Niagara Now featured NC alumnus Alex Hicks (Hospitality Management – Hotel and Restaurant program, 2009) for winning first place in Food Network cooking show Wall of Chefs. Hicks, of Niagara-on-the-Lake, won $10,000 in the series for home cooks.
Being inspired by her family’s love for food from an early age, Hicks has always had a passion for cooking. It is that passion that led her to Niagara College. Upon graduating from NC, Hicks fell ill, spending her time watching the cooking shows and trying new recipes, all of which helped her build skills she would go on to use in the televised competition.
Hicks describes the kitchen as her therapy. She enjoys infusing her recipes with ingredients local to NOTL. On Wall of Chefs, Hicks brought local elements into her dishes, including using a Niagara cabarnet and Niagara peaches.
Hicks says, “I really want to instill how proud I am to be from NOTL. We are so lucky to live in such a bountiful, diverse microclimate known for farming, culinary and viticulture.”
Hicks says she may pursue more studies in culinary at NC with the end goal of opening a bed and breakfast with her husband on their farm – perhaps even being a host on The Food Network.
