Executive Chef Daniel Humm's contemporary approach to traditional French flavor combinations does not disappoint. He's no stranger to Michelin stars, either, as he earned one at the tender age of 25 as executive chef of Gasthaus zum Gupf in his native Switzerland. In 2006, he was offered the executive chef position at Campton Place in San Francisco, well known for its quality chefs. There he received rave reviews, including earning four stars from
The San Francisco Chronicle. In fact, Michael Bauer, the paper's executive food and wine editor, called Humm the brightest star to land in Northern California since Thomas Keller opened the French Laundry. By January 2006, however, Humm was lured east to New York to helm Eleven Madison Park, where he has secured the restaurant's first-ever four-star review from
The New York Times and a Michelin Star for 2010 that is the first such star for the restaurant. It's not only Humm's cuisine that's receiving rave reviews; the restaurant's extensive wine list also is being praised. For that, give credit to a fortuitous meal that Wine Director John Ragan, previously the sommelier at Martini House in Napa Valley, had at Campton. It was that meal that started a four-year relationship between Humm and Ragan, who relocated to San Francisco to work with Humm at Campton. In 2006, when Humm joined Eleven Madison Park, he asked Ragan to relocate to New York to work with him as wine director. Ragan accepted. Together, they're a winning team, as Ragan too has had many accolades, including a Rising Star Sommelier Award from Starchefs.com and a title from the 2004 Chaine des Rotisseures Jeune Sommelier Competition, Pacific Northwest. Plus, he serves on the Wines of Germany Advisory Board. Of course, no mention of Eleven Madison Park would be complete without a mention of Danny Meyer, restaurateur extraordinaire and founder of the Union Square Hospitality Group, whose portfolio of restaurants has won an unprecedented 19 James Beard Foundation awards and includes Eleven Madison Square Park. Please
click here for the full listing which includes the dinner menu, or
click here for our exclusive interview with Executive Chef Daniel Humm and a look at the makings of his creative cuisine. Alternatively, you can continue reading the full listing for the lunch menu.