On this week's episode, we have chef Nikko Cagalanan. Born and raised in the Philippines. Nikko grew up in a family that loved food. His dad cooked. His aunt cooked. And his grandmother, Mansueta, cooked. Sure, he didn’t always want to be in the kitchen, but food was an integral part of their family. Eventually, he moved to the United States, landing in Massachusetts. Cooking wasn’t his career back then. Nursing was. But, like many of us who feel the kitchen calling us, Nikko decided he wanted to start a career in cooking. With no formal training, he essentially had to start at the bottom. You’ll hear the story of how he got his start, and eventually launched his own pop-up. If you’re someone who’s thought about starting one, Nikko will share how he did it, and some things to consider. We also talk about collaborations and his recent appearance on the show Chopped where he had to cook pork uterus, among other bizarre food items.NIKKO CAGALANANNikko’s Instagram Mansueta’s Instagram CHEFS WITHOUT RESTAURANTSIf you enjoy the show and would like to support it financially, please check out our Sponsorship page (we get a commission when you use our links).  Get the Chefs Without Restaurants NewsletterPrivate Facebook groupChefs Without Restaurants Instagram Sponsor- The United States Personal Chef AssociationOver the past 30 years, the world of the personal chef has grown in importance to fulfill dining needs. While the pandemic certainly upended the restaurant experience, it allowed personal chefs to close that dining gap.  Central to all of that is the United States Personal Chef Association.   USPCA provides a strategic backbone for those chefs that includes liability insurance, training, communications, certification, and more. It’s a reassurance to consumers that the chef coming into their home is prepared to offer them an experience with their meal.  Call Angela today at 800-995-2138 ext 705 or email her at aprather@uspca.com for membership and partner info.