Linda Nance - "I was the pickiest eater in the world", says Linda Nance, recalling her childhood in Oxnard, California. "Dinnertime was a nightmare for my parents". Later in life, Linda’s scrutiny of food (which she refers to as both a blessing and a curse) has helped her to make quite a career for herself as a regionally renowned chef.
Born in Huntsville, Alabama, Linda grew up in California, where she would land her first restaurant job in 1982, as a hostess at age 14. After high school, Linda’s love of food grew as she worked in several restaurant kitchens. At age 19, she enrolled at the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York. After graduating with honors, she developed her culinary expertise while working as a chef at restaurants in New York City, Las Vegas, Tucson AZ, and back home in California.
Linda brings over 24 years of restaurant experience to Purple Parrot Café. Her culinary style blends our regional French-influenced Gulf Coast Creole with Pacific Coast, American Southwest, and Asian fusion to create an exciting, contemporary Southern Coastal cuisine.
Ever the culinary student, Linda recently traveled to Mexico with acclaimed chef Rick Bayless to study authentic regional Mexican food. When asked about her influences, she quickly lists Jacques Pepin, Patrick Waterbury (a longtime friend and culinary mentor), and the Swedish Chef from the Muppet Show.
Linda lives in Hattiesburg, Mississippi with her three cats (Newtie, Maggie & Levi), and Prince, the hand-me-down toy poodle formerly known as Pork Chop St. John.