the world according to . . .
DANIEL BOULUD
Q&A
AVENUE’s back-page column asks New York notables our version of the questionnaire made famous by Marcel Proust Chef Daniel Boulud
WHAT BROUGHT YOU TO NEW YORK?
WHO IS THE F UNNIEST?
Chef Jean Louis Palladin suggested I come here to cook.
In the ’90s: Dave Letterman; in the 2000s: Jimmy Fallon.
AT WHAT ADDRESS WOULD YOU LIKE TO LIVE?
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE WATERING HOLE FOR LUNCH? F OR DINNER?
I’ve been on the Upper East Side since I arrived in the early ’80s. I should try Upper West now so I would have to cross the park every day.
Everyone feels more special when they’re having lunch at the Four Seasons. For dinner: fancy fish at Le Bernardin or funky fish at Pearl Oyster Bar.
WHEN DID YOU F IRST FEEL LIKE A NEW YORKER? WHAT HAPPENED?
WHO IS YOUR FAVORITE DINNER PARTNER?
WHAT ’S YOUR FAVORITE NEW YORK CHARITY?
Citymeals-on-Wheels for delivering food to homebound elderly New Yorkers. WHAT ’S YOUR FAVORITE NEW YORK SOUND?
The short-lived magical silence you get when we’re under two feet of fresh snow. WHAT ’S YOUR MOST EMBARRASSING NEW YORK MOMENT?
It was late one night soon after I moved here, hitching a ride downtown on a garbage truck to party at Area.
My daughter, Alix, even if she doesn’t like fancy food.
WHAT NEWSPAPER COLUMN DO YOU READ FIRST IN THE MORNING?
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE NEW YORK CLICHÉ? LEAST FAVORITE?
The restaurants.
The front page of The New York Times—if it’s not there, it can wait. And “Page Six” to reassure myself I’m not in it.
Favorite: Katz’s Deli—you can’t help going back. Least favorite: Fulton Fish Market, once it left Fulton Street.
WHAT ’S THE ONE THING ABOUT NEW YORK YOU WOULD CHANGE?
WHO IS THE SMARTEST NEW YORKER YOU K NOW?
Mike Bloomberg, even if I don’t know him very well. 96 | AVENUE MAGAZINE · FEBRUARY 2011
WHAT ’S YOUR FAVORITE WAY TO GET AROUND NEW YORK, AND WHY?
Driving with our bread delivery guy, Bawa, in his beat-up Honda as he makes his rounds to our restaurants.
Being stopped by the police on First Avenue for some creative driving. WHAT PART OF T HE NEW YORK LIFESTYLE CAN’T YOU LIVE WITHOUT?
The fact that we don’t take advantage of our waterfronts. WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP?
A farmer, to return to my roots. !