Feed Your Inner Chef - Cooking With Nicole

Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in culinary but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Nicole Flowers, Founder of Cooking with Nicole, located in New Braunfels, TX, USA.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

I teach cooking classes to all levels of home cooks. I design classes around my client's seasoned or aspiring cooks, people wanting to learn the basics or take their culinary skills to the next level, or those who love food and just want to have a fun learning experience. The personal aspect is what sets me apart from other businesses.

Tell us about yourself

I have been teaching people to cook since 2016. I started my cooking school, The Culinary Cottage, after receiving requests for private cooking lessons in my home. I converted a small casita in my backyard into a tiny cooking space where I held classes for adults and kids. In 2018, I took a leap of faith and opened a brick mortar in a charming 1912 cottage. It quickly became one of the most sought-after places for cooking classes in the San Antonio area (people joked that getting a spot in one of my classes was like getting tickets to a Taylor Swift concert).

After 7 years of being busier than I could keep up with, I decided to switch gears in 2023 and now teach private classes in my kitchen, host private on-site events, and also classes in the kitchens of some local businesses. This allows me more time to spend with family and friends while still getting to do what I love. I completed my Culinary Certification through a CIA-designed course, worked as a personal chef, created desserts for The Dodging Duck restaurant and brewery in Boerne, Texas (my "diner-style" chocolate pie won 3rd place in the 2011 Texas Chocolate Festival), and spent 7 years teaching cooking classes for all levels at The Culinary Cottage. Teaching people to cook and sharing my passion for culinary arts is truly a dream come true. It is my heart's desire to inspire people to cook real food and to teach others how to cook with abandon, no recipe required! For me, that's what it means to really love to cook.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

Opening a brick-and-mortar was a huge leap of faith for me. I had no idea if I would be able to fill the number of classes needed to be profitable, and it seemed overwhelming to think I could pull it off with just myself and a few kitchen assistants. After being open for just a few months, my classes were filling within hours of being released, and word of mouth spread like wildfire. It was such a humbling experience, and I am truly grateful to everyone who walked through the door to take a class with me. I had so many repeat customers, which to me meant The Culinary Cottage was a success.

What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?

Keeping up the pace while still staying small proved to be a huge challenge for me. I didn't want to give up the intimacy of my classes, but the amount of work that was required just didn't make sense from a business standpoint. At the end of the day, I decided to get rid of the stress of overhead and move to private classes.

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

First and foremost, have a clear goal in mind and stay focused. So many people get too broad too quickly instead of doing one thing and doing it really well. That might not be the best path for fast revenue building, but it will help you build a great brand that people can trust.
Second, hire people that share your passion. For me, having staff that shared my love of cooking was an important part of our class experience.
Finally, never stop learning! Read, take courses, and stay on top of new trends in your industry. I take cooking classes and culinary workshops every chance I get. I love learning different styles of teaching and seeing if I can improve.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://cookingwithnicole.net/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cookingwithNicole
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thymedoughandflowers/

If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.

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