Born and raised in Louisiana, Chef Nicholas Hymel got to Texas as soon as he could. He started his culinary career in New Orleans at Coquette, which offers up contemporary Southern cuisine via locally sourced products and international inspiration.
In Texas, Nick joined the Odd Duck team in Austin. Soon after, he became sous-chef while facilitating relationships with farmers and ranchers to ensure the restaurant always had top-of-the-line ingredients. Nick would then move on to Odd Duck’s sister restaurant, the Barley Swine, where he spent two years as the co-executive sous-chef. Ultimately, Nick felt called to do more for himself and to pursue his vision for fine dining. He decided it was time to launch his own business and created Nomadic Dining ATX. Nick’s love for travel and his hunger (no pun intended) for knowledge of other cultures is the heart of the experience his clients receive with his customized meals for any occasion.
After learning about Chef Nick from a neighbor, we approached him about a potential story for the magazine. Instead of an interview, we wanted the Nomadic Dining experience! We decided to host 16 friends at a private residence and see what this was all about.
The day of our event, Chef Nick showed up with his sous-chef an hour early to prep. He asked, as he does all his clients, to have a clean kitchen, empty dishwasher, and minimal kitchen clutter in advance of his arrival.
We told Nick we loved Cajun food. A day later he sent this four-course menu he thought would be perfect for the evening—we agreed!
· Cajun Shrimp and Corn Bisque
· Blackened Red Fish Coubion
· Cochon de Lait with Charred Okra and Red Beans
· Bourbon Pecan Bread Pudding
The night was memorable, to say the least. Many laughs were had, and lasting memories were made as we savored every bite while tasting each course of the custom meal. Chef Nick, along with Sous Chef Chase Gintner, should be at the top of your list if you are seeking a unique way to have a memorable dining experience with friends and family. Call Chef Nick @ 985.413.1290 or visit his website @ nomadicdiningatx.com.
A dining experience for various types of events including:
· Birthdays
· Bachelor and bachelorette parties
· Supper clubs with friends
· Cooking classes
· Corporate retreats
· Family reunions
Special thanks to Duchman Wineries in Driftwood for pairing us perfectly with wines for the meal. Also, thank you to Island Getaway Rum (formerly called Hye Rum) for graciously contributing various rums for custom cocktails throughout the evening. We also had the pleasure of Aubrey Husband’s Easy Breezy Bartending crew taking care of us all evening!
duchmanwinery.com
islandgetawayrum.com
easybreezybartending.com