In pursuit of new horizons, Nico relocated to Los Angeles, managing the Michelin-starred Joe’s Restaurant in Venice Beach and later La Vecchia Cucina in Santa Monica. These years deepened his passion for Californian wines, Italian cuisine, and fusion dining.
After nearly two decades in Southern California, Nico followed his greatest inspiration, his daughter, Estelle, to Reno, Nevada. There he managed Beaujolais Bistro before realizing his lifelong dream: opening Belleville Wine Bar in Reno’s Neon Light District. Together with friends Benoit Rablat and Sandy Sanchez, Nico created Belleville as a space where food and wine pairings come alive, and where locals and travelers alike can gather, connect, and celebrate life.
Nico Gourdon’s love for hospitality began at the age of twelve during a family trip to Capri, Italy, where he discovered the magic of fine dining and world-class service. By fifteen, he was enrolled in the prestigious Hotel School Zénatti in Marseille, while training at the boutique four-star Hotel du Pigonnet in Aix-en-Provence.
At eighteen, Nico moved to Paris to refine his skills in some of the city’s most iconic establishments, including Hotel Meurice, Hotel Lutetia, Hotel Intercontinental, and Brasserie Pied de Cochon. His journey soon took him to London, where he managed the floor and wine program at La Poule Au Pot, and later to Scotland as Maitre D’ of the five-star Gleneagles Hotel, where he earned a Certificate of Excellence for his leadership and service.
