Daniel Boulud facts for kids
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| Born | 25 March 1955 Saint-Pierre-de-Chandieu, France |
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| Cooking style | French cuisine |
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Current restaurant(s)
Daniel, Le Pavillon, Le Gratin, Bar Boulud, Boulud Sud, Epicerie Boulud, Joji and Joji Box (New York, NY); Café Boulud Palm Beach, Boulud Sud Miami (Florida); Maison Boulud (Montréal); Café Boulud (Toronto); Café Boulud (the Bahamas); Brassiere Boulud (Dubai); Café Boulud (New York, NY); Maison Boulud (Singapore)
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Television show(s)
After Hours with Daniel Boulud
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Daniel Boulud, born on March 25, 1955, is a famous French chef and restaurateur. He owns many restaurants in big cities around the world. You can find his restaurants in places like New York City, Miami, Toronto, and Dubai.
He is most famous for his restaurant called Daniel in New York City. It opened in 1993 and has a special Michelin star. This means it's a really great place to eat! Daniel grew up on a farm near Lyon, France. He learned to cook from many famous French chefs. He became well-known in New York City, first as a chef, then as someone who owns many restaurants. His company, The Dinex Group, runs fifteen restaurants, several gourmet cafes called Epicerie Boulud, and a catering service.
Contents
Becoming a Chef: Daniel's Culinary Journey
At just fifteen years old, Daniel Boulud showed he was a talented chef. He was a finalist in France's competition for Best Culinary Apprentice. This was his first big award!
Daniel worked with famous chefs in France, like Roger Vergé and Michel Guérard. He also cooked in Copenhagen. Later, he became the private chef for the European Commission in Washington, D.C.
After moving to New York City, Daniel opened the Polo Lounge. He then opened Le Régence. From 1986 to 1992, he was the head chef at a very popular restaurant called Le Cirque. People loved his cooking there!
Daniel's Restaurants: A Global Taste
Daniel Boulud opened his famous restaurant, Daniel, in New York City in 1993. It was first in the Upper East Side. In 1998, he moved it to a beautiful new spot. The old Daniel restaurant became Café Boulud.
In 2001, he opened a more relaxed restaurant called db Bistro Moderne. It was in New York's theater district. This restaurant became famous for its special $29 burger. It was stuffed with tasty braised short ribs, black truffles, and foie gras. This burger was seen as a fancy example of American food. Other chefs started adding expensive burgers to their menus too. Daniel even made a $99 version of his burger with fresh truffles!
In 2003, he opened another Café Boulud in Palm Beach, Florida. In 2008, Bar Boulud opened in New York City. It's a French bistro across from Lincoln Center.
Many new Boulud restaurants opened in 2011. These included a db Bistro Moderne in Singapore and a Maison Boulud in Ritz-Carlton Montreal. He also opened Boulud Sud and Épicerie Boulud, which is a market and deli.
In 2018, Daniel worked with some smart people from MIT. They created Spyce Kitchen, a robotic restaurant in Boston. Daniel helped create the menu for the robot chefs!
In May 2021, Daniel opened Le Pavillon. This Michelin-starred restaurant is in the One Vanderbilt skyscraper in New York. In 2022, he opened Le Gratin, which celebrates his French cooking roots. He also opened Jōji, a special Omakase experience.
In 2023, Daniel became the head of dining for Centurion New York. This is a members-only restaurant. He also opened Blue Box Café in Tiffany & Co.
Awards and Honors: Celebrating Excellence
Daniel Boulud and his restaurants have won many awards. His restaurant Daniel has been called one of the top ten restaurants in the world. It received a four-star rating from The New York Times. In 2010, Daniel won the James Beard Award for Outstanding Restaurant. In 2013, it was added to the Culinary Hall of Fame. Daniel also received 2 Michelin stars in 2015.
Daniel himself has won many honors. In 1988, he won the first Best New Chefs award. He was named Chef of the Year by Bon Appétit. He also won the James Beard Award for Best Chef of New York City in 1992. The James Beard Foundation also called him "Outstanding Chef of the Year" in 1994. In 2006, he was named "Outstanding Restaurateur" for his restaurant Daniel.
In 2006, the President of France made Daniel a Chevalier de la Légion d'honneur. This was to honor his help in sharing French culture with the world. In 2015, he won the Lifetime Achievement award from The World's 50 Best Restaurants. In 2021, he was voted best restaurateur in the world!
On Television: Cooking for the Camera
Daniel Boulud has hosted his own TV show called After Hours with Daniel Boulud. This show gave viewers a special look at what chefs eat and cook for each other late at night. The first season was filmed in New York City. Later seasons explored restaurants in Los Angeles, New Orleans, and Miami.
Daniel has also appeared on other cooking shows. He was a featured chef on Great Chefs. He also appeared on the Canadian show Anna & Kristina's Grocery Bag. On that show, his cookbook Chef Daniel Boulud: Cooking in New York City was tested. His cookbook received a special "Stamp of Approval."
You might have also seen Daniel as a guest judge on Top Chef Canada. He even appeared as himself in the TV drama series Billions and the comedy-drama series The Bear.
Giving Back: Community Involvement
Daniel Boulud believes in helping others. Since 2013, he has been a leader for Citymeals-on-Wheels. This group gives meals to older people in New York City who cannot leave their homes. Since 1998, Daniel has hosted a special dinner event every spring. This event has raised over $12 million to help the organization!
A special fund was created in 2005 called The Daniel Boulud Scholarship Endowment Fund. This fund helps young American cooks study cooking in France.
Daniel also helps with the Bocuse d'Or Team USA. This is a big cooking competition. He helps choose and train young American chefs to compete on the world stage.
Books by Daniel Boulud
Daniel Boulud has written several cookbooks. They share his recipes and cooking tips.
- Cooking with Daniel Boulud (1993)
- Daniel Boulud's Café Boulud Cookbook (1999)
- 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 (2013)
See also
In Spanish: Daniel Boulud para niños
