Joshua Boissy

Lower East Side, New York

Tigre, a new lounge in the Lower East Side, is exactly what you want to materialize when you grab your friends or a date for some cocktails. Choose your own adventure when ordering from their array of martinis, and feel free to nestle in and elegantly gawk at the satin-y golden walls that surround you. From the team that made us fall in love with Maison Premiere, how could we expect anything less than perfect?

Full name, age, where are you from?

Joshua Boissy / 37 / Concord, New Hampshire

What is your title and where do you work?

Joshua Boissy is the co-founder and owner of Tigre,  the team’s newest cocktail lounge in the Lower East Side and Maison Premiere, the award-winning oyster and cocktail bar. 

Was food a big part of your upbringing?

Food was not specifically a part of my upbringing, nor did I foresee myself working in hospitality. My becoming a restaurateur was somewhat of a happy coincidence. As I was growing up, my mom ran hotels and restaurants so I was in tune with the hospitality lifestyle from a young age. I often did my homework at a table in the back of the restaurant that my mom worked at, and I eventually started to help out by sweeping the floors. From then on, I’ve always worked in restaurants, holding jobs from high school into college and I take those younger years in restaurants to heart, where I learned from my mom about work ethic and about the hospitality industry as a whole.  

What are your earliest memories of dining out?

Because dining out was a special experience for our family growing up, my mom always made it about the experience. Every summer we would go on vacation for two weeks to a cottage near York Beach, Maine. My mom would save up money all year for this holiday and she would take us to the coastside restaurants that the northeast coast is known for. We would go to the most famous seafood restaurants like Brown’s Lobster Pound or Wells Beach Lobster Pound and my mom would order an abundance of seafood. The ambiance of these places always stood out to me - being right by the water, the joy of families on vacation, and the historical significance of these restaurants for the communities. These dinners were always memorable because they were so special and we didn’t dine out often. 

If you could give a piece of advice to someone who wanted to pursue your career, what would it be?

My best piece of advice is to absolutely love what you do. The hospitality industry can be fierce nowadays, being more competitive than ever. You must be bold, creative, determined and absolutely love it - otherwise this could be a very difficult career choice. However, if you love to be creative and bold, then this is a great industry to communicate your vision. 

What do you think working in the Industry has taught you?

The industry has taught me that nothing is forever. I’ve been in New York City for 16 years and have seen some degree of success. People think of success as a moment. When you have it, you’re a winner and you will be in a good position from there on out. 

In a small town, that might be somewhat true. You can have success and be successful for decades. But in this industry, specifically in New York, nothing is forever. What you have today, you may not have tomorrow. You have to innovate even when you’re a classic. We’re always innovating at Maison Premiere and Tigre. We’re always trying new ideas, new initiatives and new services. Of course, we are very thoughtful in everything that we do and we put a lot of R&D into our innovation. 

What's your favorite dish/drink on the menu?

I stick to the classics when I go to Maison Premiere and at Tigre, I love frozen dry gin martini. 

What is your favorite place to go out and eat at and what are you ordering?

I’m really excited to finally try Foul Witch, followed by Sailor in Fort Greene. I’m also always a fan of a Friday dinner delivery from one of my favorite Thai spots ‘Tong'.

What shoes are you rocking during service?

When I’m working the floor at Tigre I rotate between two pairs of shoes from Crockett & Jones, a London based shoe designer. I love to wear my black velvet slippers or classic black Chelsea boots

Is there anything new and exciting coming up for you?

We just recently opened up our new cocktail lounge in the Lower East Side called Tigre in LES. Tigre melds the storied history of the past with the new, refreshed energy of the Lower East Side, bringing sophistication and refinement in drink, sound, and ambiance. Hidden behind a graffiti-worn door, guests are led into a stunning room adorned with gold ultrasuede, mirrors, animal print, chrome accents and nods to icons like Jean-Paul Goude and Grace Jones, with a vibe that is inspired by luxe residences and lounges of the past. The menu features sophisticated cocktails that channel a well-traveled palate and an exploration of spirits that are not commonplace in the American lexicon. We have exciting cocktails, including our Cigarette Martini, which was recently named one of Esquire’s best martinis in America. 

Photographed by Kenneth Bachor