to be able to have an enjoyable shopping experience.

“The restaurant comfortably seats up to 50 people and is a large enough space to sip, shop and experience small tastes of Chef David’s food creations,” Liz says. “Moving our restaurant from Mt. Adams to Loveland was a big undertaking. We have worked hard to build up a new clientele while transitioning our existing clientele from fine dining to tapas style.”

Shortly after the collaboration of Daveed’s NEXT Restaurant and Elizabeth’s Closet, the Cooks decided to host events and classes focused solely on food and fashion.

“We host a monthly ‘Sip and Shopping’ events at Daveed’s NEXT Restaurant from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. which offer light bites and discounted beverages. Chef David’s cooking classes are an excellent way for people to learn to cook,” Liz explains. “We have themed classes, one was a Taste of Tuscany with Italian food and wines featuring Chef David’s Secret Red Wine Gravy. Upcoming in January we will have a Classic Sauces class and Classic Entrees class.”

According to Cook, having a fashion boutique within a restaurant creates the ultimate shopping experience and is what makes her events so unique. “We serve Tapas style food, small plates, not common at other restaurants and pair the food creations with great wines and fashion,” she says. “Our guests enjoys the personal interaction between Chef David and me. We’re hands-on owners and people like hands on interaction.”

Currently the Cooks are taking their businesses to the next level through marketing on several different platforms. “We are on Facebook and Twitter and also mail out a weekly email letting our customers know of upcoming events. I highly recommend people sign up for both to stay on top of what’s happening,” she explains. “Daveed’s Catering was just named as one of the 2014 Exclusive Park Pavillion Caterers for Cincinnati Parks.”

Thus far, Daveed’s Catering has grown significantly and Elizabeth’s Closet is continuing to participate in many events on and off site. “Local Country Clubs have boutique shopping events with a variety of venues, local high schools have fundraisers. We’ve attended the Holiday Market at Duke Energy Center with an Elizabeth’s Closet booth also featuring our Fatty and Skinny Brand Sauces and Salsas for several years now in November,” she says, “We also have an excellent staff in both the front and back of the house at the restaurant. It’s a fun, innovative atmosphere.”

To learn more about Elizabeth’s Closet, Daveed’s NEXT Restaurant and Catering or the events hosted by the Cooks go to www.elizabethscloset.net, www.daveedsnext.com, or www.daveedscatering.com.