Professional experience
Diner owner and cook, 28 years
Nelson's Route 10 Diner, Livingston, 1993 to 2021
Self-reported
All professionals
Cooking lessons in Livingston
Marcus Nelson
Cooking lessons: Soups, stews and diner classics
Former diner owner who teaches classic comfort food and the shortcuts he learned over thirty years
- 4.9 from 7 reviews
- Lives in Livingston
- All five checks passed
Ask a question before you book. Contact details stay private.
Credentials
Certification
ServSafe Food Protection Manager
National Restaurant Association, 2015
Self-reported
About me
I ran a diner on Route 10 in Livingston for almost thirty years with my brother. We made the soup from scratch every single morning, and people drove in from three towns over for the Thursday split pea. When we sold the place in 2021, I missed the cooking more than anything else.
Now I teach the food I know best. Chicken soup, meatloaf, a proper pot roast, pancakes that do not come out of a box. I keep recipes to a single page with big type, and I show you how to make a full pot and freeze it in portions. If a recipe uses something hard to grip, like a heavy pot, I will show you a lighter way to get the same result. We always taste as we go.
I still shop at the Livingston farmers market on Saturdays, and I still say hello to half the town while I am there.
What a first visit looks like
- 1
Minute 0 to 10
We look through your pantry together and pick one comfort dish you have been missing.
- 2
Minute 10 to 20
Prep at the counter or table: washing, peeling and chopping the vegetables for the pot.
- 3
Minute 20 to 50
We cook the dish start to finish while I explain each step and the little tricks that save time.
- 4
Minute 50 to 60
We taste, portion some into containers for the freezer, and I leave the recipe page behind.
What to have ready
- A large soup pot
- A wooden spoon
- A cutting board and knife
- Freezer containers with lids
Where Marcus goes
- LivingstonLives here
- Roseland
- Short Hills
- West Caldwell
Where in the home
KitchenDining table
Usual week
Mon
9am
to 1pmTue
Off
Wed
1pm
to 5pmThu
Off
Fri
9am
to 1pmSat
Off
Sun
3pm
to 7pm
What families say
“Kitchen smelled amazing for hours.”
Mei C.
“Mom wrote the recipe on a card for me.”
Luis C.
“Very respectful of my father's routines.”
Susan P.
“Showed up with everything and left the kitchen cleaner than she found it.”
Patrick N.
“A real bright spot in our week. Highly recommend.”
Alex G.
“Easy to book and an absolute delight.”
Chris B.
“Kind, punctual and so much fun. Dad is already asking about next week.”
Karen M.
Checked and vetted
- Online search
- A real conversation with our team
- Signed provider agreement
- Criminal background check
- National sex offender registry check
$65 per hour
Plus a $2.50 booking fee and 10% service fee.
Free cancellation up to 3 days before.