Nicole was born and raised in the Philippines. She moved to New York in 2001 to attend the French Culinary Institute in Soho. Her culinary career began with Danny Meyer and Union Square Hospitality Group cooking at both Eleven Madison Park and Gabriele Kreuther’s the Modern at MOMA. She worked as a tournant for Chef Alain Allegretti at Atelier in the Ritz Carlton Central Park and later with Chef Dan Kluger at the Core Club. After New York, Nicole moved to Los Angeles to work at the Thompson Beverly Hills with Chef Brian Redzikowski.

Nicole moved back to her hometown in the Philippines after L.A. to open a creole concept family restaurant. After a few years back home, she relocated to New Orleans. She joined the Link Restaurant Group to be part of the opening team at Peche Seafood Grill in 2013. Nicole has been Chef de Cuisine at Peche since 2019.