Shermond Esteen Jr.
Chef
Nonno’s Cajun Cuisine and Pastries
New Orleans, LA USA
“You can either get bitter or better.”
Videos
By Roadtrip NationShermond Esteen Jr.
Milestones
My road in life has taken me all over.
My mother, who owned a catering business, taught me how to cook when I was a kid.
I was sentenced to 33 years in prison for possession of marijuana in 1999.
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.
I always had a vision of opening my own restaurant when I got out of prison.
I was released from prison in 2019 after serving 20 years of my 33-year sentence.
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.
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.
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.
Education
Career
Chef
I own a restaurant and cook all of the main entrees.
Career Roadmap
My work combines:
My work combines:
Food
Entrepreneurship
Accomplishing Goals
Hurdles
Challenges I Overcame
Formerly Incarcerated
Interviewed By
Being Free
Formerly incarcerated people find purpose
