Daniel Boulud

Culinary background

At fifteen, Boulud earned his first professional recognition as a finalist in France's competition for Best Culinary Apprentice. Boulud worked in France with Roger Vergé, Georges Blanc and Michel Guérard and later in Copenhagen before becoming the private chef to the European Commission in Washington, D.C.

After moving to New York City, Boulud opened the Polo Lounge at The Westbury Hotel, followed by Le Régence at the Hotel Plaza Athénée. From 1986 to 1992, he was the critically acclaimed executive chef at Le Cirque.

Restaurants

Boulud opened Daniel in Manhattan's Upper East Side in 1993 before relocating the restaurant to a Venetian renaissance-inspired setting at Park Avenue and 65th Street in 1998. The original Daniel was re-launched as Café Boulud. He opened a more casual restaurant, db Bistro Moderne, in Manhattan's theater district in 2001. The $29 db Bistro burger, stuffed with braised short ribs, preserved black truffles, and foie gras, was seen as an example of American excess. According to John T. Edge, other chefs "follow[ed] in Boulud's wake" to add burgers to the menus of upscale restaurants. After other chefs offered even more expensive burgers, Boloud started adding fresh shaved truffles to his burger and selling it for $59, and by 2004 was offering a $99 version.

In 2003 he opened a second Café Boulud in Palm Beach, Florida. Bar Boulud, a French bistro opposite New York City's Lincoln Center, was opened in January 2008.

In 2009, Boulud opened DBGB Kitchen & Bar, a Pan-European brasserie, in New York City. Bar Boulud London opened on May 29, 2010, inside the Mandarin Oriental Hotel on Knightsbridge, becoming the first Boulud's restaurant in Europe.

2011 saw many new Boulud openings, including db Bistro & Oyster Bar at Marina Bay Sands in Singapore, a Maison Boulud in Ritz-Carlton Montreal, as well as Boulud Sud next to Bar Boulud, and Épicerie Boulud, a market/deli. In the following year, d|bar opened in the Four Seasons Hotel Toronto, The third location of Epicerie Boulud opened in the Oculus World Trade Center in November 2016.

In April 2014, Boulud opened DB Brasserie at The Palazzo. It would close in January 2017 driven by differences in the imagined concept by Boulud versus what the hotel/casino desired.

Around 2018, Boulud collaborated with a group of MIT entrepreneurs to create Spyce Kitchen, a robotic restaurant in Boston. He was responsible for the menu while the founders developed the technology. Following over a billion dollar valuation, the restaurant announced its acquisition by Sweetgreen at the end of 2021.

Boulud opened Le Pavillon, a Michelin starred restaurant in the One Vanderbilt skyscraper in Midtown Manhattan, in May 2021.

In March 2023, he became head of dining and menu strategy for Centurion New York, a members-only restaurant created by American Express. Later that spring, he opened another New York City restaurant, Blue Box Café, located in Tiffany & Co.

In May 2022, Boulud opened Le Gratin, located in New York's Financial District, paying culinary homage to his French roots. In September of the same year, Boulud opened Jōji, an Omakase experience also located in One Vanderbilt, beneath Le Pavillon. Café Boulud NY is also set to re-open in 2023, following a closure in 2021 during the pandemic.

In January 2024, db Bistro & Oyster Bar, Daniel Boulud's long-standing restaurant at Marina Bay Sands ended its operations in Singapore. In February 2024, the venue was reimagined as Maison Boulud, marking the brand's first international expansion since its debut in Montreal. The two-storey waterfront restaurant presents a soulful reinterpretation of French cuisine.

In November 2024, Boulud opened La Tête d'Or, his first steakhouse, in the Flatiron District of Manhattan.

Smoked salmon

Since 2014, Boulud has produced a signature line of prepackaged smoked salmon that was originally exclusively sold at Whole Foods locations, but is now sold at various high-end food markets.

Awards

Daniel has been rated one of the top ten restaurants in the world by the International Herald Tribune, received Gourmet's Top Table Award, a four-star rating from The New York Times, Wine Spectator's Grand Award, and New York City's top ratings for cuisine, service, and decor in the Zagat Survey. In 2010, Daniel was the recipient of the James Beard Award for Outstanding Restaurant. In January 2013, Daniel NYC was inducted into Culinary Hall of Fame. Daniel was awarded 2 Michelin stars in the 2015 edition. The restaurant also won the 2023 Innovation Award from La Liste, as one of the top 1,000 restaurants in the world.

Boulud himself earned the inaugural Best New Chefs award in 1988. Since then, he has been named Chef of the Year by Bon Appétit, and received the James Beard Award for Best Chef of New York City in 1992 while Executive Chef at Le Cirque. The James Beard Foundation also recognized him as "Outstanding Chef of the Year" in 1994 and "Outstanding Restaurateur" in 2006 for restaurant Daniel. In April 2007, he received the Culinary Humanitarian Award at the United Nations from the Adopt-a-Mine Field Foundation. The President of France made Boulud a Chevalier de la Légion d'honneur in March 2006 in recognition of his contribution to the advancement of French culture. In 2015, Boulud was the recipient of the International Outstanding Achievement Award at the 2015 The Catey Awards, as well as winner of the Lifetime Achievement award by The World's 50 Best Restaurants. In 2021, he was voted best restaurateur in the world by Les Grandes Tables du Monde for his flagship restaurant Daniel.

