Nya's Kitchen

Meet the chef

At the age of 6, while living with my Aunt Whilma; she would put me to stand on a stool so I could see above the kitchen counter and play sous chef alongside her. I watched in amazement as she chopped and diced and aromatized the kitchen with unforgettable smells and did it so effortlessly. While other kids my age found enjoyment in watching cartoons or playing with dolls and toys of the sort, I then found myself glued in front of the tv watching Rachel Ray and Emerill. It was always so fascinating how you can take all these different ingredients and mesh it in a way to satisfy the sense of taste so deeply that, if done right, feeds and satisfies the soul. Overcoming an unfortunate earlier childhood, I saw how food brought everyone together and how happy it made people and I wanted to jar that feeling and put it on a shelf. The kitchen was my new favorite playground.

Over 20 years later, the kitchen is still my favorite place and perfect escapism. My father's side of the family is from St. Vincent and the Grenadines (located in the eastern part of the Caribbean) and I had the privilege of living there throughout my high school and college years where I didn't cook much, but absorbed all of the culinary techniques and skills of caribbean cuisine from my sister Petra-Ann, and my Aunt Patsy. Throughout the years I have had the opportunity of running a food business in New York, where I am originally from and spent most of my life. I whipped up delectable dainties for families around Brooklyn for the holidays on a large scale and sold individual plates from a created menu that changed every week. I have fed the homeless and have also been a reliable and dependable source for meal planning and prepping. I can truly say that cooking is my top passion, as it fulfills one of the purposes of my life- to warm and comfort the hearts of others. I am always looking for ways that I can improve my skills, and love to seek culinary advice especially from those from the much older generations. Currently, I enjoy cooking meals for my husband, Bernard, who is my biggest supporter and vision partner. I am currently taking my passion to the field of food photography, private dining and catering on a more decorative and larger scale. I am excited about where God is taking me. Stay tuned!

Stuffed pasta shells in the making.

Oxtail pho bowl, coming to the menu soon.

Honey BBQ ribs, coleslaw and cornbread.

Pan of creamy penne with italian sausage and sun dried tomatoes

Fried fish and creamy grits with homemade cream sauce

December 2020, Clarksville TN

Page updated

Google Sites

Report abuse