Meet Nickey Boyd | Executive Pastry Chef

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

Hi Nickey, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
I pursued an artistic and creative career because i wanted to turn my passion into something that brought joy to others. I wanted to use my gifts and talents to inspire others and a way to bring comfort. The best part of my job is hearing someone say my desserts remind them of their childhood.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
What I’m most proud about is my journey and what it took for me to get where I am. I’ve had many doors closed In my face, I’ve been told “No” multiple times but I didn’t let that stop me. I pushed through and persevered. I got to where I am today by doing the work, breaking barriers and not comparing my journey to anyone else’s. I knew God had a plan for my life and that I had a bigger purpose than anything I could even imagine. However, this definitely wasn’t an easy journey. From the start of my career even to present day, I’ve had to deal with people thinking I don’t deserve to be where I am or having to prove myself. One lesson I’ve learned is that nothing would be handed to me and I need to work harder than most and I need to stand out. I knew I needed to represent for all Black women chefs that paved the way for me and for those coming up after me.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
One of my favorite places I would take anyone visiting would be to the restaurants where I work lol (o-ku sushi, oak steakhouse, Colletta and Indaco) Another favorite of mine is South City Kitchen. I would also recommend Live music at Colony Square, the botanical garden.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
If I had to name a few people in my life that deserve credit and recognition in my story it would start with my parents! Before even attending culinary school my mom introduced me to so many cooking styles and ingredients. I remember growing up, my mom loved cooking so much that she bought a “set it and forget it oven” you can literally see the joy on my mom’s face when she cooks. My dad inspires me because he took something thats true to him and shares it with everyone around him. As a chef and n Nantucket he shares his food with people from all walks of life and from all over the world. Seeing my dad’s jerk sauce and seasoning being bottled and sold is a huge inspiration. My siblings also play a huge role in my story. I always felt that I wasn’t the greatest example to them growing up, so when I finally got on my path I knew I wanted to make them proud. My husband is a huge inspiration. He pushes me beyond my limits and thinks I can conquer the world. A lot of who I am and where I am in my career is from my husband’s encouragement. There are so many others who play a role but these people that are mentioned, have made an immediate impact.

Instagram: Chef_nickey_