The Bistro on the Boulevard in St. Joseph has returned to an elite circle of influence for the second time in five years and enjoys a rare club with some of the finest restaurants in the world. For the second time since 2012, Wine Spectator magazine has awarded the French bistro-style restaurant overlooking Lake Michigan with its Award of Excellence for a comprehensive and extensive wine list of some of the best wines that money can buy.
The 2017 Wine Spectator Awards have been revealed and The Bistro on the Boulevard is the only restaurant in all of Berrien County and one of only 2,335 restaurants worldwide to receive the high honor from the publication this year. They also won the award in 2012.
Wine Spectator is a lifestyle magazine that focuses on wine and wine culture, and delivers ratings on various types of wine. The selective annual award is presented exclusively to those restaurants who offer a wine list that meets international standards of quality and variety.
The Bistro on the Boulevard has a wine list that currently hosts more than 150 bottles, ranging in price from $20 to $300, and representing international wine culture. Landing on Wine Spectator’s elite list is no small feat. The magazine has been ranked by the Luxury Institute as the #1 business and consumer publication among wealthy readers.
The magazine publishes 15 issues per year with content that includes news, articles, profiles, and general entertainment pieces, as well as anywhere from 400 to more than 1,000 wine reviews, wine ratings and tasting notes.
The magazine introduced its Restaurant Awards program in 1981, and continues to annually pursue a number of restaurants to be applauded.
The “Award of Excellence” at the Bistro on the Boulevard represents the work of Mâitré d’ Samer Badreddine, who curates the extensive wine list. Mr. Badreddine says, “Receiving the Wine Spectator “Award of Excellence” places the Bistro on the Boulevard in a new caliber of restaurants, and puts us on the map. A labor of love, our wine list represents years of research and development. We are thrilled to be recognized by Wine Spectator, and are very excited about the potential this award holds for us and for Southwest Michigan.”
Prior to this year, the Bistro on the Boulevard had received the 2012 “Award of Excellence”.
The Bistro on the Boulevard is a farm-to-table restaurant with French influence overlooking Lake Michigan in downtown St. Joseph. Dinner is served 7 days per week; lunch is served Monday-Friday, and Saturday and Sunday brunch (seasonal hours to change after Labor Day). In addition to the award-winning wine list, they host weekly “Wine-Down” menus on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, offering select international bottles. The Bistro on the Boulevard is housed within the Boulevard Inn, owned by Mark Whitwam.
The photo of Mr. Badreddine and colleagues accompanying this story on Moody on the Market was taken in a local vineyard of the Lake Michigan Shore Appellation, and is courtesy of professional photographer Joshua Nowicki.
