Hello, my name is Nikisha James, I was born in the country of Trinidad and Tobago. At the age of 5, my father started teaching me to cook and it became a joyous thing for me to do. My maternal grandmother had a garden and I used to go with her at times to help her plant crops or harvest them, little did I know where that was leading. At the age of 13, when my mother migrated to the U.S. I was responsible for doing all the cooking and washing of laundry in the home for myself, my brother and my dad. When my brother and I migrated to the U.S. with our mother, I was still cooking and doing laundry. Everyone loved my food and would always want to come over when I cooked., especially on Sundays. Sunday Caribbean food was a real thing, macaroni pie, callaloo, veggie fried rice, red beans, stew chicken or beef, cucumber salad and potato salad, lol…it was a lot and it tasted so good.

I always had a connection for food, always wanting to try something new and different, so in May of 2012, I decided to get some training in my craft and attended Star Career Academy in N.Y. There, I learned a few different techniques, both in cooking and baking. I also met Chef Edward Martinez who became my favorite instructor because of the way he taught and encouraged his students, and who was once on the list of the most Buzz-Worthy Chefs in the country for his work at the Pitxi Dining Room and Wine Bar in Portland, OR. Chef Edward’s encouragement was the reason I ended up doing my stage and then being hired at one of the coolest restaurants at the time, North End Grill. This was a Danny Meyer restaurant which was run by one of the best Chefs ever, Chef Floyd Cardoz, winner of Top Chef 3, he was also the owner of Bombay Bread Bar and Tabla in NYC. I learned so much from this man. He was so friendly and graceful. He was always willing to teach and made fun of me a few times because I wouldn’t eat certain things, but he was the best person I ever had the opportunity of working for, but the restaurant business wasn’t for me. I had two babies. Gabby and Jay, who were toddlers at the time and they needed me. In 2016, I met the man who changed my life drastically. Paul Ille, my fiance became such a vitally important part of my children’s and my life. He took on the role and title of a father to my children. Paul became the place I wanted to be as well as my partner and confidant. He accepted and loved Gabby and Jay as they were his own. What more could any mother who adores her children ever ask for? Eventually, because of Paul, in 2018, I packed up my kids and we moved to NJ. I was at this time catering for schools and doing private events whenever I got booked for them and I still had to work. I was working in IT sales when I was blessed to have met an awesome lady, Susan Johnson, who told me about a guy, John Sauchelli, Chef and Co-Owner of Jersey Barnfire. Susan’s son worked with John and because I had started to dabble a little into the hot sauce world, I called him up. John gave me the consultation I needed to get started. Not only did he consult with me, he directed me to get my processing letters, storage locations and he became my co-packer and now I am an award winning hot sauce maker!

In 2021 Paul and I became parents to our now toddlers twins Atlas and Imagene, and Gabby and Jay became the best older sister and brother ever. Once the twins were born, Paul and I decided that it would be better for me be a stay at home mom, and so I quit my job, but I still had my business. I was now a mom of four, two teens and my twins. There was nothing easy about what life had become. I lived far away from my family, so it wasn’t as though I had much help, but my teenagers were/are the absolute best. And of course, I kept building my company, before I got pregnant I was blessed to have gotten my hot sauces into fifteen stores within N.J. and Pa., as well as one store in the U.K. I had also started teaching Jr. Chef classes at the Clifton Boys and Girls Club in N.J. Many times I came so close to just quitting because things would seem so hard. Customers didn’t want to pay for services, then it was at times hard to get more clients, but the thing is that I believe is that when you have a business, though of course, it’s so easy to give up you shouldn’t. My business has definitely grown now to the point where I can now say that I have done weddings. I cater and make weddings and  birthday cakes, cupcakes and French macarons and I couldn’t be more excited to be able to provide these services to my customers. It is so wonderful and I have been extremely blessed to have served the people I have, but being able to say that I have been a part of someone’s wedding or helped make a customer’s event that more amazing and memorable is such an honor. I also now teach cooking classes at Williams Sonoma in Montclair, NJ!

I don’t believe in being limited in your art, you don’t want to be confused about who you are and where you want to be in this life, but don’t limit yourself in your art, the possibilities are endless. For me bringing the best dishes to life for my clients and teaching kids and adults to cook, to make a bit of a healthier choice when it comes to what they eat, or teaching someone to make an awesome dish they can go home and create for their families is such an honor and it makes my journey even more exciting!

I am now a certified award winning Chef and the owner of a catering company that provides cooking classes, cakes for all occasions, and I have an award winning hot sauce line. I am a success due to my hard work, sacrifices and ambition. I don’t just want my business to be successful because I make money, I want the success to come because I brought joy and yumminess to my clients, lol. I absolutely enjoy what I do and want everyone I come in contact with to feel that excitement when they work with me, and I really have so many people to thank for helping me get to where I am today.