Romeoville Resident Featured On 'Top Chef Amateurs'

Romeoville IL

30 September, 2021

11:13 PM

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ROMEOVILLE, IL — Nick Souksavat, a visual merchandiser from Romeoville, was recently featured on an episode of Bravo TV's first season of "Top Chef Amateurs." "Top Chef Amateurs" features amateur cooks competing in head-to-head challenges, and they are partnered with past "Top Chef" contestants who serve as advisors, according to the show's website. Souksavat said he grew up in the kitchen and would often help his mom, who had limited mobility from polio. "She instilled a sense of culinary tourism through exploring the cuisines of other cultures," Souksavat told Patch. "It was her way of expanding our horizons, as we didn't get to travel much since we didn't have a lot of means." As his mom's health declined, Souksavat, who is a first-generation Lao-American, said his father would also show off his cooking skills and he learned about Lao cooking from his parents. "It wasn't until I moved out to Chicago for college, where I honed my more elevated skills as I was exposed to the city's amazing food scene. Since then, I've always experimented in the kitchen finding ways to meld my heritage with new techniques and ingredients," he said. Souksavat currently lives with his family, and said he cooks as much as he can for his family and friends while still working full-time as a visual merchandiser. He also shares his creations on his Instagram account @gastronamour. "I'm often engaging with people on various platforms to share my experience with Lao food and culture as a first generation Lao-American," he said. Although Souksavat's professional background is not in the culinary field, he said he finds himself being pulled in that direction. He said he hopes to grow his social media following so he can share his content, and is also in the early stages of writing a cookbook. "Pre-COVID, I had drafted up a business plan to start a supper club/private dining service that I hope to put into motion when the world is a better place," he said. "In the meantime, I am open to any and all opportunities that will help me grow in culinary." "Top Chef Amateurs" premiered in July, and Souksavat was featured in the last episode of the season on Sept. 2. For more news and information like this, subscribe to the Romeoville Patch for free. If you have an iPhone, click here to get the free Patch iPhone app; download the free Patch Android app here. Don't forget to like us on Facebook!