Television

Boulud previously hosted After Hours with Daniel a behind-closed-doors look at the late-night dinners by chefs and for chefs.

Boulud has also been a featured chef on Great Chefs television, and appeared in the second-season finale of the Canadian television program Anna & Kristina's Grocery Bag, where his cookbook Chef Daniel Boulud: Cooking in New York City was being tested. Boulud appeared as the guest judge along with chefs from his restaurants located in Vancouver: Stephane Istel, executive chef at DB Bistro Moderne, and Dale MacKay, executive chef at Lumière. Boulud's cookbook received the "A & K Stamp of Approval" at the end of the episode.

Boulud appeared as a guest judge in Seasons 1 and 3 of Top Chef Canada.

Boulud appeared as himself in the television drama series Billions, episode "Flaw in the Death Star," season 3 and the episode “Napoleon’s Hat” in season 6. He also appeared as himself in the third-season premiere of the FX on Hulu comedy-drama series The Bear (2024).

Community involvement

Since 2013, Boulud has been Co-President of Citymeals-on-Wheels, a non-profit organization which provides home-delivered meals to homebound elderly in New York City, and a Board member since 2000. Each spring since 1998, Boulud has hosted Sunday Supper gala, an annual gourmet event that has raised over $12 million for the organization since its inception.

The Daniel Boulud Scholarship Endowment Fund was established by the chef's business partner, Joel Smilow, in 2005. The fund provides education enabling promising young American cooks to pursue professional culinary studies in France.

In 2008, Paul Bocuse asked Boulud to establish a structure for the selection of the Bocuse d'Or Team USA, who, along with Thomas Keller and Jérôme Bocuse form the Board of Directors of the Bocuse d'Or USA Foundation. The first Bocuse d'Or USA competition was held in September 2008.

Legal issues

According to a 2007 article in the Dining Section of The New York Times, Boulud was sued by current and former workers for discriminatory labor practices at his namesake restaurant in Manhattan. The federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission filed suit, and there was an investigation by the Civil Rights Bureau of the New York state Attorney General's office. Boulud settled with the workers, seven current and former employees of Latin American and Bangladeshi descent, for $80,000 and agreed to set up standards and procedures for promotions to be overseen by the EEOC and the state attorney general's office.

Books

• Cooking with Daniel Boulud (1993)
• Daniel Boulud's Café Boulud Cookbook (1999)
• In 2001, Boulud allowed author Leslie Brenner near unlimited access to Daniel the result was the 2002 book The Fourth Star: Dispatches from Inside Daniel Boulud's Celebrated New York Restaurant which gives some insight into the workings of the chef and how he operates.
• Daniel Boulud Cooking in New York City (2002)
• Daniel's Dish, Entertaining at Home with a Four Star Chef (2003)
• Letters to a Young Chef (2003)
• Braise: A Journey Through International Cuisine (2006)
• Daniel – My French Cuisine by Daniel Boulud (Author), Sylvie Bigar (Author), Thomas Schauer (Photographer), Bill Buford (Contributor) (2013)

