About Nicole

NicoleNicole Weston is a Los Angeles-based blogger, writer and world traveler. Her first foray into blogging was back in 2004, when she spent just as much time explaining what a blog was as she did blogging (no, Mom, it’s not just an online journal!). Good timing and dedication led Nicole to pro in 2006, leading a team of bloggers at a site called Slashfood, founded by Weblogs, Inc. and later owned by AOL, as well as writing for other lifestyle properties.

While leading a team of writers was rewarding, Nicole eventually went on to build up a huge readership at her own food and baking blog, Baking Bites, producing a wide variety of original content for the site that is aimed at home bakers of all levels. She also designed and maintains the back end of the site, as she is always hands-on in all of her projects.

Nicole is a graduate of UC Berkeley, where she achieved a BA in Linguistics, but her passion for food led her to towards the kitchen. She is a trained pastry chef and experienced recipe developer, in addition to a prolific writer, with a variety of professional certifications:

  • Professional Baking and Pastry certificate from the New School of Cooking
  • Master Chocolatier certificate from the Callebaut Chocolate School
  • WSET Level 2
  • Bar Smarts (In Progress)
  • Certified Spirits Specialist (In progress)
  • Pillsbury Bake Off Judge

She is also the author of 5 cookbooks: The Baking Bites Cookbook, How to Make Frozen Yogurt, How to Make Ice Cream, Vegan Frozen Treats and Tiki Drinks: Tropical Cocktails for the Modern Bar.

When she is not in the kitchen, Nicole spends a lot of time outdoors. She’s a long-time horse lover and competitive dressage rider who has trained with two Olympians and has obtained her USDF Bronze medal. When she can, she also loves to travel. Nicole has been to 6 continents and more than 20 countries – but never gets tired of checking out her native Los Angeles, where there are always unexplored corners to venture into.

Nicole travels solo occasionall, but more often she travels with her family or her long-time boyfriend, Rob. He’s an expert mixologist and blogs at Barman’s Journal, as well as the co-author of Tiki Drinks: Tropical Cocktails for the Modern Bar. Together, they have appeared on several TV new segments cooking and promoting the book.

Nicole & Rob in Hawaii