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Nicole Renard is showcasing her culinary prowess as she competes on this season of Next Level Chef.

Renowned for her food and travel brand, Nicole the Nomad, this talented chef captivates her audience of over 2.5 million on TikTok and YouTube, sharing her beloved smoothie bowl recipes and latest snack obsessions.

Pop Culturalist had the pleasure of speaking with Nicole about her strategy heading into Next Level Chef, what she learned from mentors Richard Blais, Gordon Ramsay, and Nyesha Arrington, and how this competition pushed her to step outside of her comfort zone and grow as a chef.

PC: You’ve already had so much success in your career. How did this opportunity on Next Level Chef come about?
Nicole: A casting producer reached out to me in the spring of last year, asking me to audition. So I did because I thought, “what do I have to lose?” genuinely not thinking I would make the cut. So I was shocked when they told me I made the show!

PC: You were a competitive dancer. How have those experiences prepared you for Next Level Chef?
Nicole: Growing up as a competitive dancer and competing at Miss America taught me how to think quickly on my feet and perform well under pressure. I’m a very competitive person, and it’s like my body just knows when to kick it into gear and get what needs to be done, done.

PC: There is such a wide variety of chefs competing in this competition. Was there added pressure coming in as a social media chef? Did you feel like you had something extra to prove?
Nicole: Definitely! I didn’t feel like I had anything to prove, but I wanted to do my best and hold my own because I definitely didn’t have as much experience as the others there, and that made me feel a little unqualified to be there in the beginning.

PC: In the audition episode, you got to experience the grab on each of the different floors. What was your strategy for each floor and how did they differ?
Nicole: On every floor, my strategy was the same: just grab! The worst situation to be in is grabbing too little and not being able to make anything. My mentor, Chef Blais, encouraged us to grab anything we could (while being thoughtful) because we could always figure out what to do with it later. It’s impossible to go into the grabs with a plan because you don’t know what’s going to be on there, so I just let the platform tell me what I was going to make!

PC: Speaking of Blais, what have you learned from being mentored by him as well as Gordon and Nyesha?
Nicole: Chef Blais taught me to take risks. I did a lot of things for the first time on this show, and I’m so thankful he challenged me to try something new, even if it was outside my comfort zone because I grew so much as a chef. Chef Arrington taught me that every step in the process is an opportunity to build flavor, so season as you go! Chef Ramsay taught me the importance of finesse and being thoughtful about your cooking and to taste, taste, taste as you go.

PC: You recently had the top dish in your group with the curry challenge. What did that mean to you, especially given how the grab went?
Nicole: It meant the world to me. Up until that point, I was pretty scared and stressed from the whole situation because I felt like I was the least qualified chef there, if I’m being candid. After receiving such positive comments on my curry and winning the best dish in my group, my confidence grew so much because I realized that I could compete next to these professionals and even have a winning dish with a minimal grab in the basement. That cook boosted my spirits because I knew then if I could pull that off, then I could do anything.

PC: If you had to make a dish to describe your experience on Next Level Chef, what would it be and why?
Nicole: I would make lasagne because there’s something going on on each level and it can be a little messy!

PC: Outside of Next Level Chef, what can fans expect from you in 2024?
Nicole: I’m hosting my first pop-up in Nashville with ten of the other chefs from the show on March 28th, and I am really looking forward to that! I’m also excited to get my first cookbook ready to publish and continue expanding my line of smoothie bowl products through my business Nomad Bowls!

To keep up with Nicole, follow her on Instagram. Watch Nicole compete on Next Level Chef every Thursday at 8/7c on Fox.

Photo Credit: FOX / Next Level Chef