Delectable Designs By Nicole
By Kathi Caldwell-Hopper
Nicole Doyle has always loved food. From a well-made burger to gourmet cuisine, nothing is off-limits to this chef extraordinaire.
Located in downtown Farmington, New Hampshire, Delectable Designs by Nicole offers a unique way to share a great meal with friends and family while learning about foods in a variety of ways. To do that, the restaurant hosts food-related events called A Night in Chef’s Kitchen, which create memorable, informative, and, most of all, plain delicious experiences. In this setting, groups of family and friends gather in the cozy restaurant, sit around the open kitchen bar area, and watch Nicole prepare dishes that are then served to each guest.
Each Night in Chef’s Kitchen menu is a surprise, depending upon the season and what Nicole is inspired to include in her recipes. She might be drawn to a special jam she found in a country store, a certain fruit or vegetable at a local farm, or simply the season itself.
When creating meals, Nicole doesn’t use recipes; instead, she makes each dish as she goes. As she cooks for each group of diners, she instinctively combines ingredients, considers how each tastes with another food, and thinks about the appearance of each part of the meal on the plate, among other factors. Though it might seem risky, especially under the observation of her customers, Nicole loves to cook this way. She says, “I have never had a customer walk away without raving about the dinner they just finished.”
“I have always liked to entertain. My passion is trying new foods. For 18 years, I was a special education teacher, and in my free time I did catering as a hobby. I also hosted small dinners, and on Christmas Eve, my birthday, I hosted a big holiday open house to celebrate,” she explains.
When COVID hit, things changed for everyone, and events such as Nicole’s open house and catering came to a halt. Not one to be stymied when it comes to cooking and sharing her methods with others, Nicole turned to social media. “I started a private Facebook group so that my family and friends could share recipes,” she said.
Over time, Nicole began something new called A Night in Chef’s Kitchen. She first hosted the events at home, where groups of friends or family could spend time together, share a wonderful home-cooked meal, and watch Nicole craft each course of the dinner right in her own kitchen.
Later, these events became part of the business she opened in downtown Farmington, which centers on reservation-based dining experiences. Along with these events, the business also offers WINE-Down Tuesdays and other private dining experiences, as well as in-home private cheffing.
“When I started Chef’s Kitchen in my home, the goal was to host four events that summer, and I hosted 17,” Nicole says with a laugh. As cooking began to take over her life, she decided to put her educational job on hold, knowing she wanted to run her own business.
“I did not have a set plan, but when the owner of a downtown Farmington building contacted me and said the business that had been in the space – a bakery – was closing, I decided to sign a lease. We got the keys on January 1, and with the help of family and friends, we renovated the space and opened in April, 4½ years ago,” she says.
The restaurant isn’t a typical business. Instead of a walk-in spot open six or seven days a week with a set menu, Delectable Designs offers one day open to the public without reservations, on WINE-down Tuesday, a fun evening with good libations, smoked bourbons, mocktails, music, and a smaller food menu made especially by Nicole. Reservations are not needed for this event, which runs from 4 to 9 pm.
As word has spread about WINE-down Tuesday, Nicole says the events are becoming popular with a diverse customer base. She sees people from all walks of life stopping in after a day’s work for a beer, carefully crafted libations, or a bite to eat. It has become a place where friends gather for drinks and apps to those who appreciate good wine and want to sample Nicole’s latest foods, while enjoying music and a comfortable ambiance.
Another offering at the eatery is Night in A Chef’s Kitchen, which is by reservation and can be held on whatever evening the group wants to gather, if available. “It is a five-course meal,” Nicole explains. “I prepare and cook the meal in front of the diners at our open kitchen set up at the bar. I take into account any allergies and food preferences for each group when booking,” she says. (If a diner, for example, absolutely hates seafood, she might still make a fish dish for the others in the group but come up with something different for the person who has an aversion to that food.)
“I am known for farm-to-table meals, garnishes, presentation of the meal, and specialty libations,” she adds.
Nicole also does private catering and chefing, making everything from custom-designed sandwiches to elaborate menus in private homes. She serves New Hampshire, Maine, and Massachusetts, with many of her customers hailing from the Lake Winnipesaukee area.
Part of cooking is knowing who you are cooking for; with that in mind, Nicole meets with clients ahead of time to learn their food preferences, personality, and what their home setting might be.
A good chef’s signature is curiosity and a willingness to pair foods to create something new and delicious. “I have always said I am happy to experiment with new designs, such as making unique soups and gourmet salads. Many of my dishes are created for the season, using, for example, using fresh foraged blueberries in summer or squash in the fall,” she says.
“I love designing any dish…seafood, chicken, beef or pork, but all with a gourmet twist,” Nicole adds. She can craft just about any dish, but don’t ask her to use a set recipe! “If I can see it, smell it, and taste it, I can cook as each ingredient comes to mind. It is really something instinctual.”
As she creates a meal at the open-kitchen, she encourages diners to ask questions and take notes on her cooking methods and the ingredients. Although she does not use set recipes, she wants to share her knowledge, and she says, “I want people to succeed when they are cooking.”
The business is more than a restaurant. For Nicole, it is also a place to make new friends and build relationships. It is a place where you “Enter as strangers but leave as friends!” From WINE-down Tuesdays to A Night in Chef’s Kitchen, food remains Nicole’s obsession, and one she works hard to share with everyone along the way.
Delectable Designs by Nicole is located at 445 Main Street in Farmington, New Hampshire. To reserve space for A Night in Chef’s Kitchen or to learn more, visit www.delectabledesignsbynicole.com or call 603-978-0978.
