Meet Chef Nelly

Hi, I’m Chef Nelly — founder, private chef, and baker behind The Nelly Experience.

With over 4 years of professional private chef experience, more than 10 years of self-taught cooking, and a lifelong love for food, my culinary style is rooted in the traditions and techniques passed down by my grandmothers, combined with diverse cultures, flavors, techniques, and desserts I’ve taught myself along the way.

My journey into the culinary world officially began in early 2023 during one of the most difficult seasons of my life. While temporarily living in Georgia, I experienced homelessness, depression, and a major lack of support. Through it all, my faith in God gave me the strength to keep going and pushed me to finally pursue a natural talent I had always carried.

I started a small local side hustle called Chef Nelly Eat’z, and what began as a simple side hustle quickly became something much bigger. The overwhelming love, support, and success I received from my community encouraged me to take things a step further and pursue my dreams on a greater level.

In 2024, I took a huge leap of faith and moved back to my hometown of New York City, where I continued building my craft, my vision, and my business.

In May 2025, The Nelly Experience was officially born.

Today, I specialize in creating flavorful, culturally inspired food, from-scratch desserts, and elevated private dining experiences designed to look just as good as they taste. For me, it’s more than cooking — it’s about creativity, connection, hospitality, and creating memorable experiences through food that makes the soul happy!

This is The Nelly Experience.