Executive Chef Gavin Kaysen Leaving Position At Café Boulud

Café Boulud will be saying goodbye to executive chef Gavin Kaysen this summer as he plans to  leave his post after seven years to open his own restaurant in his hometown of Minneapolis.

"Gavin has been an integral part of our family of chefs and always understood well what Café Boulud represented for me — the importance of blending the French tradition with creative ethnic inspiration," said owner Daniel Boulud in a statement. "It is with pride and excitement that I wish him much success in his hometown comeback."

Gavin Kaysen should have no problems creating a stir in Minneapolis' culinary scene. He was selected as a Food and Wine's Best Chef in 2007 and received the James Beard Foundation Rising Star Chef of the Year award in 2008. Kaysen was discovered by Boulud in 2007 when Kaysen served as the head chef for the U.S. team at the Bocuse d'Or USA in Lyon. He has also been a competitor on Chopped.

Aaron Bludorn, chef de cuisine at Café Boulud, will be replacing chef Kaysen this summer.  

Joanna Fantozzi is an Associate Editor with The Daily Meal. Follow her on Twitter @JoannaFantozzi