We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Nicole Bernier. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Nicole below.

Alright, Nicole thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Let’s start with the story of your mission. What should we know?

Th story behind my mission is simple. I absolutely love what I do and I enjoy helping people. I started my business in the middle of the pandemic. I wanted to feed people and make their lives easier, it was already hard and the pandemic just crushed so many. I started by doing premade meals that you just heat and eat. I use local produce as much as possible to help out the local farmers. I wanted to make it easy and delicious for people to feed themselves and their families. It might not have been how I originally planned on starting my own business but it was what was needed at the time and it has been so rewarding.

I have been lucky that my business has done well and I have been able to expand. I now have added private chef dinners, wholesale, and a variety of drop off catering options. It is deefinitely the best decision I could have made.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I have been cooking an baking my entire life, basicall since I was old enough to hold a spatula. I went to culinary school and have been working in kitchens since I was 14 years old. I have worked in almost every kind of plae, restaurants, bakeries, coffee shops, hotels, etc. I love what I do but I was also getting burnt out in the industry, its grueling and can be life sucking. When the pandemic hit it was the first time I had a decent amount of time to think about what I wanted. I decided that going back into the traditional industry lifesyle just wasnt it anymore.

I have always wanted my own business and the middle of the pandemic seemed like the right time to do it. I started with premade meals, I heard from so many people that the meal kits just werent cutting it. It didnt take 30 min, you used every pot and pan in the house and had all the plastic waste after. Plus your kids, spouse, roomates etc were still nagging you about whats for dinner. I honestly just wanted to make peoples lives easier during this insane time. My meals are made fresh, from scratch with no crap you cant pronounce. Plus I shop local as much as humaly possible. You just heat up your meal in the oven or stove and you can eat it right out of the container it comes in. People were missing restaurants and take out can be very expensive. I wanted to offer delicious, restaurant quality meals that wouldnt break the bank. Plus if I can introduce people to new foods and flavors thats just a bonus.

I am honestly most proud that this business seems to be successful and that people like my food. There is no bigger compliment than repeat customers. I have heard from many people that I have made their lives and dinner tables easier and more delicious and thats why I do what I do.

I also do private chef dinners which is one of my favorite things. You get to go into someones home and get to know them and give them an experience they most likely have never had. It is truly special!

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

Sometimes I think that building my audience was pure luck, but I know thats not true. I started building my social media through word of mouth. I have the most amazing friends and family who told everyone they knew I was starting a business. Some of my friends ran my social media for the first 6 months of my business being open. When I was finally able to afford a marketing team it was the first thing I did. It has made an amazing difference and has grown my following and customer base more than I could have imagined.

My advice is to be patient, it takes time to get your name out there and get people to trust you enough to follow you and share your info. Use your friends and family and people in your circle to help.

What’s been the best source of new clients for you?

The best source of new clients is usually my current clients tell their friends about me. I has honestly been how I have gotten most of my clients. I love hearing so and so told me about you and said I should use you for a party or to help feed my family or whatever they need. It is very flattering to be reccomended to someone. Luckily it happens a lot and I have been able to retain just about all of them as long term clients

Contact Info:

• Website: whiskedawayatl.com
• Instagram: @whiskedawayatl
• Linkedin: Whisked Away ATL