Joly came to the United States in 1988, becoming executive chef of Restaurant Million in Charleston, South Carolina. He moved to Beaver Creek, Colo., in 1992 to become chef-manager for Mirabelle Restaurant. Joly and his wife, Nathalie, purchased Mirabelle in 1999.

Joly's cooking style – which includes expertise in cooking with and pairing dishes with Belgian beers – has been acclaimed by numerous publications and institutions. In January 2008, Joly and Mirabelle received four-star ratings from the Mobil Travel Guide and AAA. Joly has also received an Award of Excellence from Wine Spectator magazine for 15 years running.

When he’s not dazzling guests with his light, contemporary menu and fresh, local ingredients, Joly hosts the popular "Something's Cooking with Daniel" on TV8 in Vail, Colo. Joly resides in Beaver Creek with Nathalie and their two sons.