Chef Nikky

1. You’ll eat more meals in your car than at a table.
Case in point — this is lunch today. Parked outside location inhaling my own food between meetings because it’s the only 10 minutes I’ve got.

2. “Owner” means every job, every day.
Some days I’m plating. Some days I’m fixing a walk-in cooler. Some days I’m both, an hour apart.

3. The hustle never actually slows down — even at 5 locations in.
People assume it gets easier. It doesn’t get easier. It gets bigger.

But here’s the thing — even rushed, even eaten in a parking lot — the food still has to taste like it came from Asian Mint. That part is non-negotiable. Sense the aroma, Observe the craft, Savor every bite — even when “savor” happens in five minutes flat.

This is the real behind-the-scenes of building something you love. Not glamorous. Just real.

Kob Kun Ka 🙏

Waiter: “For the lady… perhaps a salad?”
Me, in Taiwan: perhaps NOT 😅

Give me the noodles. The soup dumplings. The stinky tofu (don’t judge me till you try it). A whole night market’s worth of skewers. And a bubble tea to wash it all down.

Salad can wait. Taiwan cannot.

This Nam Prik Num came out of one of my favorite days filming, my Thai takeover with Steve Kemble. We got into the real stuff, the sauce that Northern Thai families keep in their fridge at all times.

Sense the smoky char before you even taste it. Observe how simple the ingredients look, canned green chilies, whole green chilies, onion, garlic, mushrooms, and my gluten free stir fry sauce. Savor that first bite and you’ll understand why this one doesn’t need to be fancy to be unforgettable.

That’s the beauty of it, canned chilies, pantry staples, ingredients you probably already have on hand. You don’t need a special trip to the store to make something this good.

Shop my full sauce line at chefnikky.shop, the same flavors that make this Nam Prik Num sing 🔥

Kob Kun Ka 🙏

Sawadee ka Soul Foodies 🙏

Green curry never lets me down. Sweet, spicy, creamy, herbal, all in one bowl.

Full recipe is in my cookbook, link in bio! 🌿

Kob Kun Ka 🙏

Sawadee ka Soul Foodies 🙏

Here’s the sauce truth nobody talks about… most restaurant sauces aren’t made fresh per order. They’re batched ahead so every dish tastes the same, every single time. That’s not a shortcut, that’s consistency 👩

It’s exactly why I bottled my own. Same tamarind Pad Thai sauce, same stir fry sauce you’d get at Asian Mint, now in your own kitchen 🍜

No more guessing what’s “authentic.” Just real Thai flavor, ready when you are.

Shop the sauces at chefnikky.shop (link in bio) 🛒

Kob Kun Ka 🙏

✨ Mindful Meal Challenge ✨

What if one meal a day could change your relationship with food?

Chef Nikky’s challenge is simple:
🥢 Eat just ONE mindful meal every day.

That means:
🍽️ Put your phone away.
🌿 Slow down.
😌 Take a deep breath before your first bite.
👅 Notice the flavors, textures, and aromas.
💚 Stop when you’re comfortably satisfied, not overly full.

You don’t have to eat perfectly. You just have to be present.

Try it for 7 days and let us know how you feel. You might be surprised how much more you enjoy your food—and how much more connected you feel to your body.

Who’s in?

Sawadee ka Soul Foodies 🙏

While I was in Bangkok I had to stop by Sato, and wow. This is not your average Thai plate. Every dish comes piled high with fresh herbs, bold chili, and flavors that hit you before the first bite even lands.

The rice alone tells a story, three kinds on the table and over 40 varieties of Thai rice wine to pair with them. This is what happens when tradition meets craft and nobody cuts corners.

Big respect to the masterminds behind this one, and .baigus

If you are ever in Bangkok, this one is worth the trip. 🇹🇭🍚🌶️

📍 .sammosorn

Kob Kun Ka 🙏