Nick Wallace
Nick Wallace Culinary
Jackson, MS USA
"I just want to show the world that we deserve a place at the table too."
Career Roadmap
Nick's work combines: Food, Entrepreneurship, and Being Creative
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Day In The Life
Life & Career Milestones
My path in life has been direct
1.
I was born and raised in Mississippi, where my grandmothers inspired my passion for cooking.
2.
I built my skills by working in restaurants, eventually becoming an executive chef and learning how to lead teams and run successful kitchens.
3.
I got to travel the country with Marriott, discovering new cultures and cuisines.
4.
When I returned to Mississippi, I realized my story and my roots could become the foundation of my own business.
5.
I started my catering business from my home, then expanded into an incubator kitchen before opening my own cafe through careful planning and business loans.
6.
As my business grew, I shared Mississippi's food traditions on national television and developed products like NIX 26 to bring those flavors to more people.
7.
Along the way, I built my business around giving back by investing in my team, supporting local communities, and creating opportunities for others to succeed.
8.
Today, I continue growing my restaurants and products while showing the world that Mississippi's stories, people, and food deserve a place at every table.
Defining Moments
How I responded to discouragement
THE NOISE
Messages from Society in general:
You don't belong at that table. All you can cook is Southern comfort food.
How I responded:
People assume a chef from Mississippi can only cook fried chicken, cornbread, and other traditional Southern dishes. I do like those foods and can cook them well, but people expected me to fit that stereotype. I wanted to show that Mississippi's food could be innovative, sophisticated, and worthy of any table. That's part of the reason I decided to go on TV. I refuse to let other people's expectations define where I belong. I want to show the world that we deserve a place at the table too.