As a single mother juggling a full-time job as an RN at a local retirement community and looking after her two small children, Nicole Ranes had no time to spare. After 10 years of having missed countless holidays and school functions, the time had come for a change. Ranes said that although it took a decade to make the decision to switch careers, she chose to return to her roots in the food and beverage industry.
Prior to her job in the nursing sector, Ranes worked as a server, bartender and head waitstaff at Carrabba’s Italian Grill in North Charleston. During her first six years there, she built camaraderie with manager Chad Biel, who went on to become the owner of the original Bohemian Bull on James Island. Ranes said it was a natural progression to reach out to Biel, who helped her lock in an interview with the North Mount Pleasant location in March 2024.
“My favorite part of the job is making customer experiences enjoyable,” Ranes said. “Plus, the quality and unique variety that we offer at Bohemian Bull is really good. There’s something here for everyone.”
Ranes added that her favorite cocktail to make is an old fashioned. The recipe is as follows:
Old Fashioned
- 1.5 ounces single barrel bourbon
- .5-ounce simple syrup
- 3-4 dashes of bitters
- Muddle a slice of orange with bitters, mix all ingredients and stir. Strain over a large ice cube and garnish with an orange slice and a Luxardo cherry.
Ranes also enjoys slinging the butterfly key lime margarita, which has a purple hue that is as pleasing to the eye as the drink is to the taste buds. “Everybody loves it,” she said. Here’s how she makes it:
Butterfly Key Lime Margarita
- 1.5 ounces Los Sundays Coconut blanco tequila
- 2 ounces key lime juice-infused butterfly pea flower
- 2 ounces cream of coconut
- Rim with graham crackers and butterfly pea flower
When it comes to bar food, Ranes highly recommended the “that’s my jamburger,” one of Bohemian Bull’s specialty burgers made with a patty, fried green tomato, pimento cheese and bacon jam. “It’s such a good combination of flavors,” she said, adding that other crowd pleasers include the nachos, assortment of wings and the Brussels sprouts appetizer.
In addition to her appreciation for the varietal food and drink menus that Bohemian Bull offers, Ranes rates the team she works alongside as top notch. “We work well together with the common goal of helping the restaurant succeed, doing a quality job in a wonderful place that customers consistently come back to,” she said.
Now that her daughter is a senior in high school and her son is in fourth grade, Ranes said, “While I miss aspects of being a nurse, making this move was absolutely the right decision and it works for our family. My son loves hanging out at Bohemian Bull and that everyone enjoys him being there too is important to me.”
Leave a Reply