Fresh off a one-star designation in Florida’s first Michelin Guide for the Surf Club Restaurant, chef Thomas Keller has announced the opening of his second Miami restaurant, Bouchon. The decorated toque behind three-star Michelin restaurants the French Laundry and per se has set his sights on the historic La Palma space in Coral Gables for the local outpost of his acclaimed French bistro, which includes two other locations in Yountville and Las Vegas.
Keller will collaborate with the Surf Club Restaurant’s executive sous chef, Thomas Castellon, to execute the seasonal menu, comprising Bouchon’s signature raw bar items as well as specialty dishes, including escargots de Bourgogne, steak frites, roast chicken and mussels—all of which will remain menu fixtures throughout the year.
The 98-year-old La Palma is a worthy venue for a restaurant of this caliber. Originally designed by architect H. George Fink, the Mediterranean-style structure housed the Cla-Reina Hotel (one of the area’s longest-running hotels) and received designation on the National Register of Historic Places. In other words, the kind of place you’d expect to find a concept from a chef with several Michelin-starred restaurants and a slew of James Beard Awards under his proverbial belt.
“We were enamored with the rich history of the La Palma building and Coral Gables neighborhood and we look forward to introducing our classic French Bistro to the community,” says Chef Keller of the anticipated project.
Bouchon will open in early 2023 at 2101 Galiano Street with a fresh look courtesy of longtime Keller collaborators Adam D. Tihany of Tihany Design in New York City. In the meantime, peep Bouchon's Instagram page below for a preview of the exquisite meals that await.
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