Nikhil Naiker
Nimki | Providence, RI
SEPTEMBER 2023
Born in Fiji and raised in the Bay Area, Nikhil Naiker has always been surrounded by food. His parents got him interested in cooking and always encouraged Naiker in all of his culinary pursuits. He moved across the country to Providence, Rhode Island to attend Johnson & Wales University, and quickly felt at home in the city’s restaurant community. When he was 18 years old, he joined the team at North Bakery under Rising Stars alum James Mark, where he enjoyed access to the Narragansett Bay's bounty of seafood and forged connections with local farmers. Over three years, Naiker learned to lead a team, working his way up to a managerial role.
Naiker continued to cook in kitchens across the city, including Fearless Fish, Dune Brothers Seafood, and Bywater, as well as running the kitchen at the wine bar, Fortnight, until it closed in early 2023. Looking to tap into his heritage and marry it with the region's local product, Naiker began popping up and experimenting with his Fijian-Indian-inflected cuisine. His pop-ups quickly gained momentum, so he expanded to more regular appearances at Bolt Coffee in Providence, and Crispy Gài and Bar Futo in Portland, Maine, while also picking up shifts at Pickerel on the side to keep his culinary skills sharp. Now, Naiker is ready to launch his own concept, Nimki. Serving New England tropical cuisine, Naiker features dishes like his roasted sprouting cauliflower, green crab garum, black pepper yogurt, and smoked hazelnuts that stay true to both his coastal and island upbringing and his love of New England seafood.
2023 StarChefs Coastal New England Rising Stars Award Winner
