As a child, Nina built restaurants out of sticks, leaves and bluestone in the woods of her parents twenty acre property near Woodstock, New York, serving dirt and water as "espresso," softened wood as "chicken," mulberry mud "pie" and many other natural treats!

In her teens she gave real cooking a whirl, for a year interning at New York City restaurants and hotels, including Union Square Cafe, Le Bernardin, Maxim’s and The Peninsula Hotel. She was recruited to work in all establishments, a testament to her culinary brilliance. A few years later, Nina was hired as pastry chef at the New York Times two-star restaurant, Cafe M , at New York City's Stanhope Hotel. Thus began a 20-year love of creating delectable sweets. Her culinary style has evolved with modern American cuisine to highlight local, natural & organic ingredients arranged with polish and charm.

Nina credits the visual beauty of her desserts to artistic genes gifted to her by her talented parents, some serious culinary courses and a BFA from Bard College.

In spring of 2004, she opened Swoon Kitchenbar in Hudson, New York with her husband and chef Jeffrey Gimmel. Now in it's ninth year, Swoon Kitchenbar is a local brasserie where the community goes to eat well and enjoy life.

Butter Brown Baking Company is Nina's newest venture. Offering unique cakes and sweets baked fresh for your discerning palate. Great ingredients and layers of complex flavor are the foundation of what sets Nina's desserts apart from the rest. Their allure however, begins with her careful and bewitching presentation...

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