October 2022 Digtial Issue

Tyler Nicklin 28
Chef de Cuisine, The Other Bird, Hamilton, Ont.
“Tyler Nicklin is not a boss, she is a leader,” says Travis Blaesing, who
worked under Nicklin at Rapscallion and Co. “She puts an incredible
amount of effort into helping grow the people around her.”
Nicklin graduated from Niagara College’s Culinary Management
program in 2012 and steadily worked up the ranks at restaurants across
Ontario. In her current role as Chef de Cuisine at The Other Bird’s
Hamilton, Ont.-based Rapscallion Rogue Eatery, she collaborates on
menus with the executive chef, monitors food/labour costs and organizes
both onsite and off-site services.
“Even as a young female chef in a time when it wasn’t easy to be a young
female chef, she handled herself with grace, dignity and professionalism,”
says Matt Johnny, VP Operation, The Other Bird. “Her story through The
Other Bird starts at The Alex, then on to The Mule, Rapscallion Rogue
Eatery, Burro, ODDS, and finally lands now at Rapscallion and Co. …her
first position in a leadership role in our company.”
During COVID-19, Nicklin had the task of opening Rapscallion and Co
during the height of an epidemic. She and her team had the challenging
opportunity of making a restaurant relevant during this period. She led
and executed countless pop-ups and had to navigate hiring and training
a team during numerous lockdowns and business restrictions.
Brooke Husband 28
Assistant Winemaker, Domaine Queylus
/ Mason Vineyards / Honsberger Estate
Jordan Station, Ont.
A graduate of Niagara College, Brooke Husband is a driven,
passionate winemaker, whose talents are only growing. Currently,
she is assistant winemaker at not one, but at three wineries in the
Niagara region, managing 55 wines from harvest to bottle. Since
Husband joined Honsberger Estate in 2020, she has helped expand
their portfolio to include two sparkling wines, Blanc de Blancs
and Cabernet Franc Brut, and three table wines, Sauvignon Blanc,
Sauvignon Blanc Skin Fermented and Chardonnay Musqué. At
Domaine Queylus, she actively mentors and teaches interns about
winemaking processes.
Husband is the co-winemaker on a Viognier and Rosé on the
Mason Vineyard collab series and she won gold at the Ontario Wine
Awards 2022 in the categories Chardonnay Oaked over $20, Pinot
Noir, Cabernet Franc and White Wine of the Year. She also won
two Lieutenant Governor Awards for Excellence in Ontario
Wine in 2022.
“She has come so far in a short period of time,” says Kelly
Mason, owner and head winemaker at Mason Vineyard,
who also works for The Farm, Domaine Queylus and
Honsberger Estate wineries. “She is a rising star in the
industry and will leave a mark that will be noteworthy
to Niagara if not only in her wines, but also in the
trail of amazing talent she will have had a hand in
mentoring and encouraging.”
20 FOODSERVICE AND HOSPITALITY OCTOBER 2022