Nicole Gaffney is a chef, writer and media personality best known for being second runner up on the 10th season of reality cooking competition, "Food Network Star." On the show, Nicole brought attention to her “Coastal Cuisine,” food that reflects the laid back lifestyle of living at the shore. She loves cooking with fresh, locally sourced ingredients and using simple preparations to make them shine.

Nicole got her start as a chef in South Jersey when she started The Dinner Belle, a personal chef service offering meal solutions, small event catering and private cooking lessons. While she did receive some formal training at the Academy of the Culinary Arts, Nicole credits the bulk of her culinary education to her Italian upbringing, attending college in Louisiana (LSU), reading cookbooks, watching cooking shows and all of the chefs she had the honor of working for.

Before becoming a chef, Nicole studied broadcast journalism and worked as a model and spokesperson for various companies. She was able to combine her passion for food with her background in communications when she began hosting two Philadelphia based shows, “The Chef’s Kitchen” and “Best of the Best.” Nicole is still the active host of both shows and has since been a featured guest on “The Rachael Ray Show,” “House Hunters,” “My Family Recipe Rocks with Joey Fatone,” and starred as a home cook in a commercial for Dorot Herbs.

Nicole also travels around the country giving cooking demonstrations for various festivals, trade shows, organizations, events and casinos. She’s been featured in various news publications including Food Network Magazine, Serendipity Magazine and 225 Magazine, and works with assorted food and lifestyle brands to develop recipes, record videos and promote their products. In 2013 Nicole was named one of Atlantic City’s Top 40 Under 40 and in 2015 she was named honoree of the Academy of Culinary Art’s Restaurant Gala.

More than anything, Nicole loves teaching and inspiring others to get into their kitchens and cook. She writes a weekly food blog and produces a web cooking series both by the name of Coley Cooks (ColeyCooks.com), a nod to the nickname given to her by friends and family. Coley Cooks is designed to teach people simple techniques and recipes in a laid back format that’s intended to inspire and boost confidence in home cooks. Nicole emphatically believes in giving back to the community and volunteers with the Atlantic City Boys and Girls Club, Campus Kitchens, the Community Food Bank of New Jersey and the ALS Association.

Nicole Gaffney

Chef, Recipe Developer, Blogger @ ColeyCooks.com

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