Daniel Humm is a Swiss chef and restaurant owner; he is chef/co-owner of Eleven Madison Park, Davies and Brook and Made Nice. His cuisine is focused on locally sourced ingredients, with an emphasis on simplicity, purity, and seasonal flavors. A native of Switzerland, he was exposed to a range of food at a very young age, and began working in kitchens at the age of 14. From there he spent time in some of the finest Swiss hotels and restaurants before earning his first Michelin star at the age of 24. In 2003, Humm moved to the United States to become the executive chef at Campton Place in San Francisco where he received four stars from the San Francisco Chronicle. Three years later, he moved to New York to become the executive chef at Eleven Madison Park, and in 2011 he and his business partner Will Guidara purchased the restaurant from Danny Meyer's Union Square Hospitality Group. In 2017, Eleven Madison Park became number 1 on the World's 50 Best Restaurants.
Career
Over the course of Humm's tenure, he and Eleven Madison Park have received numerous accolades, including four stars from The New York Times, six James Beard Foundation Awards, three stars from the Michelin Guide, and the #1 spot on The World's 50 Best Restaurants. In 2011, Humm and Will Guidara purchased Eleven Madison Park from Danny Meyer's Union Square Hospitality Group, and the following year also opened the critically acclaimed NoMad New York which garnered three stars from The New York Times, one Michelin Star, and a James Beard Foundation Award. In 2018 Humm and Guidara opened NoMad Los Angeles, their first restaurant outside of New York City. Humm and Guidara parted ways in July 2019 and Humm announced in January 2020 that Make It Nice is no longer a partner with the NoMad group of hotels in New York, Los Angeles, or Las Vegas. In late 2019, Humm opened Davies and Brook, his first restaurant outside the US at London's historic Claridge's. He is the owner of the Make It Nice group and the author of four books: Eleven Madison Park: The Cookbook, I Love New York: Ingredients and Recipes, The NoMad Cookbook and Eleven Madison Park: The Next Chapter.
Awards
James Beard Foundation Awards
2016 James Beard Foundation Award – Outstanding Service, Eleven Madison Park
2014 James Beard Foundation Award – Outstanding Bar Program, NoMad New York
2012 James Beard Foundation Award – Outstanding Chef
2010 James Beard Foundation Award – Best Chef New York City
2008 James Beard Foundation Award – Outstanding Wine Service, Eleven Madison Park