Meet Nadia Deljou | Private Chef

We had the good fortune of connecting with Nadia Deljou and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi nadia, every day, we know how much execution matters, but we think ideas matter as well. How did you come up with the idea for your business?
I worked in the music industry during and post college that took me to NYC. I loved the process of finding and representing underground artists, and sharing that artistry with others, I also have always been interested in cooking, since age 11. When I moved back to Atlanta in 2019, I wanted to find a way to intersect my two big loves, music and food, through the lens of culture. I created Delle as a medium to explore and practice that, with the intention of sharing with others and hopefully exposing them to new flavors and sounds.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My work in the food world seeks to explore the rich and diverse landscape of Middle Eastern cuisine; in many ways its been a study of my own culture, my relationship to my family’s immigrant story, a practice in understanding holistic nourishment, and the preservation of culture. My food is comforting, bright, bold, but more importantly, homey, in a slightly elevated way. I think my use of fresh herbs, warm spices, and bright citrus and a focus on highlighting the complexity of vegetable forward cooking is what stands out to me. I continuously am so inspired and excited to learn about and cook with ingredients found in Iran, Morocco, India, Lebanon, Egypt etc — their flavor profile and aroma continue to excite my palate and I seek to find new and nuanced ways to incorporate them into modern and approachable western minded cuisine. When I moved back from New York in 2019, I just started cooking every day to practice the skills I learned in schools and kitchens. I began hosting small dinner parties for my friends and eventually opened up my space to the public. Through the pandemic I explored doing pastry and bread popups, and eventually found my way to work with clients who value and appreciate in-home dining experiences. My brand is heart centered. The cooking comes from a place of organic desire to nourish, connect, and inspire.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
We would do a mix of things in and out the home! I’m a big homebody and love hosting loved ones in my space. I would definitely visit Hen Mother Cookhouse for brunch and walk around downtown Alpharetta afterward, especially on a day there’s the market out front! Would visit my favorite antique shop for dining ware at Queen of Hearts. We would hit up Freedom Parkway farmers market the next day, grab some lunch at Fishmonger and a coffee at East Pole. Go record shopping at Criminal in L5P. For dinner that day, I would cook a nice meal at mine place Next day visit Valor for a coffee, have a nice lunch at Casi Cielo, and dinner at Lyla Lila. Another day brunch at Daily Chew, walk around Virginia highlands and grab a patty melt at Kinship. Swing by Little Tart for a mid day pastry and coffee and enjoy a stroll around that area near summemhill and visit the High museum! Lunch and a walk the next day at the Chastain, maybe attend the silent book club monthly chapter and go to Jolene Jolene to watch some womens sports then splurge at Lazy Betty for a last dinner!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Definitely my dad, Kamy, who is an entrepreneur himself and always set such a strong example of how to achieve success in a creative industry. He raised us with the belief that we could do anything we have a passion for, with the right resources — very much embodies an abundant mentality.

Website: https://www.delledining.com

Instagram: @delledining

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nadia-deljou-3a8a1460

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Delle-Dining/100063595501450/

Image Credits
libby Malcolm photo for the pics of me. I took the food pics myself