Meet the Team

Meet Terryl Gavre - Proprietor

A serial entrepreneur, Terryl Gavre started her first business when she was just 20 years old. The Surrogate Wife, which catered to Seattle’s elite bachelors handled much of their domestic and personal duties such as housecleaning, cooking, shopping, catering dinner parties, errands and home organization. Her clientele was primarily made up of Seattle’s professional athletes, television sportscasters and their inner circle. Terryl and her team coordinated trips to and from the airport, hired and managed the professionals that took care of their residences such as the housecleaner’s gardeners, pool services, car detail services and handymen. She also, was a local fixture often on the restaurant scene and courtside at the Seattle Supersonic games.

Because of the high-profile status of many of her clients, The Surrogate Wife received much media attention and Terryl was featured on many news broadcasts and talk shows promoting her business and her unconventional relationship with her bachelors.

It was one such national broadcast which caught the attention of Hollywood producers Don Segal and Phil Margo, who contacted her pitching the idea of a movie based on her and her business. Gavre was instrumental in the script development and also played a small part in the film entitled This Wife for Hire which starred Pam Dawber (Mork and Mindy) playing Gavre.

It was with the money she earned from the sale of the script that she opened her first restaurant Café 222. You can still find Terryl at the café working the door, making her famous granola or dropping by tables to say hello.

She has been featured on Food Network’s The Best Thing I Ever Ate and also Co-hosted Food Nation San Diego with Bobby Flay. She went on to team up with James Beard award-winner, Carl Schroeder to launch MARKET Restaurant + Bar in 2008. 

In 2010 the duo also opened the widely successful and long running Bankers Hill Bar + Restaurant located in Bankers Hill as well as a Bankers Hill Bar + Restaurant at the San Diego International Airport. 

Terryl opened Acme Southern Kitchen in 2012 and her beloved Bake Sale Bakery in 2014. Throughout her 25-year restaurant career she has held various writing positions such as Food Editor for San Diego Metropolitan Magazine, and Ranch and Coast Magazine along with freelance food and travel writing.

You can read her current restaurant, food and travel writing at

www.ranchandcoast.com