While Chef Nick Aiken has cooked for legends like Elvis Presley, Muhammad Ali and Coretta Scott King throughout his culinary career, he says he’s most proud to be the head chef and owner of Nikki’s Place.
Chef Nick was raised in Parramore and has been serving up southern staples like chitterlings, collard greens, and black-eyed peas for 20 years. But he says Nikki’s Place differs from other southern restaurants because they don’t add extra fat to any dishes, which “is the best way to enjoy southern cuisine”.
In an interview with Chef Nick, he opened up to us about the fire that almost closed Nikki’s Place for good in 2015 and we got a firsthand look at what makes Nikki’s Place so successful, and it’s not just the food. It’s also the people.
“My motto is ‘we are cooking for the people’ and if it weren’t for the people there wouldn’t be no us,” said Chef Nick.
Check out our full intereview with Chef Nick and peep their Facebook page for daily lunch specials like bone-in catfish and pork neck bones.