RCC Alum, Chef Nate Jordan living the dream

If you want to know the recipe for success, look no further than Nate Jordan, a 2022 graduate from Robeson Community College’s Culinary Arts program.

When Nate Jordan first came to RCC, he wasn’t quite sure what he wanted to do with his life, but the day he toured the culinary program, everything just seemed to fall into place.

“My Grandfather said he would never forget my face when I walked into the kitchen,” said Nate. “He told me that I just had a look of joy on my face that he had never seen before, it was just like I belonged there.”

Although Nate had not considered a career in culinary arts before, he said cooking was always something he had loved and been great at.

“It’s just one of those things that I get so easily and comes naturally to me,” Nate said. “I have always enjoyed cooking; I have always loved it.”

When his grandfather died, Nate said it motivated him to carry on his grandfather’s traditions.

“He always did all the cooking for the family,” said Nate. “He loved cooking pull pork, brisket.”

So when RCC’s Culinary Department held the first Battle of the Butts competition, Nate got excited about the opportunity to create a sauce similar to what his grandfather used to make.

Nate did not have faith that he would win, and much to his surprise, he did.

His recipe was the sauce used in the fundraiser portion of the competition which sold more than 1800 plates of barbeque and raised more than $12,000 for Communities in Schools.

“I call it Jocobo Sauce,” Nate said. “It’s the last names of everyone that raised me – Jordan, Covil, and Boyd.”

One day Nate hopes to bottle the sauce and sell it on the market. It’s a dream that he’s working toward achieving. He plans on seeking help from the RCC Small Business Center to get a business plan in place. Soon he hopes that as you walk down the grocery aisle and see all the sauces, Jocobo Sauce will be one of the choices you have.

During a meeting with Cheyenne McNeill from EducationNC, Nate provided samples to every one of his soon-to-be-famous sauce.

It was an instant hit.

Many in the room thought it would make a great dip, not just for barbeque but for other food items as well.  The sauce was so good, it left some in the meeting requesting seconds.

“It tastes great on my sandwich,” one person said.

“I’m dipping my chips in it.” said another. 

“Oh, let me try that, can you pass me some more.”

Although a bit nervous, Nate was excited to share his sauce with others.

“I really do want to bottle it, it’s becoming a part of a bigger dream,” Nate said in referencing the sauce.

“I’m working on another sauce called Pirate’s Booty, which has coconut rum, pineapple, and honey,” Nate said. “It’s become a hobby.”

In addition to creating sauces, Nate said he’s also looking to start his own food truck business soon, but for now, he’s busy working at Firehouse Subs as a manager, trying to get as much real-world experience as possible in the food industry.

“I’m trying to learn all that I can,” said Nate. “Even though Firehouse is a chain, we work hard to make our customers feel at home like it’s a ‘Mom & Pop shop,’ where everyone knows everyone. We do everything in our power to make sure our customers leave satisfied.”

Nate has also worked in fine dining at a 5-star restaurant, Scott’s Table in Southern Pines. It was a job that he loved, but with the increase in gas prices, he had to seek out other options and that’s when he landed at Firehouse Subs.

“I love what Firehouse stands for,” said Nate. “We raised $39,000 for the Lumberton Fire Department…. I was always raised to help others and to give, so this has been a great fit for me.”

“I hope our customers see our restaurant as a place where families can come in and enjoy a meal and appreciate the care, the humanity, the hospitality, and more importantly the love that we put into our food.”

With a growing economy in Robeson County, Nate says that he can see that the tourism and hospitality sectors will only continue to increase in response to demand.

“It’s a growing industry, so with that comes a need for jobs in restaurants, food service, and hotel and restaurant management,” stated Nate. “This is a great time to start a new restaurant or food truck business…. Lumberton and Robeson County it is just a great location.”

Nate says that his time in the culinary arts program at Robeson Community College helped him expand his horizons.

“Once I got into culinary, I saw that it was more than just what I knew. It introduced me to French cuisine, Japanese Cuisine, and just so much that I never thought of before…. The program was perfect, more than perfect,” Nate said.

“I graduated at the top of my class, and I met the love of my life,” stated Nate. “RCC has done a lot for me.”