Hudson Valley Celebrity Chef Named 'Best In The World'

BEDFORD, NY — A New York restaurateur, who calls the Hudson Valley home, earned the impressive title of "Best Restaurateur in the World" for his famed Manhattan establishment.

A celebrity chef and owner of restaurants around the world, Daniel Boulud earned the award from Les Grandes Tables du Monde, a global association of fine dining restaurants. Although Boulud's Daniel on the Upper East Side was singled out for excellence, he has called Bedford home for years and is in fact neighbors with another Hudson Valley celeb — Martha Stewart.

Daniel, the venerated French restaurant by Boulud, recently reopened its dining room in September after a six-week renovation. The Manhattan hotspot remained open for outdoor dining during the work.

The food itself was reinvented in some respects as well. Eddy Leroux, previously the restaurant's chef de cuisine, was elevated to executive chef, and has rolled out a menu "rooted in French tradition" with some modern twists. Shaun Velez, the former executive pastry chef at Café Boulud, which closed this year after decades in the same location, now has the same job at Daniel.

The famed French chef hasn't been immune to a downturn in the restaurant industry fueled by a global pandemic. He told reporters that the challenges of the past several months made the recognition especially welcome.

Boulud told the French news service AFP that the recognition by fellow restaurateurs represents a "professional dedication and really a sign of friendship and support from colleagues."

Patch's Nick Garber contributed to this report.

SEE ALSO:

• Daniel Restaurant Reopens On UES With Renovated Interior
• Café Boulud Closes Upper East Side Restaurant After 23 Years
• 5 Midtown Restaurants Are Among Manhattan's 'Hottest': List