Whether it’s a suit jacket or a side of beef, Nicholas Stefanelli knows a good cut when he sees one. A native Marylander and graduate of L’Academie de Cuisine, the stylish chef heads some of the District’s most refined restaurants, praised for their elevated cuisine, curated wine lists and sumptuous interiors.
Masseria, a Michelin-starred homage to rustic Italian cooking, opened in 2015 near Union Market. Its younger sibling Officina houses a trattoria, café and market over three floors at The Wharf. In 2022, Stefanelli opened Philotimo downtown, honoring his Greek roots. Now, he’s opening three new spots in NoMa’s swank Morrow Hotel: Le Clou, a chic modern brasserie; Vesper, an intimate lounge clad in blacks and blues; and Upstairs, a breezy rooftop bar with views of the Capitol. We caught up with Stefanelli to talk style in and out of the kitchen.
Source: https://districtfray.com/articles/le-clou-chef-nicholas-stefanelli-style/