Upon graduating from Hawaii Baptist Academy, Nicole left Hawaii for the mainland. She received her Bachelors of Arts degree in Communication-Journalism at Seattle Pacific University. As a writer for a local Seattle magazine, Nicole realized that the only stories she enjoyed writing were the ones that centered on food. So she decided to attend culinary school to see if her love for food would extend into her professional career.
Culinary school not only taught Nicole about various types of cooking methodologies, world cuisines, and diverse products, but it gave her a profound respect for those in the restaurant industry. She learned that creating a dining experience is an intricate and delicate art that requires a lot of talented people from different skill sets. By the time she earned her degree from The Art Institute of Seattle, Nicole knew that she would never be able to look at food through the same eyes.
After working at a few restaurants in the Seattle area, Nicole knew it was time to return to Hawaii. Upon her return, Nicole became a part of the closing crew of Palomino’s in Harbor Court. Nicole originally applied for a line cook position at The Pineapple Room, but her talents and experience in both journalism and culinary arts, led her to AWR Holdings.
Working at Alan Wong’s Restaurants has been an incredible experience for Nicole. Every day brings something new and educational, and she considers herself blessed to be a part of such a talented and skilled team.
