Molly Yeh's Husband Nick Hagen Is a Fifth-Generation Farmer She Met at Juilliard

When American cookbook author Molly Yeh moved to New York City, all she wanted was to pursue music. But her life took an unexpected turn when she met Nick Hagen. The two started dating and eventually moved to his family farm.

Nick Hagen and Molly Yeh met as students at the reputable Julliard School in New York. She was an aspiring musician whose life changed after meeting Nick at the private performing arts conservatory.

As their relationship deepened, Nick and his sweetheart moved to his family's 220-acre farm in Minnesota. The estate had been in Nick's family for generations of which he is the fifth.

Molly Yeh and Her Husband, Nick Hagen, Are a Perfect Match

Nick was studying the trombone in college, while Molly pursued studies as a percussionist. During that time, the two were living in Brooklyn, and Nick became known on the internet through his girlfriend's successful blog. The author revealed that she was excited about moving to the farm:

"When Nick came up with the idea of moving to the farm, I thought, Oh my gosh, I could spend my days blogging. And that was the moment when I thought that it really could become a real thing."

Speaking about her dating life with Nick, the Emmy Award nominee revealed that the fifth-generation farmer used to consume a lot of eggs every day; at some point, she gave him the nickname "Eggboy." In her cookbook "Molly on the Range," she explained that Nick's love for eggs was because of actor Zac Efron.

She noted that a dietician stated in an article that if Zac wanted to achieve a muscular frame for the film "The Lucky One," he should eat lots of eggs. Ever since they relocated to the property in 2013, Nick has been a full-time farmer; daily, he collects fresh eggs from his chicken coop.

With an abundance of ingredients around them, Nick gets to try his partner's delicious recipes, which she showcases on her cooking show. The couple exchanged their vows in 2014; the wedding was held at the property and attended by close family and friends.

For the reception, Molly prepared tasty desserts for their guests; when speaking to Glamour, she said that people's farms and homes have the best food. She noted that the culture of cooking at home is so strong and that Nick has recipes that she cooks. Molly said:

"Nick has recipes that have been in the family for generations, and he still knows the stories behind them."

Nick Hagen Is a Father of Two

In 2019, Nick became a first-time dad with their first child, Bernadette Rosemary Yeh Hagen [Bernie]. The couple explained the reason behind their daughter's name. In a statement, Molly said that Bernie's name honors three special people in their lives.

The couple named Bernie after Nick's great-great grandpa Bernt, who was originally from Norway but migrated to the U.S. and started the Hagen farm. The cook show host added that her great-grandfather was called Bernard, and her grandmother was Rosemary.

While giving her views about parenting, the doting mom revealed that motherhood had been a big adjustment and slightly affected her career as a chef. Speaking to USA Today, she noted that things move slowly with a baby, especially in the kitchen.

She disclosed that, at times, she carries her baby in a sling wrap while remaining cautious when doing things like chopping or handling the stove. The couple welcomed their second child in February 2022. Molly announced the news by posting a photo of herself, Nick, and their newborn baby.

The couple named their daughter Ira Dorothy Yeh Hagen, after Nick's great-grandmother Dorothea, and Ira is a name that the couple's close friend suggested, and they loved it.

When asked how her eldest daughter was coping with a new addition to the family, the mom of two stated that Bernie was embracing her role as a big sister and already forging a great bond with Ira. There's very little known about Nick's kids, as he prefers keeping them out of the spotlight.

Although Molly previously filmed show episodes while pregnant with both children, now that she's a mom of two, the award-winning chef has learned to multitask. On one occasion, she shared a video where she cooked while baby Ira was securely strapped to her chest.

Nick is often photographed in his wife's posts, showing their fans his journey as a father behind the scenes. In one post, Nick was captured pulling his daughter's wagon near a lake. In another weekend post, Nick looked delighted to play with his kids by the lake.

His wife also took a picture of Nick giving up relaxing near the pool and reading a book in exchange for caring for the kids. "[He] gave up books at pools [four] years ago when [Bernie] was born!" she said. Nick has fully assumed the role of a father and spends time with his children whenever the opportunity permits.

Compared to Nick, Molly has more social media presence and shares glimpses of their family life online. In October 2022, she celebrated their 8th anniversary with a sweet picture from their wedding day.

Like Molly, fellow cookbook author Ree Drummond also often shares photos and updates about her family, including her foster son.