We first met Nick Dekker of Breakfast with Nick in 2011 at Celebrate Local’s Meet the Makers Day when it was just a pop-up shop in Easton. While we were there selling kolache – before establishing a home in the Brewery District – Nick was there promoting his namesake book. Breakfast with Nick was the perfect guide to Columbus’s breakfast food scene. As the breakfast landscape continued to evolve as more businesses opened, Nick established himself as the Breakfast authority by covering everything about breakfast and more through his blog and social media accounts.

We asked Nick to share more about his day job, blogging, and why he supports small businesses.

What do you for your day job?

I work on the marketing team for the Greater Columbus Arts Council! I help run our statewide event calendars, manage the Columbus Makes Art campaign, and work on the Columbus Arts Festival.

Nick working at the Columbus Arts Festival, photo courtesy of Nick Dekker.

How did Breakfast with Nick come about, and how long have you been blogging?

I started my blog in June of 2007, as a way to record the great breakfast places we were discovering around Columbus, and as we traveled. I’ve always seen food as the perfect in-road to getting to know a destination. I’m trained formally as a historian and an educator, so my impulse is always to document and share with others. I really love being able to serve as a guide – sometimes literally – to help people discover local restaurants and learn the stories behind them.

L: Nick Dekker at his home during a kitchen build-out, making Dutch baby pancakes
R: Finished product, photos courtesy of Nick Dekker.

Tell us something about yourself that would surprise us.

Junior year, I was ranked the third-best high school broadcaster in the state of Michigan.

What advice would you give someone who wants to start blogging?

Just start! Start visiting places, take good photos, write honestly and consistently. Find your niche and become an expert in it. Be supportive of others and small businesses. Don’t ask for free stuff!

Nick Dekker of Breakfast with Nick (center) with Dusty (left) and Rick (right), co-owners of Kolache Republic at their original location, photo courtesy of Nick Dekker.

You’ve been a great supporter of many small businesses including Kolache Republic, why is supporting small businesses important to you?

I think small businesses are what really give a city its character. They boost the quality of life, they offer employment, and they truly are the reason you would want to live somewhere. We love Columbus because we love small businesses and the people behind them. We’re proud of them and love to show them off to visitors.

Dusty hosting Columbus Food Adventures’ Breakfast Tour led by Nick Dekker, photo courtesy Nick Dekker.

What is your favorite kolache?

Of the regular offerings, the chorizo, egg, and cheese breakfast kolache, but of the specialties: the Thanksgiving kolache hands down!

Kolache Republic’s Thanksgiving Kolache, photo courtesy Nick Dekker.

Follow Nick on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and YouTube: @breakfastwithnick or visit his website at https://www.breakfastwithnick.com/

Our Community Table is meant to highlight the great work of individuals continuing to help make Columbus a great city to live, play, and work. Send us an email at rick@kolacherepublic.com, if you would like to be featured.

Posted in Our Blog