Meet Nicole Green | Chef-Owner

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

Hi Nicole, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
I sort of fell into this business…5 years ago I was looking for someone to make a smash cake for my daughter and I could not find anyone to do it. Being the culinary grad that I am, I decided to make it myself, and just like any other good mom who was proud of something she did for her kid, I posted pictures of her cake on social media.

I was working at a steakhouse and my boss at the time saw the pictures and asked me “Why I wasn’t doing anything for them?”

My only response to him was, “You never asked!” Well shortly after I started making the chocolate cake on their dinner menu and it just grew from there.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I have over 20 years in the restaurant business. I have worked every position imaginable, including being a busser, line cook, executive chef and gm. I love how no two days are the same and I love interacting with different people on a daily basis. I have worked in ice cream stores, to fast food places, high end hotels and even high-end restaurants. I thrive in being creative and figuring out difficult situations in a pinch.

In all my years in the food business I have learned you need to adapt to the ever-changing times and demands. You also need to be humble, there is always something new to learn or someone who does something better than you, and that is ok. I learn something new almost daily and am constantly challenging myself to be better than yesterday.

You also need to be able to ask for help if you can’t figure something out on your own. I have a great group of friends who are very creative and I love bouncing ideas off of them, or asking for their help when I’m stuck on something.

Not every day is going to be a cake walk, but tomorrow is another day and another opportunity to do better than yesterday.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I love going to the aquarium. Watching the fish swim around is so soothing to me.

Food places, I love steak! I would go to 101 Steak in Vinings and Cattle Shed Wine & Steak Bar are my go to steak restaurants.

Bouncing around the battery is always fun! Bar hopping is a blast, Grabbing a drink and a snack and working our way through as many as we can is always good for a laugh.

The Escape Game is always fun too! My husband and i get super into it and have a blast every time we go!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Credit needs to go to my late grandmother, Elvira. She would watch me while my parents raised me and i basically grew up in her kitchen. She was the typical Italian grandmother. Something was always cooking on the stove. I learned how to make pasta and all sorts of goodies from scratch from her.

Website: alwayscake.com

Instagram: @alwayscakebakery

Facebook: Always Cake Bakery