STYLE Insider: Nook’s Jordan MacDonald Talks Hospitality Empires, Cookbooks and Dream Dinner Guests

By MiNDFOOD

STYLE Insider: Nook’s Jordan MacDonald Talks Hospitality Empires, Cookbooks and Dream Dinner Guests

From Culprit, to Lowbrow, Little Culprit and now Nook the Restauranteur duo Jordan MacDonald and Kyle Street are taking over Auckland’s restaurant scene. We caught up with MacDonald, chef and co-owner to hear about his new eatery, culinary lessons and dream dinner guests. 

If I had to describe myself in two sentences… I’m foremost a dad to two beautiful girls while also being a chef and restauranteur. I’m passionate about hospitality, love cooking and being creative.

Nook is… Something I’ve personally wanted to do for a long time. It’s quirky, cool and unique. In that way it’s similar to our other spots as we love a quirky unique vibe. Nook is based around Yakitori and has an Izakaya late night drinking vibe to it, which is worlds apart from the style of food at Lowbrow and Culprit. Our style of yakitori is different to others you find in Auckland, we do our best to make everything in house, bold flavours with our signature twist and saucey. My fiancé is always going on about sauce I guess she’s drilled that into me.

In the future, you can expect me doing… Nothing for a while. Time to sit on our hands and focus on my babies I’ve got now, my two girls and the other 5 restaurant babies.

A kitchen rule I always break… Never season your meat too early. I always season my meat early and its always delicious

A kitchen rule I would never break… Don’t run with knives.

My go-to dish at the end of a long day… Takeaways from Lowbrow. But if I’m being sensible and cooking it’ll be pork larb and then a second meal for my daughter who’s somewhat fussy and that’ll be either chicken schnitzel or lasagne.

The best culinary lesson I’ve learned is… Taste taste taste. Season season season.

In five years I see myself… With a couple more restaurants, maybe another child but definitely with my gorgeous family and hopefully have the ability to be at home a bit more.

A song I have on repeat right now… Tide up right now by Parcels

Books or podcasts… No time for novels unfortunately, but cookbooks are my jam.

One thing I can’t put down… I have a huge collection of cookbooks, the latest one is A Very Serious Cook Book from the guys at Contra / Wildair, it’s such a good read.

A Very Serious Cook Book: Contra Wildair, credit: Phaidon

If I could have dinner with any person on earth, it would be… Matty Matheson. That would be an indulgent, entertaining and interesting meal.

My favourite place to dine in New Zealand… Apero and Cazador.

My go-to coffee spot is… Red rabbit roasters in Parnell. Everyday.

When I was a kid I wanted to be… A chef, glad that one worked itself out.  

 

Shop 11, 183 Karangahape Road, Auckland.

Opening hours
Wednesday- Fri 12pm til late.
Saturday & Sunday 4pm til late.

www.noook.co.nz

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