- Local
- Community
- Journalism
Support the independent voice of South Florida and help keep the future of New Times free.
On his way out to the annual Aspen Food and Wine Fest, Daniel Boulud flew to Palm Beach to announce chef Zach Bell's replacement at Cafe Boulud.
Chef James "Jim" Leiken of DBGB, Boulud's burger bar in Manhattan, will take over the stoves at Cafe Boulud on July 4.
Word
got around last month that Bell was leaving the restaurant he helped
Boulud open in 2003 in the Brazilian Court Hotel. He'll be taking over
the dining operations at Addison Reserve Country Club in Delray Beach in
August. "I have a chance to completely change the way people think of country club cuisine," he said. He'll also help his spouse, Jennifer, with her Sugar Monkey Bakery over the summer.
Some changes at Cafe Boulud
Boulud says classics (the duo of beef that's so popular) will remain on the menu, but other dishes may change. "I'll be down often to help Jim settle in," he said.
During
a farewell luncheon/news conference, he credited Bell with bringing a
Florida feel to his cuisine while maintaining his standards. "What can I
say? Zach has been great. A successful kitchen is because of a good
leader; Zach has inspired the people who work with him."
Along with menu changes, some refurbishing and bar additions are planned over the summer to Cafe Boulud, he said.
After Aspen, Boulud said he'll undertake a chef-humanitarian mission, flying to Japan for the Fourth of July. He's taking seven New York chefs with him to cook for victims of the tsunami. He and the team will cook in Tokyo and transport the food 150 miles away to be served to 1,000-plus people with help from the rugby team of the village, the Kamishi Seawaves.
"The people need a bright spot; a comfort meal is a good thing," he said. "They have been hurt by tourists and tours canceling, and they're trying to rebuild and recover. A hot meal is a goodwill effort."
Follow Clean Plate Charlie onFacebook and on Twitter: @CleanPlateBPB.
Keep New Times Broward-Palm Beach Free... Since we started New Times Broward-Palm Beach, it has been defined as the free, independent voice of South Florida, and we would like to keep it that way. Offering our readers free access to incisive coverage of local news, food and culture. Producing stories on everything from political scandals to the hottest new bands, with gutsy reporting, stylish writing, and staffers who've won everything from the Society of Professional Journalists' Sigma Delta Chi feature-writing award to the Casey Medal for Meritorious Journalism. But with local journalism's existence under siege and advertising revenue setbacks having a larger impact, it is important now more than ever for us to rally support behind funding our local journalism. You can help by participating in our "I Support" membership program, allowing us to keep covering South Florida with no paywalls.