Although Nicholas Ducos missed the opportunity to make the finale, Gordon Ramsay’s Food Stars proved to be a learning experience for the founder of Mural City Cellars. Even though he did not win the title, this business lesson will serve him well into the future.
In any reality competition, the blend of engaging entertainment with completing tasks is a fine line. Even though viewers see a well-produced show, there are many moments that have been left on the cutting room floor. It is inevitable. The hours of planning, executing, and grilling cannot be aired in its entirety.
For anyone watching this season of Gordon Ramsay’s Food Stars, Nicholas Ducos might have elicited a particular response. Sometimes when a person chooses to play the game, they can be portrayed in a particular light.
During a recent conversation with Nicholas after he was eliminated from the FOX competition, he admitted that his goal with each challenge was “to prove that I’m doing the right thing to the best of my ability. I think that a lot of these challenges pushed me to that limit. It was a true testament to how difficult this challenge was.”
Looking at Season 2, the group of food entrepreneurs was quite diverse. While Nicolas has years of experience in his field, other participants were just starting their journey. When asked if he thought the business diversity was beneficial in the competition, he admitted that it was a “mixed bag.” The differences in experience highlighted everyone’s business acumen.
While the group of entrepreneurs was diverse, Nicholas believes that it was vital for the eventual winner to have knowledge in all aspects of the food and beverage industry. As he explained, this business bootcamp was a lesson to everyone that “in this industry you should be a well-rounded individual and learn a little bit of everything.”
Even though he appreciates the opportunity, he laughed that he might have been better suited for another Lisa Vanderpump reality television show due to his strong personality. But, he did not shy away from the fact that he “was there to compete and win. I approached it as a competition, not as much as a friendship moment.”
Although Lisa Vanderpump does not mince words, Nicholas felt that he was a good fit for her team. Plus, he admitted “Lisa’s grillings are a lot lighter than Gordon’s. I do appreciate that aspect of her demeanor.”
Nicholas Ducos’ biggest take away from Gordon Ramsay’s Food Stars.
When asked what lesson he learned from the Gordon Ramsay’s Food Stars, Nicholas was quite clear. He said, “the number one thing would be learning to take accountability. I heard multiple time from my team that they thought that I wasn’t taking accountability, even though I believed in the moment that I was. Going forward, in my business, I make sure that if I make a decision, I own it 100%, especially if it is my idea. Accountability is definitely the number one thing that I learned from the show.”
Additionally, he mentioned that being a team member is vital. Nicholas admitted, “I am a fantastic team player in a real life scenario, but on a competition show, where I am competing, I might have taken the team player aspect and put it in the background.”
Now that he is applying both accountability and teamwork into his business mindset, Mural City Cellars seems poised to continue its growth. Over the past several years, the concept has not only had much personal success but also brought vibrancy to the community.
Nicholas explained, “I think that our business has had the success because of our intention and respect to the community. I think that a lot of wineries are far outside of community and city centers. Being smack dab in the middle of one of the largest cities in America and focusing on community integration has been a big part of our success. We give back to the community and donate to nonprofits that support education, art, and community initiatives.”
While his business’ growth in turn supports the community, it is just one aspect why people flock to Mural City Cellars. As Nicholas explained, his business has “built trust in the community.” By employing knowledgeable staff who use an approachable method to introduce guests to wine, it allows the conversation to evolve over time. That first blind wine tasting can help anyone discover a varietal that they may have never poured. Mural City Cellars is always ready to smash people’s wine preconceptions.
Although he might not have made the finale, Nicholas recommends popping some bubbles to watch the last challenge. He suggested a Long Island Blanc de Blancs from Lens. As he mentioned, “it is a great wine to celebrate the journey that everyone went on. It was some crazy weeks and everyone deserves a nice glass of bubbles at the end.”
Be sure to watch Gordon Ramsay’s Food Stars Wednesday night on FOX. Episodes can be streamed the next day on Hulu.
Mural City Cellars is located in Philadelphia. Check its website for operating hours and special events.
