Chef Nic

Photos Courtesy of Dry Creek Productions

On a bright Friday morning in LoHi, the kitchen at Linger hummed with its usual pre-service energy. Pots and plans clattered; chefs and staff moved around with practiced rhythm, and the scent of something sweet drifted through the air. At the center of it all was 17-year-old Nic, dressed in a crisp chef’s coat, a custom red apron with “Chef Nic” stitched proudly across the front, and a button reading “Make-A-Wish Colorado” on his lapel.

This wasn’t just any usual brunch – it was Nic’s wish!

Make-A-Wish Colorado teamed up with Linger to help grant Nic’s wish to be a chef for a day and star in his own cooking show. For a teenager who loves watching Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, Barefoot Contessa, and The Pioneer Woman, his wish was rooted in something deeper than food. Nic, who is nonverbal, uses a wheelchair and receives nutrition through a g-tube, finds joy when he is in the kitchen at home, surrounded by family and being a part of everything.

For him, the most important parts of his wish were cooking alongside real chefs, sharing the experience with his family, and having his experience filmed and turned into his own cooking show that he could watch again and again!

Linger, the iconic Denver restaurant set inside a former mortuary, embraced the opportunity to grant Nic’s wish without hesitation. The team transformed the day into something far beyond a standard kitchen visit.

Throughout the morning, Nic worked alongside Linger’s culinary team, from being part of the family meal, to learning how to prep iconic Linger dishes and how to get the food out to restaurant guests in a timely manner. He sampled components of his “Wish Dish,” which was crafted around his love of sweets, and his reaction said everything. When he tried the caramel corn custard, his smile lit up the kitchen!

That dish became the centerpiece of the day: a sweet corn waffle topped with caramel corn custard, Palisade cherries and cherry maple syrup. It was a perfect combination of Nic’s tastes and the kitchen’s creativity. The entire weekend, Chef Nic’s dish was part of Linger’s brunch menu, with a portion of proceeds benefiting Make-A-Wish Colorado!

As service began, Nic took his place at the line, giving his approval to plates before they were sent out to the dining room, which was packed with Make-A-Wish staff, volunteers, board members and friends, enhancing the usual buzz of a busy brunch service with an added sense of purpose.

Every detail of the day was captured on film, from pre-service prep to Nic’s tour of the kitchen and joyful celebration with family afterward. The result will be Nic’s very own cooking show that he will be able to watch and relive his wish whenever he wants.

Nic’s wish gave him an experience he will never forget and brought the restaurant world and Make-A-Wish together for a brunch to remember! Thank you to Linger for transforming Nic’s wish into this unforgettable day.

If you’re interested in learning more about Make-A-Wish Colorado, please visit wish.org/colorado or follow them on social media: @WishColorado.