Meet Chef Nekqua

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

Hi Chef, is there something that you feel is most responsible for your success?
The most important factor behind my success — and the success of my brand, Chef Nekqua — is resilience rooted in purpose. I’m not just cooking meals; I’m creating comfort, healing, and culture on a plate. As a single mother of four, I didn’t have the luxury of giving up. I had to build something from scratch, not just for myself, but to leave a legacy that fed more than just bellies — it had to feed souls.

Chef Nekqua was born out of real life: struggle, survival, and soul. I didn’t have investors or a roadmap — I had faith, hustle, and Harlem in my heart. Every dish I make carries a story. Every plate is layered with my passion, my creativity, and the lessons I’ve learned from being overlooked, underestimated, and misunderstood. But that never stopped me. If anything, it sharpened me.

People connect with my food because it’s honest. It’s rooted in tradition, but bold enough to break the rules. That’s what my brand stands for: flavor with intention. Energy you can taste. Love you can feel.

Success, to me, is about impact. It’s about knowing I’m building something real — something my children can be proud of, and something my community can count on. That’s the fuel behind my fire. And I’m just getting started.

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.
My art is food — but not just food for the body, it’s food for the soul. Every dish I create is layered with intention, story, and culture. I don’t just cook; I create emotional experiences through flavor. I bring together influences from Harlem, the South, the Caribbean and beyond. My dishes are bold, soulful, and unexpected — because I’m not afraid to mix flavors, take risks, and break rules.

What sets me apart is that I’m self-taught and soul-led. I know how to elevate simple ingredients, combine cultures, and make something completely new. That’s art.

Professionally, it wasn’t easy — not even close. I started this journey with no investors, no blueprint, no shortcuts. Just faith, grit, and a deep desire to create something that would change my life and the lives of my children. I worked night shifts while raising three of my youngest. I planned events, catered from scratch, published my first magazine “Snack Like A Queen” upcoming cookbooks, and built a brand while the world was sleeping. And through it all, I stayed hungry — not just for success, but for purpose.

I’m most proud of the fact that I never gave up on myself — even when things were unstable, even when I was misunderstood, even when people counted me out. I kept cooking. I kept creating. I kept believing that I was called to do more than survive — I was meant to build a legacy.

The lesson I’ve learned is that you don’t need permission to be great. You don’t have to wait to be “discovered” — sometimes, you are the discovery. You are the hidden treasure. And you shine when you show up as your full self — flavor, flaws, fire, and all.

What I want the world to know about me is that I’m more than a Chef. I’m an artist, a mother, a visionary, and a Harlem Queen who built something out of nothing. My brand, Chef Nekqua®, is about nourishment — not just through food, but through story, spirit, and truth. I’m here to pour love into the world one dish at a time. And baby, I’m just getting started

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
To be real, I don’t get a lot of time to go out. I’m a full-time mother, an entrepreneur, and a working woman with a vision. My focus is on building, creating, and providing — not just for my kids, but for myself and the future I know I’m destined to reach. I don’t really get breaks. I don’t have a village. But I have a dream, and that’s where most of my energy goes.

That said, when I do get a chance to step out and celebrate something meaningful — like my daughter’s graduation — I make sure it counts. And one place that truly left a mark on me was “Bonnie and Clyde”

This spot is a whole vibe. Whether it’s brunch or dinner, it’s giving elegance, intimacy, and flavor all in one. The lights are dim, the red roses give romance and class, and the black velvet seats? Baby, it’s giving luxury without losing that grounded, soulful energy. And let me tell you — the food was amazing. Like, “close your eyes and take a moment” amazing. You can turn it into a classy girls’ night, a celebratory brunch, or even a solo self-love moment if you need to recharge.

So if my best friend were visiting, I’d take them to Bonnie and Clyde — When I do go somewhere, it better be worth it. That place fed my soul.

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?

First and always, I dedicate this to my children — they are my heartbeat, my motivation, and my greatest reason to keep going. I’ve had my days of feeling overwhelmed, stressed, and tired from doing it all on my own. But even in those moments, I move with power and grace because I know where I want to be, and I never lose sight of that. I’m resilient because I walk by faith, and I listen to what my heart tells me. And my heart? It tells me: keep going.

There’s also a meaningful friend who, whether knew it or not, has pushed me in quiet but powerful ways. He accepted me as I am, supported my vision, and mirrored the kind of belief I deeply needed. This encouragement has been different — not just motivational words online, but a real presence that reminded me why I deserve to be seen and heard. And in the middle of holding it down 24/7 with no break, This was my break. The softness, the support, the fire — all in one. And I’ll always hold that energy close.

I also want to thank my mother for being my first taster. Her palate was simple — she liked what she knew, nothing too heavy with herbs or seasonings. But even when I started adding mushrooms or switching things up, she’d taste it with a little face and a lot of love. That meant something to me. Our food styles were different, but she still showed up with support. She was part of the process.

One of my most vivid memories was going to my dad’s house and tasting these salmon patties — I never forgot them. They were so good, they stayed with me. That moment became the blueprint for one of my most requested appetizers today: my signature salmon balls, complete with a house-made horseradish garlic dill sauce that always brings the flavor up a notch.

And then there’s my children’s West Indian bloodline — another layer of flavor that inspires me to explore Caribbean dishes. It expanded my creativity in the kitchen. From Caribbean to Southern, American to soul food, my kitchen is a melting pot. I can walk into any restaurant, fall in love with a dish, and go home and figure out how to recreate it with my own twist. That’s who I am — not just a chef, but a creative who listens to flavor like music.

I want to honor my grandmother, who lived in Harlem and passed down the kind of legacy you don’t learn from books — you feel it in your spirit. She brought our family together through food, and I carry that with me every single day. Her meals had a presence. I remember the way she seasoned, the care she poured into each dish — it was intentional, soulful, and deeply rooted. That lit something in me.

To the Harlem community that raised me: thank you for shaping my fire, my flavor, and my fight. Harlem is not just where I’m from — it’s who I am. My voice, my boldness, my brilliance — all of it carries Harlem in every bite I serve and every room I enter.

And lastly, I want to say this:
To every woman who has ever felt unseen, unheard, or unsupported — keep going. Keep building. Keep creating. Keep showing up with love, even when no one’s clapping. This shoutout is for you. You are not alone, and your story matters.

Website: https://www.chefnekqua.com/

Instagram: @chefnekqua

Youtube: https://youtube.com/@harlemshiddentreasure?si=KoKbuJwcwZSnkknv

Image Credits
Chef Nekqua