Nico Baizan de Aldecoa fell in love with the kitchen at his grandmother’s house, where he remembers more cooking equipment than any restaurant he’s worked in. Still, as a teen growing up in Houston, Aldecoa dreamed of playing professional soccer, so he moved to Spain. There, he began working as a dishwasher and discovered his passion for cooking. Since then, Aldecoa has worked at restaurants in New York and Chicago, but now he’s back in Houston as the chef behind MAVEN Coffee + Cocktails.
How did you become a dishwasher in Spain?
“My goal in my life was to become a professional athlete, so I went overseas at a very young age and was overseas playing sports. I wasn’t making enough money. At the time, I was a high school dropout. The only way I could make ends meet was starting to wash dishes. That’s how I fell in love with kitchens. I always loved cooking, and being a dishwasher is the perfect way to start off.”
You describe yourself as a self-taught chef. How did that happen?
“ I don’t think culinary school makes or breaks your career. I was willing and always have been willing to work harder than the person next to me. I’ve had a lot of mentors that taught me techniques or certain ways to cook. I remember the first time I did a French omelette. It was more than just showing me how to properly hold a knife, how to do things a certain way. It was a work ethic that was instilled in me. I’ve always been someone who learned a lot by just watching. I think anyone can teach themselves. It comes with patience and it comes with time.”
What do you enjoy about working at MAVEN Coffee + Cocktails?
“I really had the opportunity to create something in a city that I turned my back towards. When I left Houston, I swore I was never coming back. But, it brought me back home. I’m eternally grateful to be in this city and to be part of a movement in the city. Houston is becoming the forefront of the country in a lot of ways. We’re all very Houston proud, and we want to see this city flourish.”
This conversation has been edited lightly for clarity.
