Shermond Esteen Jr.
Nonno’s Cajun Cuisine and Pastries
New Orleans, LA USA
"You can either get bitter or better."
Career Roadmap
Shermond's work combines: Food, Entrepreneurship, and Accomplishing Goals
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Day In The Life
Skills &
Education
Here's the path I took:
Associate's Degree
General Studies
Associate's Degree
Paralegal Studies
Life & Career Milestones
I've taken a lot of twists and turns
1.
My mother, who owned a catering business, taught me how to cook when I was a kid.
2.
I was sentenced to 33 years in prison for possession of marijuana in 1999.
3.
While incarcerated, I learned how to bake and became good enough at it that I started running the kitchen and teaching others how to cook and bake.
4.
I always had a vision of opening my own restaurant when I got out of prison.
5.
I was released from prison in 2019 after serving 20 years of my 33-year sentence.
6.
After being released, I took one day off and then got to work on my business, starting by cooking out of my mother and father’s home.
7.
My cooking became more popular and I began looking for a building to open up a restaurant in order to comply with food and health codes.
8.
In June of 2020, I opened Nonno’s Cajun Cuisine & Pastries, where I cook all of the main entrees and teach the dishes to those working under me.
Defining Moments
Experiences and challenges that shaped me
I spent 20 years in prison after being arrested for possession of marijuana. Instead of getting bitter, I used my time in prison to better myself, learn how to bake, and work towards my goal of opening a restaurant.