Auberge Collection taps Daniel Boulud for Mayflower Inn dining overhaul

Auberge Collection is bringing Café Boulud to Mayflower Inn & Spa in Washington, Connecticut, in a culinary residency that begins this July and runs through the end of 2026. The partnership adds a new restaurant menu, Tap Room dishes and a ticketed launch event as the property refreshes its food and beverage program.

Why it matters: - The partnership gives Mayflower Inn & Spa a higher-profile dining draw as Auberge Collection looks to deepen the resort’s luxury positioning. - The residency expands Café Boulud beyond a single restaurant room and into the property’s broader culinary program. - Guests get a new reason to visit the Connecticut retreat for destination dining, not just overnight stays.

What happened: - Auberge Collection announced an exclusive culinary partnership and residency with chef and restaurateur Daniel Boulud at Mayflower Inn & Spa, Auberge Collection. - Café Boulud will open in The Garden Room at Mayflower Inn beginning in July and continue through the remainder of 2026. - The restaurant will serve lunch daily from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and dinner Thursday through Saturday from 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. - The property will also host an exclusive, ticketed launch event with Boulud.

The details: - Café Boulud at Mayflower Inn will debut a new menu curated by Boulud. - Starter dishes include Chilled Corn Velouté with Maine Lobster and Open Faced Ravioli with Eggplant. - Entrées will include Wild Mushroom Risotto with Summer Truffle and Tournedos Rossini. - Dessert will include Île Flottante with Peach and Verbena. - Café Boulud favorites will also be added to the Tap Room menu daily from 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. - The Garden Room service will offer 2-course meals for $95 per person, 3-course meals for $125 per person and 6-course meals for $170 per person. - Marco Bustamante, vice president of food and beverage at Auberge Collection, said the partnership builds on Mayflower Inn’s reputation for exceptional cuisine. - Boulud said the collaboration will focus on regional ingredients and a seasonal dining experience. - Boulud said he has long admired the property as a destination near New York that reflects American values, New England beauty and European hospitality. - Boulud founded The Dinex Group and has expanded his restaurant portfolio across the U.S. and internationally, including New York City, Toronto, Montreal, Singapore, Dubai, The Bahamas, Riyadh and Hong Kong. - His Michelin-starred restaurants include Restaurant Daniel, Le Pavillon, Jōji and Café Boulud at Maison BARNES.

Between the lines: - Auberge Collection is using a marquee chef partnership to reinforce the idea that food and beverage can be a core differentiator for luxury hospitality. - The move also blends fine dining with a country-retreat setting, which fits Mayflower Inn’s brand as a destination for elevated leisure. - The rollout across the Garden Room and Tap Room suggests Auberge Collection wants the Boulud influence visible throughout the property, not only in one restaurant.

What's next: - Café Boulud at Mayflower Inn launches this summer and remains in place through 2026. - Guests can expect the new menu and Tap Room additions to roll out alongside the residency. - Auberge Collection directs readers to more information.

The bottom line: - Auberge Collection is betting that Daniel Boulud’s name, menu and hospitality pedigree will turn Mayflower Inn & Spa into a stronger dining destination as well as a luxury getaway.