Meet the Chef Behind Café Nicole: A Story of Family, Food & Flavour
Hockey Hall of Fame, Yonge Street, Toronto, ON, Canada
At Café Nicole, located inside Novotel Toronto Centre, every dish begins with a story — one rooted in family, tradition, and a lifelong love of cooking. Behind the menu is Chef Asok Tharumalingam, whose culinary journey started long before professional kitchens, shaped by childhood memories, home-cooked meals, and a deep respect for hospitality.
This is more than a dining experience. It’s a reflection of a culinary path built on passion, heritage, and heart.
A Culinary Journey Rooted in Family
For Chef Asok Tharumalingam, the inspiration to cook came from home.
“My mother was a chef, and our family had a restaurant back home,” he shares. “I learned how to cook traditional dishes from her at a young age. She always inspired me to do great things with food and used to say that people will always need to eat.”
That belief stayed with him.
It guided him into hotel school, where he discovered not only a passion for cooking, but also for hospitality itself — the experience of welcoming people, creating comfort, and sharing food that brings joy.
Today, while his mother’s restaurant still stands and continues its legacy, the same spirit lives on through his own cooking at Café Nicole.
A Culinary Style Defined by Simplicity & Depth
When asked to describe his cooking style in just three words, Chef Asok is clear:
Flavourful. Abundant. Thoughtful.
It’s a philosophy that comes through in every dish at Café Nicole — food that feels generous, satisfying, and intentionally crafted.
Nothing is overcomplicated. Instead, each plate is designed to highlight ingredients in a way that feels both comforting and expressive.
A Favourite Dish with a Personal Touch
Among the dishes on the menu, one stands out as a personal favourite for Chef Asok: the beet salad.
“It’s fresh, colourful, and healthy,” he says. “It also brings people joy when they see it — because we eat with our eyes first. That always makes me happy.”
It’s a simple dish, but one that reflects a larger philosophy: food should look as good as it tastes, and should always bring a sense of enjoyment from the very first glance.
Food Memories That Shape the Present
Some of the strongest inspirations come from childhood traditions.
For Chef Asok, New Year’s Day holds a special place in his heart. Growing up, it was a time filled with traditional foods, customs, and family gatherings.
“As a child, the traditional foods, customs, and having all of your family and friends together were things I looked forward to every year,” he recalls.
Today, that tradition continues in his own home, where he brings together family and friends to share food and celebrate connection — a practice that continues to shape how he approaches cooking every day.
A Love for Middle Eastern & Mediterranean Cuisine
If Chef Asok could cook one cuisine forever, the answer is simple:
Middle Eastern and Mediterranean.
These cuisines reflect everything he values in food — freshness, balance, and meaning.
“I would choose Middle Eastern and Mediterranean cuisine. It’s healthy and full of flavour without feeling heavy. The ingredients are beautiful, and the connection to land and place gives the food meaning beyond just sustenance. In many ways, it turns eating into something almost spiritual.”
It’s a perspective that perfectly aligns with the philosophy behind Café Nicole — food that nourishes, connects, and tells a story.
A Story Served Daily at Café Nicole
At its core, Café Nicole is more than a restaurant within a hotel. It is a reflection of Chef Asok Tharumalingam’s journey — one shaped by family tradition, cultural heritage, and a lifelong love of sharing food with others.
Every dish served carries that story forward.
So whether you’re staying at Novotel Toronto Centre or simply stopping in for a meal, Café Nicole offers more than just a menu — it offers a connection to the person behind it.