About Me

I’m Nina, and I love to leave places more enchanted than I found them. I cherish shared enjoyment above all else, and my favorite way to do that is by cooking for the moment. At home, I favor spontaneity, intuition, and experience over technique, order, and process. “Chez Neens” (or, “in the home of Neens” au francais) to me means welcoming clients into my culinary world, and telling the story of a moment with a meal. Whatever moment you’re creating, I can help you nail the feeling with a custom menu that expresses your vision and individuality.

My professional culinary journey started in 2020 when I attended the Institute for Culinary Education in NYC. After an externship at Vic’s in Soho under Chefs Hillary Sterling and Ayesha Nurdjaja, I ran the scratch kitchen at my best friend’s summer camp in Middle Grove, NY. A move to Saratoga Springs led me to famed Mrs. London’s, a french bakery and cafe, where I dove into the world of patisserie eventually became a pastry chef. Missing working on a line and the savory side of cuisine, I moved onto local favorite 9 Miles East where I learned the art of catering, client relationships, and culinary creativity.