When Danielle, a Denver native, started dating Nigel from New Orleans, his first question was simple: “Where’s the good food at? Where can I get some good soul food?” Her answer? “Oh, it’s a little difficult to find that here.”
That conversation sparked the birth of Nola Eats, a Southern Cajun catering company that launched in 2023. For over a year, Nigel juggled his job at the power company in New Orleans while flying back and forth to Denver every weekend to cook. “That was difficult, to say the least,” he admits, “but when you’re determined to see something grow and have it blossom, you find a way.” Finally, this January, Nigel made the permanent move to Colorado, bringing his authentic New Orleans cooking with him. Growing up in the Big Easy, cooking was second nature. “Everyone in New Orleans grows up [cooking],” he explains. “My grandmother taught me, and it’s just been one of my things.”
For Danielle, the mission goes beyond just serving food. “I want to see a variety [in Denver’s food scene]. There’s not a lot of variety out here,” she says. “There’s a lot of people from the south out here. Some came after Katrina… whatever brought them out here, I want them to still be able to get that taste of home.” So, what makes New Orleans food so special? “It’s got to be the flavor,” Nigel says. “It’s just like going to New Orleans… it’s a certain type of flavor that you get that you will get no other place.”
Their most popular dish? Crawfish balls – “kind of like a crab cake, but we put it in a ball form” with house-made remoulade. They also serve authentic po’boys (it’s all about that French bread), red beans and rice, shrimp and grits, and shrimp Creole.
You can find Nola Eats every Saturday at the Cherry Creek Fresh Market from 9 am to 2 pm. As they say, they’re bringing authentic Southern flavor to a community that’s been craving it. Find Nola Eats on Instagram @nola_eats_denver, Facebook at Nola Eats Denver, or email nolaeatsdenver@gmail.com for catering.