Chef Nicole Hooks

Chef At Home In Barcelona

I am a professional chef with 5 years experience in catering, private events and teaching cooking courses. I studied at Hofmann Culinary school in Barcelona and after my one year course ended, I started catering small parties and hosting pop up dinners from my living room along with collaborations with local bars and restaurants in Barcelona, offering American soul food and Creole dishes. Growing up in California and Georgia has led to my appreciation and love for soul food and easy Californian cuisine. I love cooking for people and seeing the smile on their faces as they eat my food.

For me, cooking is...

joy, comfort, fun and passion. I feel free when I'm cooking and in the kitchen.

I learned to cook at...

the Michelin accredited Hofmann Culinary school located in Barcelona. I studied general culinary arts for one year and took a 3 month rice course.

A cooking secret...

is to cook with love and being detailed oriented. I make sure all dishes meet my very high standards and taste delicious.

My menus

Romantic Indulgence

STARTER

All inclusive

Pan seared scallop with cauliflower puree

FIRST COURSE

All inclusive

Green risotto with prawns

MAIN COURSE

All inclusive

Slow braised glazed beef cheek with chocolate sauce and seasonal vegetable chips

DESSERT

All inclusive

Chocolate coconut almond tart with salted caramel sauce

Southen Classic Menu

STARTER

All inclusive

Deviled eggs with bacon crumble

FIRST COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Tomato bisque with basil

Southern Caesar salad with cornbread croutons and parmesan

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Shrimp and 'Grits' (made with polenta) served with bacon and peppers

Pan seared Salmon with warm potato salad, red onions, asparagus and a citrus buerre blanc

Pork chop served with apple chutney and creamy garlic mashed potatos

DESSERT

All inclusive

Sticky Toffee pudding served with vanilla ice-cream

Southern Indulgence

STARTER

All inclusive

Pickled prawns, red onion, celery and lemon

FIRST COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Fried Green Tomatoes

Burratta salad with tomatoes, rocket, pickled okra, red onion with a mustard vinaigrette

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Roasted chicken with seasonal braised greens

Whisky and Coke slow braised beef ribs served with garlic mashed potatoes

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

Peach cobbler served with salted caramel sauce

Banana Fosters serves with vanilla ice-cream and flambéed with rum

Southern Soulfood Surprise

STARTER

All inclusive

Spinach Artichoke dip

Cajun Salmon bilini

FIRST COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Cobb Salad

Fried Green Tomatoes

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Prawn, chorizo and chicken gumbo

Chicken and Chorizo gumbo

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

Pecan pie

Peach cobbler

Paella Experience

STARTER

All inclusive

Olives

Boquerones con vinagreta de naranja/ Small white fish marinated in an orange vineagrette

FIRST COURSE

All inclusive

Ensalada verde mixta de temporada con semillas de calabaza, brotes, rábanos y zanahorias/ Seasonal mixed green salad with pumpkin seeds, sprouts, radishes, carrots

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Paella de Marisco / Seafood Paella

Paella de Valencia / Valencian Paella (Chicken and Pork)

Paella Mixta (marisco y carne) / Mixed Paella (surf and turf)

DESSERT

All inclusive

Trufa de chocolate con aceite de oliva y Sal de mar/Chocolate truffles with olive oil and sea salt

Mediterranean Winter Menu (Indulge)

STARTER

All inclusive

Olives

Gildas / Skewered olives and anchovy

Boquerones con vinagreta de naranja/ Small white fish marinated in an orange vineagrette

Cecina / Spanish Cured beef

FIRST COURSE

All inclusive

Verduras Salteadas de Temporada / Seasonal Sauteed Vegetables

Burratta salad with tomatoes, rocket, pickled okra, red onion with a mustard vinaigrette

Caballa con verduritas y setas / Mackerel with vegetables and mushrooms

MAIN COURSE

All inclusive

Slow braised glazed beef cheek with chocolate sauce and seasonal vegetable chips

DESSERT

All inclusive

Cheese board with seasonal fruit

Tapas Menu (Basic)

STARTER

All inclusive

Olives

Gildas / Skewered olives and anchovy

FIRST COURSE

All inclusive

Pimentos de padron / Small green sauteed pepper

Pinchos Morunos con pollo / Chicken Moorish skewers

MAIN COURSE

All inclusive

Albondigas de carne con sepia en guiso / Meatballs with stewed sepia

Verduras asado con salsa romesco / Roasted vegetables with romesco sauce

DESSERT

All inclusive

A taste of Spain (Indulge)

STARTER

Choose 1 dish

Gazpacho

Olivas y Gildas / Skewered olives and anchovy

FIRST COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Ensalada verde mixta de temporada con semillas de calabaza, brotes, rábanos y zanahorias/ Seasonal mixed green salad with pumpkin seeds, sprouts, radishes, carrots

Caballa con verduritas y setas / Mackerel with vegetables and mushrooms

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Ragout de galtas de cerdo al vino tinto/ Pork cheek ragu with a red wine sauce

Merluza con salsa verde / Hake with a salsa verde

DESSERT

All inclusive

Crema Catalana

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Chef Nicole's reviews

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14 services

Amazing experience and food! Would do again.

Perfect experience, Chef Nicole cooked for my family of 8 including toddler. She customized the menu to exactly what we wanted, the timing was ideal so we could entertain the toddler while we drank and had appetizers, were able to all eat together (everything was delicious, the watermelon gazpacho and paella were both big hits), then put down the toddler for bedtime before finishing with an amazing chocolate desert. It was a perfect birthday dinner at the AirBnB!

A must do experience. Nicole delivered on every level. Delicious food with a personal touch. Looked after everyone’s needs. Left work area spotless.