SUMMARY

French born, Nicole Benzakin, owner and operator of NICOLE'S NICHE, has experience at all levels of the Culinary Art for more than 20 years. She provides planning and preparation for al occasions including weddings, cocktail and dinner parties to barbecues and picnics, as well as teaching private workshops and seminars for classic gourmet cooking. Nicole also provides planning professional consulting services for restaurants, hotels and resorts, health spas and nightclubs.

 

 

WORK HISTORY

Owner and Operator:

• Nicole's Niche French Restaurant and Nightclub, Lake Placid, NY
• Nicole's Niche Cooking School, New York City, NY Catskill, NY Beverly Hills, CA

Chef:

• Nicole's Niche Restaurant & School, New York & Los Angeles, CA
• Nelson's Restaurant & Bar, European cuisine, Lake Placid, NY
• The Cottage at Mirror Lake, bistro cuisine, Lake Placid, NY
• Maxwell Restaurant Concession, country cuisine, Lake Placid, NYNew Age Health Spa, gourmet health spa cuisine, Catskill, NY
• Fish Cove, gourmet health spa cuisine, South Hampton, Long Island, NY

Plan / develop menu and recipes; train and supervise all restaurant staff; order food and beverage; and meet with vendors

Special Event Caterer:

• King and Queen of Sweden, one week catering breakfast, lunch and dinner; Lake Placid, NY
• The Royal Family of Monaco, Cocktail party 300 guests, New York, NY
• Winter Olympics Gold Medal Parties, 500-1000 guests per event, Lake Placid, NY
• International Hydroplane Race, 2000 guests, Saranac, NY
• "I love New York" Annual Horse Show, two weeks catering up to 500 guests per day, Lake Placid, NY
• Kathleen Brown, Treasurer of California, 200 guests, Los Angeles, CA
• Barbara Boxer, California State Senator, 150 guests, Los Angeles, CA
• Paine Weber, 250 guests, Beverly Hills, CA
• Charles Jourdan Fashion Show, 150 guests, Beverly Hills, CA

Meet with clients; conceptualize and design entire event including creating menus, developing themes, and attending to each clients personal needs; generate proposals, schedule staff assignments, supervise kitchen assistants, and oversee the event.

Experience Event & Catering Projects:

• Pierre Cardin party production in Pacific Palisades introducing the new television channel “Surf Channel” from Malibu, CA
• Mr. and Mrs. Walter - owners of Wal-Mart and Entrepreneur - formal private parties and special events, Bel Air, CA
• Charles Jourdan Fashion Show, 150 guests, Beverly Hills, CA
• “I Love New York Annual Horse Show,” two weeks catering, 500 guests per day, Lake Placid, NY
• King and Queen of Sweden, one week catering all meals, Lake Placid, NY
• Kathleen Brown, Treasurer of California, 200 guests, Los Angeles, CA
• Barbara Boxer, California State Senator, 150 guests, Los Angeles, CA
• Various events celebrating the Olympic Gold Medalists in 1981 – 1000 celebrities & guests per event, Lake Placid, NY
• International Hydroplane Race,” 2,000 guests, Saranac Lake, NY
• The Royal Party and the Prince of Monaco, 300 guests, New York City
• Paine Webber, 250 guests, Beverly Hills, CA.