Chef Nicole Andrea Guzman a.k.a Chef Nikki Meow:

Culinary Sorceress, Author, Podcast Host, Bronx Born Maverick Alchemist

Greetings, dear meows!

Let us begin with my super hero origin story…

I was born and raised in The Bronx, New York where flavor isn’t optional. It’s a birthright!

Heavily influenced by my Colombian Grandmother & Aunts fearless love of cooking, and my Puerto Rican mother’s unwavering commitment to keeping us fed no matter what, I grew up understanding that food is so much more than nourishment. It’s devotion, culture, survival, love, and magick.

In between watching cartoons and groovy movies, I was glued to PBS programs and mesmerized by cooking shows and the transformation of simple ingredients in something unforgettable. I began cooking professionally when I was 15 and upon graduating culinary school at 21, my cooking journey began and I worked beside and learned from some of New York City’s finest culinary warriors. Chef Paul Ripley, Alfred Portsle, Gary Robins, Tom Valenti, Amanda Freitag, and the late Anne Burrell t name a few.

In 2010 my culinary compass pointed west and within a week of landing in Los Angeles I found myself working for Chef Rick Bayless. Eventually leading me to working at The Hollywood Bowl for Chef Suzanne Goin, and sommelier Caroline Styne. I’ve been blessed along my travels to have learned from some of the masters in the industry and gathered flavor stories that helped take my journey beyond the stove.

Over the years I’ve appeared on food competition shows, stepped into the world of podcasting with my show, The Mystic Meals Podcast where I interview creatives from across the entertainment realm and create the recipe for lots of shenanigans every week. Ive contributed food writing to respected online publications. I also have a small business called Mystic Seasonings, where I sell my own line of unique spice blends. I’ve become rather multi hyphenated over the years!

Now I stand at the intersection of culinary artistry and literal storytelling. When I created my brand Mystic Meals, my intention was and still is, to make the kitchen feel empowering instead of intimidating, and to show that cooking can be an extraordinarily magickal experience. All you need is a pinch of confidence, and a whole lotta love.

I wrote and published a middle grade fantasy book inspired by my daughter Nia, who’s autistic, as well as all my years thus far cooking, and my abilities in natural intuitive witchery. The Creepy Culinary Adventures of Nia Luna is a love letter not only to her, but to anyone with a taste for adventure and the spooky stories within the pantry!

There’s beauty in feeding people’s minds, bellies, and souls. There’s power in gathering around the table, and undeniable magick in creating something with your own two hands.