In 1980, a young Vietnamese man, his pregnant wife, and their eight children boarded a boat headed for freedom in the United States. During the journey, the expectant mother delivered a baby girl on the boat. That little baby would wait seven years to meet her father, as he was caught during the journey and sent to prison. That baby girl made it to America with her mom and siblings and began a new life. She is entrepreneur Ly Tieu, owner of NOMIS Catering and a familiar face in Richardson.
The Early Years
When Tieu’s dad came to the US, he wanted to open a family business. That restaurant, named Quoc Ly Restaurant after Tieu, was a place for her not only to learn the value of hard work but also to discover the power of community. Tieu recalls, “The mayor would stop by a lot, teachers from our school would come in for lunch, and our friends would come in to try our food.” She loved making people happy by serving them her parents’ culinary creations. Tieu credits her work ethic and entrepreneurial spirit to her parents.
As a young woman, Tieu was a stay-at-home mother to her four children and had a part-time position at Prestonwood Baptist Church as a Special Needs teacher. For five years, Tieu juggled motherhood, teaching, and her work as the manager of The Drawing Board, her brother Tim’s co-working office space in Richardson. But life took an unexpected turn for Tieu and her family.
A Business Built from Heartache
Almost six years ago, Tieu suffered a devastating loss when her oldest son, Simon, was tragically killed in a car accident. After Tieu lost Simon, she stopped making special meals, opting instead for simple dinners with her three children. However, she hosted a big party every year on Simon’s birthday and on his goodbye anniversary. She’d invite all his closest friends and family and serve food buffet style. Thankfully, that tradition planted a seed in her mind, and one day, it just clicked. She thought to herself, “Start your own catering business! Name it after Simon!”
NOMIS Catering
She is now the proud owner of NOMIS Catering. The name is an homage to Simon: it’s his name spelled backwards and pronounced “no-miss.” NOMIS Catering specializes in charcuterie boards: themed charcuterie boxes, charcuterie trays, and grazing tables. Tieu makes everything fresh and uses top-quality ingredients. States Tieu, “I pour my heart and soul into my work. There’s so much satisfaction in seeing my customers enjoy my food down to the last crumb. I appreciate all the feedback that I get and I thank Simon every time an order is fulfilled.”
Life Beyond Catering
While Tieu says she will never stop missing Simon, she has three other children, Sari, Ty, and Evi, who, she says, are the reasons she wakes up each morning. She and her children have lived in Richardson for the past six years. Tieu credits her ability to survive both the grief journey and life as a single mother to the proximity and unwavering support of her extended family.
Tieu has also enthusiastically immersed herself in the Richardson community. She was in Leadership Richardson’s Class 38. States Tieu, “It was an amazing experience for me. It allowed me to step out of my comfort zone and has helped me build up my confidence and leadership skills. I met the greatest people and learned so many things about the city of Richardson.” She also recently joined the Citizens Fire Academy and hopes to one day participate in the Citizens Police Academy.
For more information or to place an order, email nomis.catering@gmail.com or call 469-630-5793. Follow Tieu’s business on Instagram @nomis_catering.
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