Welcome to Black Cat Recruitment, a premier hospitality and recruitment company owned and operated by professional chefs.
With our deep-rooted expertise in the culinary world, we understand the unique demands of the hospitality industry. Our mission is to connect top-tier talent with leading restaurants, hotels, bars, and Large Events across the UK.
Whether you’re seeking exceptional staff or looking for the perfect job, our dedicated team leverages their industry knowledge to deliver tailored solutions, ensuring excellence in every placement.
Trust us to elevate your hospitality experience.
Born and raised in Liverpool with proud Brazilian heritage, Nicol has been a dedicated presence in the culinary world for over 30 years. His journey began at 17 when he joined a youth training scheme at the Adelphi Hotel in Liverpool.
Under the mentorship of Kieran Martins, Nicol honed his skills and developed a passion for cooking that would shape his career. He spent a decade at the Adelphi, mastering his craft and deepening his expertise.
During his time as Head Chef at Aldeli, Nicol focused on creating a menu that stood out from the crowd.
Drawing inspiration from New York cuisine, he introduced dishes that were hard to find elsewhere, ensuring authenticity by sourcing high-quality ingredients, such as the peppered beef pastrami imported from Germany.
Nicol was known for his commitment to freshness and homemade quality. Every dish at Aldeli was made to order, with elements like soups, coleslaw, pizza dough, scones, and jams crafted in-house.
One of his signature dishes is the salt beef sandwich, featuring brisket pickled for nearly three weeks and slow-cooked to perfection. Paired with caraway-seeded rye bread, pickles, sauerkraut, and creamed horseradish, it became a favourite among diners.
Nicol drew inspiration from the diverse mix of people he encountered in the kitchen and dining room throughout his career, including his experience working at Hilton Liverpool, Hilton Manchester, and The Ivy Manchester.
The variety of cultures and backgrounds he worked with and served fuelled his creativity and passion for creating unique, flavorful dishes.Outside of his own kitchen, Nicol has a particular fondness for authentic South American native cuisine.
