Today we’d like to introduce you to Nicole Hicks.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Nicole. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I’ve been cooking for as long as I can remember. I’m was born in Brooklyn, NY. Growing in up in Brooklyn you’re exposed to all types of food. There’s so many different cultures right outside your doorstep. You could literally find Jamaican, Haitian, Dominican, Chinese, Italian and African Food all on the same block. So my love of food started from eating, not cooking. I ate it all! The cooking came a bit later.
While my cousin was playing or watching tv, our grandmother had me in the kitchen doing everything! From grating carrots for her famous carrot cake, or shredding cheese for her mac & cheese. Those tasks helped unearth my love for food and cooking. I would also watch my mom and aunts cook, especially during the holidays. It’s funny because when I got older. my mom would watch me cook and ask ” How’d you know to do that?” I’d say, I watched you, duhh lol. Now I cook some of her dishes better than her, shhhh don’t tell her that though. (Love you, mom!) By the time I was about 11, I was cooking for my friends when my mom wasn’t home, don’t tell her that either lol. I wasn’t allowed to use the stove when she wasn’t home so the toaster and microwave became my best friends, I guess that’s where my innovative spirit came from. I cooked everything in that dang microwave!
Eventually, I upgraded to the stove and I was burning EVERYTHING. I had the flame way too high, but I learned, I got the hang of it one day. Ironically, before all of this, I wanted to be an artist. I was in the Art Magnet Program in middle school but then one day it hit me, I couldn’t draw. I just knew I was gonna be the next Picasso, but I realized that I cooked better than I drew. When it was time to go to High School I applied for a few Culinary programs, I never made it. I was denied and put on the waiting list at different schools. In the meantime I kept cooking at home, using Food Network as my teacher. I learned so much from some of the greatest TV Chef’s. Emeril Lagasse was my fave! I watched him FAITHFULLY.
Rachel Ray taught me how to chop an onion and Bobby Flay taught me how to crack an egg with one hand. My passion grew immensely and I even started skipping school some days and cooking for my friends. I’d have everybody bring food and video games from their houses and I’d cook fried chicken and yellow rice lol. That became my signature dish. At 16, my family moved from Baltimore MD to Atlanta GA, by then I knew I’d be going to Culinary school. A Le Cordon Bleu rep visited my Nutrition Class and I fell in love with the school, my dream was to go to the Culinary Institute of America but tuition was insane. So, Le Cordon Bleu, it was! I moved to Orlando FL on my 19th bday and started my culinary journey. I loved everything about school but dropped out about year and a half later. Life happened! I eventually went back in 2015 and graduated. This time with my then two-year-old daughter in tow! She was the reason I went back and probably the reason why I’m here today!
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The road to Nikki’s Kitchen was by far one of the hardest. My friends and I laugh about the amount of jobs I’ve had. I mean I’ve literally worked EVERYWHERE, from kitchens, to call centers, warehouses, delivering pizza’s, daycare…you name it lol. I’ve been car less, almost homeless and lost so much. But I also gained so much, resilience and determination being two of them. I sat on my talent for years thinking I couldn’t work for myself. In 2017 I was fired from my Insurance job, that was just the boost I needed. Since then I’ve been running Nikki’s Kitchen full time. Entrepreneurship is hard! It’s also risky, but when you do what you love, you’ll never work another day in your life. Now I could never see myself working for anyone else. Don’t’ be surprised if you see me on Food Network one day. It’s coming, I promise.
Please tell us about Nikki’s Kitchen.
Nikki’s Kitchen is my baby. Nikki is my childhood nickname and I literally couldn’t think of another name for my business. I run a home-based catering and private chef business. I cater various events, cook for couples and celebs, vend different events and even teach cooking classes. I sometimes even sell plates right out of my own Kitchen, Pop Up Plates! I’m probably best known for my Drunken Hennessy Sauce, oh and don’t forget the crack corn, my play on Mexican Street Corn but with a soul food twist! Eventually, I’d like to open a Food Truck and showcase my Caribbean roots with some good Caribbean street food. One of the things that I’m most proud of is that my business is fueled completely by Social Media. I don’t have a website so most of my clients find me on Instagram. It’s amazing!
Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
My favorite childhood memory is spending Holidays with my fam. Holiday’s were always at my grandmother’s house, we always had great food too. And I know everyone thinks their Grandmother’s food is the best, but no seriously my Gramz food was the BOMB lol. That’s why I’m so passionate, it’s always been in me I guess.
Contact Info:
- Phone: 443-995-9464
- Email: Chefnikki91@hotmail.com
- Instagram: Instagram.com/nikkiskitchenatl
- Facebook: Facebook.com/NikkisKitchenatl
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