Nicole

Nicole on the Hot Seat

1. What inspired you to become a Chef?

I have always been a foodie from a very young age. A big fan of sipping hot soup on cold wintery nights, I slowly transitioned into the habit of making the soup as well. My parents were the first tasters and they liked it so much that they suggested I go to a cooking school and that’s exactly what I did, and I never looked back ever since. 

2. What is your signature dish? What do people love about it?

It’s definitely French Onion Soup. It’s literally a royal classic because of its origin. Here’s a super fun story about it – King Louis XII was exhausted after a long day of hunting and stayed back in his cabin (hunting lodge) with little to no food available. All there were some onions, butter, and champagne. Little did the highness know he was going to make a life-changing culinary invention, he mixed up the lousy ingredients, and lo and behold, he ended up making the first-ever French onion soup. So, this fascinated me and I put my everything to create my signature French Onion Soup, and guess it worked. 

3. How do you describe your overall cooking philosophy?

They say work is worship, I really believe in that. I find a higher power in my profession of being a chef, serving people with happy meals, and especially just cooking with not a care in the world. A good day of productive work is what gives me a good night’s sleep. So yes, the philosophy here would be to give it your all, and it rewards you with a lot more.

4. What’s your take on soups?

Soup is a way of saying “everything is going to be okay” through food. It’s the ultimate comfort food there is. Think about it… what do you eat when you’re down? A bowl of soup! What do you start your give-course meal with? A bowl of soup! What do you quickly whip up when there are unexpected guests? A bowl of soup! You can’t avoid this basic yet ultimate cuisine.

5. When you’re not busy in the kitchen, what hobbies do you indulge in?

I am a social butterfly. So, I have a few ladies clubs I am a part of am and I am very active in voluntary work. It could be bringing cupcakes to my kids’ high school dance, collecting charity of the nearest animal rescue center, going on marathons, participating in LGBTQ+ parades and peaceful protests… I am kinda everywhere in my neighborhood haha. Some people even call me the “soup lady”.