Nicholas Stefanelli facts for kids
 |
|
| Born | Maryland |
|---|---|
| Cooking style | Italian |
| Education |
|
|
Rating(s)
|
|
|
Current restaurant(s)
|
|
|
Previous restaurant(s)
|
|
Nicholas Stefanelli is a famous American chef and restaurant owner in Washington, D.C.. He is well-known for his Italian restaurant, Masseria, which has earned a special award called a Michelin Star.
Early Life and Cooking Journey
Nicholas Stefanelli was born in Maryland. His family comes from Greece and the Apulia region of southern Italy. When he was younger, he loved baseball and played at DeMatha Catholic High School in Washington, D.C. However, he broke his foot, which changed his path.
After high school, Nicholas went to Milan, Italy, to try a career in fashion. But while traveling through cities like Rome, Florence, Assisi, and Venice, he became very interested in Italian food. He discovered a passion for cooking.
Learning to Cook
Nicholas decided to become a chef. He enrolled in L’Academie de Cuisine in Gaithersburg, Maryland. After his training, he joined the kitchen of chef Roberto Donna at Galileo, an Italian restaurant in Washington, D.C..
Later, he worked with another famous chef, Fabio Trabocchi, at Maestro in Tysons Corner, Virginia. He even followed Trabocchi to Fiamma in New York City. After Fiamma closed in 2009, Stefanelli gained more experience at The French Laundry in California. This is a very famous restaurant.
Becoming a Rising Star
In 2009, Nicholas Stefanelli returned to D.C. He was asked by restaurant owner Ashok Bajaj to create the menu and lead the kitchen at a new Italian restaurant called Bibiana Osteria-Enoteca.
Bibiana received many great reviews when it opened. Esquire magazine even named it one of the best new restaurants in America. In 2010, Nicholas won the "Rising Culinary Star" award at the Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington (Rammy) Awards.
Masseria and Officina Restaurants
In 2014, Nicholas Stefanelli left Bibiana to open his very own restaurant. He named it Masseria. The name comes from the old farm estates found in Italy's Apulia region.
Masseria opened in August 2015. It was the first standalone restaurant near the Union Market area. In October 2016, Masseria earned a Michelin Star. This is a very high honor for a restaurant. In 2018, Masseria also won the Rammy Award for Formal Fine Dining Restaurant of the Year.
New Dining Experiences
In October 2018, Stefanelli opened another restaurant called Officina. This is a large, three-floor Italian place. It has a trattoria (a casual restaurant), a café, and a market. Officina is located in The Wharf, a new area on Washington's Southwest Waterfront.
In November 2018, Nicholas Stefanelli also shared plans to open a Greek restaurant in downtown Washington, D.C.
Awards and Recognitions
Nicholas Stefanelli has received several important awards for his cooking:
- 2010: Rising Culinary Star, from the Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington (RAMMY).
- 2017: One Michelin Star for Masseria, from the Michelin Guide.
- 2018: Formal Fine Dining Restaurant of the Year for Masseria, from the Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington (RAMMY).
