Born into a family of scientists and wine collectors, Cedric Nicaise spent the first five years of his life in Belgium, before moving to America with his family, though he would continue to spend a portion of each year traveling in Europe while growing up, taking in the culture, and the food. He attended Ithaca College and graduated with a degree in history. After graduation Cedric spent a number of years working at various restaurants throughout the upstate New York region. Eventually succumbing to his passion for restaurants he moved to Manhattan where he began working at Aureole. In honing his dining room experience there he took a great interest in the world of wine, ultimately joining Eleven Madison Park's wine team as a Sommelier in 2012. Since then he's been a key contributor to the continued evolution of the wine program and education of the staff, and was promoted to Wine Director in the spring of 2015.