References

References

1. (2023-05-17). "Chef Daniel Boulud Celebrates 30th Anniversary of Restaurant DANIEL".
2. (October 1, 2014). "Michelin Guide Director Explains Why Daniel Lost Its Third Star and More Burning Michelin Questions". Eater NY.
3. Beard, Alison. (2019-09-01). "Life's Work: An Interview with Daniel Boulud". Harvard Business Review.
4. Repanich, Jeremy. (2017-09-18). "Culinary Masters: Daniel Boulud Was Raised in France But Turned Himself into a New York Icon".
5. "Daniel Boulud's Career Path".
6. "What are the Signature Dishes of Top Chefs?".
7. Edge, John T.. (2005). "Hamburgers & Fries". Thorndike Press.
8. "Daniel Boulud - 2014 Best Restaurateur in the U.S. - 2014 Restaurant Issue {{!}} Gayot".
9. "Chef Daniel Boulud Lumière Vancouver Dinex Group".
10. [http://www.chefdb.com/pl/760/] Lumière: The Chef and Restaurant Database (ChefDb)
11. [http://www.chefdb.com/nm/3075/] Daniel Boulud: The Chef and Restaurant Database (ChefDb)
12. Sharkey, Gemma. (June 22, 2009). "Michelin-starred chef Daniel Boulud set to open restaurant In London". Caterersearch.com.
13. (February 22, 2011). "Has a Kiwi chef has found a way out of Ramsay's Maze?". [[The Australian]].
14. "Maison Boulud". Homepage [[Ritz-Carlton Montreal]].
15. (9 October 2024). "The Feed first look: Boulud Sud". TimeOut.
16. "George Christy Talks About The Toronto International Film Festival, Ben Affleck, Robert Redford, The Four Seasons Hotels And More!". Beverly Hills Courier.
17. Diez, Patty. (2016-11-08). "Daniel Boulud Opens Third Location of Epicerie Boulud".
18. (28 December 2016). "Daniel Boulud's DB Brasserie Has a Closing Date".
19. Lucas, Amelia. (2021-08-24). "Salad chain Sweetgreen bets on automation by acquiring Spyce and its robotic kitchen tech".
20. Crowe, Steve. (2021-10-19). "Spyce closes original robotic restaurant in Boston".
21. Fabricant, Florence. (October 6, 2022). "Peter Luger and Carbone Among Michelin Star Losers and Winners". The New York Times.
22. Fabricant, Florence. (May 18, 2021). "Daniel Boulud's Le Pavillon Opens". The New York Times.
23. Robinson, Meggan. (2023-05-11). "Tiffany & Co's Blue Box Café To Reopen With Chef Daniel Boulud".
24. Werner, Laurie. "Chef Daniel Boulud's New Restaurant: Celebrating His Delectable Hometown Cuisine Of Lyon".
25. "Exciting Fall Restaurant Openings in New York City for 2022 {{!}} Cititour {{!}} NYC News".
26. Fabricant, Florence. (August 28, 2023). "New NYC Restaurants Worth Trying in 2023". The New York Times.
27. (2024). "Maison Boulud by Daniel Boulud".
28. Fabricant, Florence. (November 19, 2024). "Daniel Boulud Opens La Tête d'Or, His First Steakhouse". [[The New York Times]].
29. Jackson, Kimberly L.. (September 24, 2014). "Daniel Boulud brings flavored smoked salmon to Whole Foods". [[NJ.com]].
30. "Daniel Boulud Smoked Salmon".
31. (2021-11-23). "New York's French chef Daniel Boulud voted world's best".
32. "Daniel Boulud - 2014 Best Restaurateur in the U.S. - 2014 Restaurant Issue {{!}} Gayot".
33. Harans, McBride, Grant, Julie, Taylor, Emma. (2023). "Snapshots of Wine Spectator's Grand Award Winners". Wine Spectator.
34. Fabricant, Florence. (2015-10-13). "Zagat Guide for 2016 Is Released". The New York Times.
35. (2010-07-03). "PHOTOS: James Beard Award Winners 2010; Colicchio, Boulud, McNally, Marea, Alinea Win Honors".
36. [https://archive.today/20130215190732/http://www.culinaryhalloffame.com/culinary-media/press-releases/2880-daniel-restaurant-nyc-inducted Culinary Hall of Fame Induction]
37. "Daniel – New York - a MICHELIN Guide Restaurant".
38. "La Liste".
39. Huang, Sasha. (March 8, 2023). "Inside the Culinary Empire of Chef Daniel Boulud".
40. "Daniel Boulud {{!}} James Beard Foundation".
41. Luhmann, Bob. (2020-07-19). "Café Boulud at Blantyre: A welcome addition to the Berkshires".
42. redacteur. (2005-12-31). "Légion d'honneur : Jean-Pierre Haeberlin, Daniel Boulud, Michel Arnoult parmi les promus".
43. Basildon, Peter. "Daniel Boulud Wins World's 50 Best Restaurants Lifetime Achievement Award".
44. Dempsey, John. (June 25, 2007). "Mojo renews 'After Hours'".
45. [http://www.greatchefs.com/boulud-daniel/www.greatchefs.com Great Chefs Television]{{dead link. (September 2010)
46. link. (2011-10-05 . Retrieved on July 1, 2011.)
47. "Top Chef Canada recap, episode 3: the Boulud touch".
48. ""Billions" Flaw in the Death Star (TV Episode 2018) - IMDb".
49. Childress, Tyler. (July 26, 2024). "Chef Daniel Boulud Speaks On His Cameo In 'The Bear'".
50. Citymeals-on-Wheels. "Chef Daniel Boulud Named Co-President of Citymeals-on-Wheels Board of Directors".
51. (2022-03-14). "Chef Daniel Boulud's Sunday Supper Citymeals on Wheels Gala Returns".
52. Varolli, Regina. (2015-04-15). "Daniel Boulud's C-CAP Competition: "Meaningful and Transformative"".
53. Lucchesi, Paolo, ''Eater.com'' (29 May 2008). [http://sf.eater.com/archives/2008/05/29/now_is_the_time_for_all_good_c.php Now Is the Time for All Good Chefs to Come to the Aid of Their Country: Daniel Boulud]
54. ''Reuters.com'' (September 28, 2008). [https://archive.today/20121208141027/http://www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS27587+28-Sep-2008+PRN20080928 Bocuse d'Or USA Announces Winner]
55. Kim Severson & Adam Ellick. "Top Chef's Kitchen Is Far Too Hot, Some Workers Say."'' The New York Times''. January 17, 2007. http://www.nytimes.com
56. (31 July 2007). "Manhattan Restaurant to Settle EEOC National Origin Bias Suit- U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission New York District Office Press Release 31". The New York Times.
57. Ellick, Adam B.. (31 July 2007). "Boulud Settling Suit Alleging Bias at a French Restaurant". The New York Times.