Based in New Orleans, Nini Nguyen is a chef, instructor, and recipe developer. After starting her career in some of the country’s most innovative kitchens, such as Eleven Madison Park in New York, she ventured into the culinary spotlight by participating in season 16 of Top Chef and later in Top Chef: All-Stars Los Angeles, earning her a dedicated fan following.
Passionate about teaching, Chef Nini Nguyen crafted Đặc Biệt: An Extra Special Vietnamese Cookbook, blending her Vietnamese heritage with Louisiana influence. Nini strives to make the rich flavors of her upbringing accessible to all.
Chef Nini is a contributor to Food & Wine, Food52, and Serious Eats, and demonstrates her kitchen tips on Instagram and TikTok: @chefnininguyen.com.
In Vietnamese culture, to be đặc biệt is to be special, distinctive, and luxurious. Or, as Chef Nini puts it, it means adding something a little extra or a little lagniappe (the Louisiana version of đặc biệt), like salty caviar on top of squid stuffed with pork, a surprise note of ginger in a dipping sauce, or sautéing shaking beef in cultured butter for a rich, delectable experience. Born and raised in New Orleans by Vietnamese immigrants, here Nini gives us recipes that fuse the best of Vietnamese and New Orleans cooking and clear directions on how to prepare and arrange them, making for a flavorful, unforgettable experience that proves that being a little extra is easy and just right.
General Inquiries: hello@chefnininguyen.com
Business Inquiries/Press/Invites: jo@chefnininguyen.com
