La Paulée and Café Boulud: A Celebration of Wine and Cuisine

A weekend celebrating France’s finest wines and cuisine, La Paulée and Café Boulud bring the warmth and spirit of Burgundy’s harvest celebrations and cuisine to Wequassett. Exceptional vintages, classic French cuisine, genuine camaraderie, and heartfelt hospitality come together in a true celebration.

A person pours white wine into two glasses near a fireplace, with an ice bucket and bottle on the table—evoking the warm ambiance of La Paulée or a refined evening at Café Boulud celebrating wine and cuisine.

Friday, April 10 at 5:30pm

Wines of France

Wines of France: A Legacy of Elegance, an exclusive walk-around tasting featuring world-class wines of Burgundy, Champagne, and the Rhône Valley. Savor a curated selection of France’s finest terroirs, guided by La Paulée sommeliers and wine professionals. This refined evening of tasting is designed for collectors, enthusiasts, and all lovers of fine wine and discovery.

Reserve Wine Tasting Only

A cozy restaurant dining area with white tablecloths, set tables, upholstered chairs, and a lit fireplace beneath a landscape painting sets the scene for an intimate evening after enjoying Cape Symphony Presents at Wequassett.

Saturday, April 11 at 6:30pm

The Art of French Wine and Cuisine

La Paulée Sommelier Nikita Malhotra has selected wines to showcase the stories behind the labels, highlighting the care and craft of those who tend the vines and produce the wines. Wequassett’s Executive Chef James Hackney and Executive Chef Romain Paumier of Michelin-starred Café Boulud New York collaborate on a four-course dinner inspired by classic French cuisine. Each course is paired with a flight of fine wines, creating a refined dialogue between cuisine and vintages in a seamless celebration of French tradition and contemporary excellence.

Reserve Dinner Only

A woman with long hair and glasses smiles while holding up a wine glass in a warmly lit indoor setting, capturing the convivial spirit of La Paulée and the appreciation for fine wine and cuisine.

Representing La Paulée

Jaime Dutton

Executive Director, La Paulée

Jaime Dutton has led La Paulée since 2007, shaping its portfolio of celebrated wine festivals including La Paulée, La Fête du Champagne, Convivio Italian and La Tablée. With a lifelong passion for French wine and culture, she holds a BA in French from the University of Pennsylvania and a master’s degree in International Wine Trade from the University of Dijon, based in Burgundy. Her career spans roles with Maison Champy in Burgundy and leading Spanish wineries, bringing deep international perspective to her work. Today, Jaime is dedicated to creating experiences that invite guests to discover a lasting connection to wine—one sip at a time.

A woman with long dark hair holds a wine glass close to her face, appearing to smell the wine. Against a dark background and dressed in black, she exudes the refined ambiance of La Paulée, celebrating fine wine and cuisine.

Nikita Malhotra

Head Sommelier, La Paulée

Nikita Malhotra is an award-winning sommelier with a career rooted in fine wine and distinguished restaurant programs. She has held senior wine leadership roles at Tangled Vine, Tribeca Grill, and Momofuku, where she most recently served as Beverage Manager for Ko, building a list with a strong emphasis on Burgundy and Champagne. Nikita was named Best Sommelier in New York by the Michelin Guide in 2022, her wine list received the Grand Prix Star Wine List Award for New York City in 2023 and named 2025 Sommelier of Year by VinPair’s Next Wave Awards. In addition to her role with La Paulée, she is the sommelier and co-owner of New York hotspot Smithereens.

The Story of La Paulée de New York

Daniel Johnnes’ Celebration of Burgundy

Daniel Johnnes’ journey to creating La Paulée de New York is rooted in a lifelong passion for France, its wines, and its culture. A first visit as a teenager sparked a love for the language, cuisine, and winemaking that would shape his career in New York’s fine dining scene.

As Wine Director at Montrachet, Daniel began hosting intimate dinners with Burgundy’s top winemakers—nights marked by generosity, conversation, and exceptional wines. These experiences inspired him to bring the warmth and spirit of Burgundy’s harvest celebrations to New York, giving rise to La Paulée de New York.

Recognized as one of America’s foremost sommeliers, Daniel has received three James Beard Awards, including Outstanding Wine and Spirits Professional of the Year, and has been honored as a Chevalier by the French Republic for his contributions to French wine and culture.

A man in a white coat stands poised, evoking the refined atmosphere of La Paulée, where wine and cuisine come together in perfect harmony.

Representing Café Boulud

Romain Paumier

Executive Chef

Romain is a native of France whose culinary journey began in Lyon, where he developed his foundation in classical French cuisine at respected restaurants including Le Potager des Halles and Les Bonnes Manières. In 2016, he brought his talents to the United States, joining the original Café Boulud New York as Sous Chef. He later continued his work with Daniel Boulud at Restaurant Daniel, serving as Sous Chef and then Executive Sous Chef under Executive Chef Eddy Leroux. Now returning to Café Boulud as Executive Chef, Romain brings together years of experience, refined technique, and a passion for globally influenced French cuisine, thoughtfully crafted with a sense of place and season.