A 10-year veteran of the Daniel Boulud restaurant empire has been tabbed executive chef of Café Boulud (301 Australian Ave., 561/655-6060) in Palm Beach, replacing Zach Bell, who’d been at the elegant eatery in the Brazilian Court hotel since it opened in 2003.
James Leiken started near the bottom and worked his way up, joining Boulud’s New York flagship Daniel restaurant as banquet chef and progressing to top toque of DBGB Kitchen and Bar before taking over the kitchen at Café Boulud.
Boulud himself made the announcement at the Palm Beach restaurant, saying Leiken has the “talent, creativity and leadership to take the reins at Café Boulud.†His first day on the job will be July 4, and though there’s no word yet on what kinds of changes Leiken will make to the café’s menu, it would be really cool if he reprised the slow-roasted whole suckling pig that he prepared for eight or more at DBGB.
As for Bell, btw, he’s taking over as head chef at the tony Addison Reserve Country Club in Delray Beach.
