Taking the Opportunity: Ziyeh Bissant’s NOCHI Journey

For Ziyeh Bissant, cooking has never been a phase, it’s been a constant. He’s been in the kitchen with his family since he was about six years old, learning by doing long before he ever stepped into a professional culinary classroom. During his time at NOCHI, Ziyeh worked at Hotel Fontenot, and his path there is a testament to what can happen when you take opportunities as they come.

Ziyeh’s journey to NOCHI didn’t begin with a carefully mapped plan. While enrolled at Café Reconcile, he found himself weighing next steps, considering options like Delgado or NOCHI. Ultimately, the decision was made almost organically.

“It just happened,” Ziyeh says. “I was at Café Reconcile and wasn’t really sure which direction to go. I just wanted to get into the industry.”

That willingness to say yes - to move forward even without every detail figured out - has defined his experience ever since.

Finding Community and Confidence

While the curriculum sharpened his technical skills, what stood out most to Ziyeh was the people.

“The program is great,” he says, “but it’s really the people. Getting to meet them and know their personalities… I’m glad I’m in this cohort.”

At NOCHI, Ziyeh was immersed in a fast-paced, diverse curriculum that challenged him to stretch beyond his comfort zone. Learning things like plant-forward recipes, egg cookery and international cuisine, each week brought something new. Unlike his previous experience, where guidance was constant, NOCHI pushed him to learn directly from his own mistakes.

“You touch everything,” he says. “Here, you really have to process it for yourself.”

That process hasn’t always been easy. One of Ziyeh’s biggest challenges has been balancing growth with retention; continuing to improve while absorbing the sheer volume of information coming his way. But that challenge has also fueled his confidence, proving to him that he can keep learning, adapting, and moving forward.

Growth on Its Own Timeline

Ziyeh’s momentum hasn’t gone unnoticed. At NOCHI’s Fall 2025 Graduation, Toya Crosby, Café Reconcile’s Program Manager of Employment and Alumni Engagement, celebrated a major milestone:

“Today, he earned ANOTHER CERTIFICATION and became Café Reconcile’s first three-time graduate in ONE YEAR. This journey required discipline, sacrifice, and a deep belief in what’s possible. Ziyeh is proof that growth doesn’t happen on a convenient timeline—it happens when you commit.”

Three certifications in a single year is no small feat. It reflects not just skill, but resilience and an openness to opportunity. These qualities will continue to shape Ziyeh’s next chapter.

Looking Ahead

As he completes the program, Ziyeh is already setting his sights beyond Louisiana. A job opportunity in Wisconsin has caught his attention. It’s one that offers strong pay, relocation support, and a chance to travel and experience something new.

“I want to get out of the state early,” he says. “And it’s not my own money.”

With the foundation he’s built at NOCHI, Ziyeh feels prepared to take that leap wherever it leads.

His story is a reminder that sometimes the most powerful move is simply saying yes. When opportunities arise, taking them, even before everything feels perfectly planned, can open doors you never expected.