Café Pierrot has been serving great food and catering in Sussex County for over 20 years. Our excellent cakes and food have brought customers to us again and again for their celebrations- from first communion to high school graduation to the wedding cake. We look forward to serving our customers not only through events, but also in our restaurant and bakery.
Chef Rick Nifenecker
Chef Rick has been in love with the kitchen since he was 12 years old. After studying business in college, he attended Le Cordon Bleu in Paris, France. Soon, he was working in the Four Seasons under Seppi Renggli and Le Cirque with Sirio Maccione in New York City. He also was apprenticed in the Cakery in Manhattan, where he developed his bread and cake recipes. After several years of life in the city, Rick decided to open his own restaurant and bakery in his home town of Andover, NJ. Using his unique recipes, Chef Nifenecker made fantastic breads, pastries, and cakes.
When Café Pierrot in Sparta, NJ opened 4 years later, he cooked breakfast, lunch, and dinner with a delicious, but affordable, menu in mind—a menu that customers return to every day and never get tired of. As business changed, Rick decided to pursue more education and certification at the Culinary Institute of America where he received his Pro Chef II Certification and became a Certified Chef de Cuisine.
Currently, he is a Chef/ Instructor at Bob Jones University where he teaches classes such as Restaurant Management and Bake Shop. His students lovingly call him “Chef Nif” and learn from his vast experience in the restaurant business. During the summers, Chef Rick Nifenecker builds Café Pierrot and continues to expand his professional experience by working at Daniel Boulod’s restaurants in Manhattan.
Laura Nifenecker
Laura Nifenecker studied Fashion Merchandising at LIM College in New York City. She also attended the Fashion Institute of Technology in addition to studying Business at Montclair State University. Laura rose to Associate Buyer for a fashion company in New York City by the time she was 24. She and Rick were married and continued their busy city lives for four years until Rick decided to open the bakery. Laura was supportive of this move from the fashion district to the restaurant business and her business sense combined with Chef Rick’s product help Café Pierrot to succeed. While Rick is busy teaching, Laura continues to operate and guide Café Pierrot through its growth in all areas from Bakery to Catering.
In addition to the busy-ness of owning a restaurant, Rick and Laura raised their two daughters, Danielle and Stefanie, who are both in college.
Mission Statement:
Founded on the biblical principle of doing all things to honor and glorify Christ Jesus, we aim to provide our customers with the finest culinary experience coupled with the highest level of service. We strive to cultivate customer loyalty by listening to, caring about, and providing a consistent and excellent standard of quality.