Area culinary professionals will soon have a new way to connect. River City Casino executive chef John Johnson is developing an online platform called Nytche for individuals in the culinary world to network and develop their skills. (The project is not affiliated with River City Casino or Pinnacle Entertainment.)
Johnson got the idea several years ago while talking with fellow chefs about how difficult it is to find quality cooks. He envisioned a one-stop site where users could connect, share ideas and recipes, look for positions (or fill them), and create a professional network.
“The way we look at it, it’s the first step before the LinkedIn level,” Johnson says. “Within the culinary field, as you grow in your career, you’re finding your niche, whether it’s banquet cooking, production cooking, or fine-dining.”
Students will be able to reach out to chefs for mentorships, and there be educational vignettes available, such as tips on hiring employees and on writing a resume.
Users can sign up for free. Johnson is currently looking for sponsors, and advertising opportunities on the site will also be available.
He's been working on the project for the past two years, and the site's been under construction for the past nine months. He says beta testing should begin in early summer for users in St. Louis. He plans to eventually expand to other areas, such as his hometown of Asheville, North Carolina, as well as Chicago.
The Nytche landing page is now online for those who’d like to sign up ahead of time. Users from 10 countries have already put their names on the list, Johnson says. The project’s Facebook and Instagram pages are live as well, and SnapChat is coming soon.
