The culinary world recently lost a legend, an entrepreneur, a creative soul, a visionary, and an innovator.

David Bouley.

David Bouley was a celebrity chef/restauranteur who opened and solely owned some of the most important restaurants in the United States if not the World. His signature restaurant, Bouley, opened in Tribeca, NYC in 1987.

I do believe going to Bouley was the first culinary experience I had ever had at that level. It was experience down to the little lights on each of the tables. And when I asked my boyfriend (now husband) to move in with me, it was at that very same restaurant. It was a place that was special because David Bouley knew how to create a total culinary experience.

Here’s Chef Bouley talking about how he got started:

I personally met the Chef a few times when I did a stint at The French Culinary Institute in New York. He had a test kitchen right near his signature restaurant at the time and he showed a few of us how he develops innovation in his menus. It was so inspiring because as successful and renowned as he was, I just remember how humble and down to earth he was in every encounter. He made me feel special while talking about what makes his restaurants so special.

I think there’s something about working in food that can indeed ground you, and David Bouley was very grounded.

Click here to read the tribute page on his website.

David Bouley is an inspiring example of operating at the top of your game, yet making everyone else (most importantly those in his restaurants) feel like they are the most important.

That’s a gift. What’s your experience? JIM

The Legendary Chef David Bouley