Love, Local: Sauble Beach Private Chef Nicole Baker
Being relatively new to the Kincardine, west coast Lake Huron area (we moved here in 2018), it has been nice to slowly get to know the coastal towns and the shops, artisans, makers and main street businesses that call it home. We are so fortunate to have downtowns with full storefronts, vibrant markets, and so many great small businesses and service providers addressing the unique needs of our communities. It’s hard to describe this area. It’s kind of rural, kind of beachy, kind of company town(ish), and essentially two hours from most of Ontario’s bigger cities.
I have been discovering the area both personally with my family and through the branding side of my Kincardine photography business. This year so far I have been lucky enough to photograph over 10 small businesses in Bruce County and thought it would be amazing to share the love by starting a blog series to help introduce these businesses (and others I love) to a wider community audience. It’s hard these days with increasingly short attention spans and bigger frictionless online shopping, for small business and local entrepreneurs to get the attention they need. My goal will be to help introduce you to people in our area you should know and visit and buy from so we can make sure our communities always maintain great local buying options.
It will be called Love, Local. I have sent out some small questionnaires and taken photos to help us get to know the businesses better and am excited to share them with you. So here goes!
Love, Local: Chef Nicole Baker
Nicole is private chef with an amazing background of providing exceptional meals and experiences to clients on superyachts and internationally. Now, she is living with her family in Sauble Beach providing these types of one-of-a-kind dinners and food experiences to people who live and cottage throughout Bruce County.
I got to spend a few hours in her kitchen watching her work. She is precise and detail oriented while making incredible dishes, and warm and thoughtful to chat with in between. And the food! Check out the photos to get an idea of the amazing seasonality behind many of her menus.
1.What is your businesses name, location and how long you've been there?
Chef Nicole Baker. I am located in Sauble Beach and operating here for 2 years.
2.Tell me about your business, what you do, who you serve?
I’m a private chef based in Sauble Beach and working throughout the South Bruce Peninsula, creating refined, seasonal dining experiences in clients’ homes and vacation properties. My work ranges from intimate dinners and special celebrations to private cooking classes and personal chef services.
My style is very much influenced by my background. I trained at Le Cordon Bleu in Paris, worked in Michelin-starred restaurants and at Relais & Châteaux properties, and spent 13 years working as a chef aboard luxury superyachts around the world. Now I bring that level of food and service into a much more personal setting.
Most of my clients are looking for something special without having to leave home — whether they’re celebrating a milestone, gathering with family and friends, or simply want a beautiful meal prepared for them. I take care of everything from menu planning and sourcing ingredients to cooking, plating, serving and leaving the kitchen clean afterward.
3.What inspired you to start your business as a private chef in Sauble Beach?
After spending so many years working internationally, I wanted to create something of my own that allowed me to use everything I had learned while building a life closer to home and my family.
Private cheffing felt like a natural fit. I love restaurant-quality food and beautiful presentation, but I also really enjoy the intimacy of cooking for a small group. You get to know who you’re cooking for, tailor the menu to them and create an experience that feels much more personal than dining in a restaurant.
Starting my business has allowed me to combine the standards and techniques I learned throughout my career with the incredible ingredients and seasons we have here in Ontario.
4. What do you love about your community?
I love that there is such a strong sense of community here, while at the same time we welcome so many people who come to the area to spend time with family, vacation and celebrate important occasions.
As a chef, it’s also wonderful to be surrounded by such great seasonal ingredients. I love being able to build menus around what is growing locally and what is at its best at that particular time of year.
One of my favourite parts of the business is becoming part of people’s celebrations. I’m often invited into someone’s home for an anniversary, birthday, bachelorette weekend or family gathering, and it’s really special to be trusted with a meal that is part of an important memory for them.
5. What is your most popular product or service, and why do people love it?
My private in-home dinners are probably what I’m best known for. I typically create three- or four-course seasonal menus for smaller groups, with each menu designed specifically for the occasion and the guests.
I think people love the experience because they get the quality and attention to detail of a fine dining restaurant without having to leave their home. They can relax, enjoy their guests and not worry about shopping, cooking, serving or cleaning up afterward.
My private cooking classes are also very popular, particularly my sushi class. They’re much more interactive and social, so they work really well for groups of friends, bachelorette weekends and celebrations. I think what people enjoy most is that they aren’t simply watching a demonstration — they’re cooking, learning techniques and enjoying the food together.
6. What is something that happened this week that made you smile?
Honestly, my husband and daughters make me smile every day. Our girls are at such fun ages, and there is always something happening in our house that makes us laugh. Even after a long or busy day, being home with them is my favourite place to be.
7. Where are your favourite places to visit/hang out after hours in Bruce County?
I don’t get out nearly as often as I’d like to, but when I do, I definitely have a few favourite spots. I love stopping at Heydays for drinks and snacks, line dancing or catching live music at The Dunes, and going out for dinner at Gigi’s. We’re lucky to have some really fun places locally, and when I do get a night out, I love being able to stay close to home.
6.Any community events, causes, or charities you're involved in?
I helped start a Girl Guide group here in Sauble Beach with two of my close friends, and I’m now very proud to be one of the leaders alongside a group of some of my closest friends. It’s been such a rewarding way to be involved in our community and create something special for local girls.
Through my business, I’ve also donated private chef experiences to support local fundraising, including the silent auction for the Walkerton Hospital Gala. Giving back locally is something that’s important to me, and I hope to continue donating my services to support other community organizations and charities in the future
7.Where can people find out more information about your private dinners and experiences and follow you online?
Instagram: @chef_nicole_baker
Facebook: Nicole Baker, Private Chef
Website: www.nicolebaker.ca
8.Can you share some Love, Local. Is there a business or person in the community that you are always recommending to other people?
I’m always happy to recommend Clay House in Sauble Beach, a pick and paint your own ceramics studio, which was created by my friend Stephanie Tedford. She built the business from the ground up and designed and decorated the entire space herself, so it really reflects her creativity and personality.
It’s been wonderful to see how much people have embraced Clay House this summer. Stephanie has put so much thought and hard work into creating something unique for Sauble Beach, and I’m incredibly proud of what she’s accomplished. I’d love to see even more people discover it and help her continue to grow the business. Supporting locally owned businesses, especially ones created with that much passion and care, is something that’s really important to me.
Another local business I’m always recommending is Crust and Crackle. Katy is an incredible local sourdough baker and a friend who has been such a wonderful supporter of my business, sending countless recommendations my way. I love how committed she is to doing things locally — from growing much of her own produce to sourcing grains from local flour mills. She and her husband personally deliver throughout Grey Bruce, and the care they put into what they do really shows. Her sourdough is incredible, and she’s exactly the kind of small local producer I love to support and recommend.
If you have an idea or recommendation for a business you think I should meet and feature I would love to hear about it. You can send me a message here and I will be sure to check them out.
Comments