What Chopped Winner Nick Wallace Is Up To Now
Nick Wallace is not a man who takes his privilege as a chef lightly. According to Southern Living, the culinary whiz from Edwards, Mississippi got a glimpse into the world of cooking as a child as he helped his grandmothers Queen and Lennell around the house. The training he received was nothing short of remarkable as he recalls "slinging flour, making homemade biscuits, fixing different fruit cobblers, frying chicken — the whole nine yards."
Growing up, he couldn't help but feel inspired by celebrity chefs like Bobby Flay but also wondered whether he was cut out for the industry. As he told the magazine, "There was always this self-doubt because I never saw anyone who looked like me." This didn't stop Wallace, though, as he worked hard on polishing his skills rooted in Southern cooking before entering Chopped's 34th season in 2017. He, of course, won part two of the "Alton Brown Challenge," and ever since his appearance, Wallace has been quite occupied (via Nick Wallace Culinary).
Nick Wallace is busy being an entrepreneur and giving back
According to Pop Sugar, the celebrity chef is focusing on his own company — called Nick Wallace Culinary, based in Jackson, Mississippi — and he often multitasks by mentoring other chefs, catering events, and promoting sustainable farming. As Wallace's website puts it, his company is all about bringing "the farm to your table." In truth, the chef is a huge advocate for sticking to fresh ingredients in food and makes it a point to collaborate with local farmers while promoting the importance of healthy meals.
As seen on Wallace's Instagram, the chef is also doing what he can to assist his local community during the pandemic. For example, he worked with his team recently to prepare 600 meals for those in need as part of a collaboration with José Andrés' non-profit organization World Central Kitchen. In this Instagram post, Wallace writes, "I love opportunities that allow my passion for food to go beyond the kitchen ... today we were able to see that food provides not only nourishment but comfort to those in need."