About
Celebrated chef, restauranteur, and media personality best known for his introduction of French cuisine to Bucharest. He came into the spotlight through shows such as Top Chef Romania and iUmor, and has operated his restaurant, La Cantine de Nicolai, as well as numerous media ventures and lines of branded cookware.
Before Fame
He spent his early life in rural Maramureș. He tragically lost his father when he was only 12 years old, forcing him to leave school early to support his family, which at times meant even begging on the street. Prior to his ascent within the French culinary scene, he worked several odd jobs in Italy and France.
Trivia
In 2009, he opened his restaurant, La Cantine de Nicolai, which features a unique blend of both French cuisine and contemporary art. In 2019, he released a Romanian cookbook called Maramureș în bucate.
Family Life
He has shared photos alongside his daughter, Ilona, on his nicolai_tand Instagram account, where he boasts over 210,000 followers.
Associated With
He starred on the morning entertainment show Neatza cu Răzvan și Dani, which was hosted by Razvan Simion and Dani Oțil.
