The opening of Nuela marks chef Adam Schop’s arrival in the New York City dining scene. And with his vast experience, notable mentors and enthusiasm for South American cuisine, it's he fast became a familiar face on the Manhattan culinary landscape.

After studying at the Culinary Institute of America in 1995 Schop’s first experience in a professional kitchen was at the acclaimed Lon’s Hermosa Inn in Scottsdale, AZ where he worked for two years as saucier. After a year as sous chef at Michael’s Restaurant at the Citadel, Schop had the opportunity to work with Food & Wine “Best New Chef” (1999) James McDevitt at Restaurant Hapa where he joined the team as the Chef de Partie. It was here that Schop was introduced to the Japanese art of fish under the tutelage of chef Nobu Fukada, recipient of the James Beard “Best Chef Southwest” award in 2006. When the chance arose to become the Chef de Cuisine at Zinc Bistro, also in Scottsdale, Schop left Hapa for the opportunity to cook classic French food.

After four years at Zinc, Schop left behind the comfort of a familiar scene and traveled to Chicago for an opportunity that would define him as a chef. He took the position of Executive Chef at DeLaCosta under award-winning chef Douglas Rodriguez. It was at DeLaCosta that Schop gained a true appreciation and understanding for Latin cuisine. His commitment to respecting and honoring the authenticity of traditional South American flavors led the kitchen at DeLeCosta to earn numerous accolades, including a three-star review from the Chicago Tribune. Schop furthered his education of this style of cooking by tasting his way through South America [Lima, Peru, Columbia, Ecuador and more] and Spain.

Now, Schop brings this understanding of the time-honored flavors and techniques of South American cuisine to his kitchen at Nuela, offering modern day twists for his New York audience. The 200-seat South American restaurant and ceviche bar encapsulates the excitement and energy of South American cuisines, with an urban sabor, pulling influence from Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela.