Chef Nik shared with Mélange . . .
About your background
I was born in Freeport Bahamas in the early 80 ’ s and moved to South Caicos with my mother soon after my birth . I attended the Iris Stubbs Primary School then the Marjorie Basden High School on South Caicos , the Fishing Capital in the Turks Caicos Islands . Growing up , I was the eldest of 2 siblings . My mother worked on shift as a Police Officer , so sometimes I had the responsibility of preparing meals for my younger sister and brother . I burned a lot of rice along the way but there came a time when my siblings would rather me do the cooking instead of my mother .
About your decision to become a chef
I was almost forced into this profession by my mother working shifts , but I also enjoyed spending time in the kitchen with my father during my summer breaks . He owned one of the most popular local restaurants on the island of Providenciales , ‘ Smokeys ’. Cooking became my passion , I would stand and watch people smile with fulfillment as they enjoyed the many different flavors I infused into traditional dishes .
My belief is that everyone is born with a talent and that people should invest energy into what they ’ re good at . Therefore , I decided to make this my career . Some kids aspire to be like super heroes or actors , but for me , my Dad was my main motivator , I wanted to be like him . He was a guy who stood tall with a great sense of humor but very strong , stern and hardworking who had a burning desire for keeping traditional Turks and Caicos dishes alive .
About your Cooking Show
One of my favourite pastimes was watching the various cooking shows on Food Network . I always wondered why there isn ’ t a show featuring Caribbean style cooking . After battling with the thought of it and even applying to be featured on one of their cooking shows , I decided to create my own Caribbean cooking show . Crackpot Kitchen Show became a hit and was featured on the only two local TV networks in the Turks and Caicos with 10 episodes per season . The humorous , interactive cooking show featured traditional Turks and Caicos and Caribbean dishes that has people of all ages locked in until the end . To date , I am currently working on Season 3 and creating the first Caribbean Food Network Channel .
About your Restaurant , Crackpot Kitchen
Crackpot Kitchen Restaurant Bar and Grill offers the best in authentic Turks and Caicos cuisines with an international twist . It is located in the heart of Grace Bay , with rooftop and VIP lounge seating upstairs in the Ports of Call Village .
Back to Table of Contents