Whether he’s making crêpes at home in Westchester or picking up the Best Restaurateur in the World award from Les Grandes Tables du Monde, Daniel Boulud spends most of his life fixated on the fine art of eating well. The Michelin-starred chef and proprietor of 13 restaurants scattered throughout the world, Boulud is also known as one of the most jovial and even-tempered men to ever wear a toque. This week marks the opening of Centurion New York, a new club on the 55th floor of One Vanderbilt for American Express’s Centurion Card members; Boulud has masterminded its fine-dining experience. Herewith, he shares his key components to the good life. —Ashley Baker
Airline: Delta.
Airport: LaGuardia. It’s fast in and fast out.
Alibi: “The butter did it.”
App: Resy, for my business and my customers.
Bag: A backpack from Vessel.
Bedtime: Around midnight.
Bike: Alan.
Birthday: Celebrating with my family first, and then with friends.
Boyfriend/girlfriend: My wife and kids.
Breakfast, weekday: The Hampton Grocer granola, organic yogurt, seasonal fruit, and a black coffee.
Breakfast, weekend: French crêpes and maple syrup with my family.
Car: Aston Martin DB2.
Cocktail: A good gin fizz using Km 12 from Quebec.
Cocktail appetizer: Caviar and potato chips.
Date: Somewhere with live music, good vibes, and a good cocktail menu.
Diet: Wine rather than booze.
Dinner, weekday: At work.
Dinner, weekend: At my Westchester country house.
Disguise: Suit and tie.
Dress: Chef’s whites.
Drive:
Cooking.
Enemy: Sleep.
Escape: To another continent.
Family: The one I have.
Fit: My Prada jeans.
Friend: The one I can share a great wine, great stories, and have some fun with.
Hideaway: Bedford, New York.
Indulgence: Omakase at Jōji.
Name: Julien, the name of my father and son.
NONFICTION BOOK: Dirt, by Bill Buford.
Piece of advice: “Don’t take anything for granted.”
Shoes: Berluti.
Writing implement: Pencil, for mapping out my next restaurant.
Daniel’s Essentials
