Thomas Keller

“A kaiseki meal is like that, very small courses over a long period of time.”

“I drank more wine when I wasn't working as much, to be honest.”

“Then, as the day progresses, depending on how the product is coming in - for instance, the fish man will fax us and say black bass is great - throughout the day, we'll also make judgment calls and adapt to what's available.”

“I have no formal culinary training, right.”

“You're getting to know who the great chefs are through their books.”

“Food should be fun.”

“I wanted to write about what we were doing at the French Laundry, the recipes and the stories.”

“When I go out to eat, it's usually something moderate in style.”

“Whether it's destiny or fate or whatever, I don't think I could do a French Laundry anywhere else.”

“I think that you’ve got to make something that pleases you and hope that other people feel the same way.”

“They know what my standards are. They know what I need and how to get it to me, and they know how to communicate with me if for some reason they can't get it.”

“Some of the recipes in the book have evolved for us. Many haven't.”

“It wasn't about mechanics; it was about a feeling, wanting to give someone something, which in turn was really gratifying. That really resonated for me.”

“But once in a while you might see me at In and Out Burger; they make the best fast food hamburgers around.”

“The law of diminishing returns is something I really believe in.”

“I think every young cook wants to write a book.”

“Now the restaurants have begun to catch up with the wine-making; there are numerous great restaurants in Napa Valley, and it's wonderful because the people are there for just that: great food and great wine.”

“We rely on our purveyors to tell us what's available and what's good.”

“Once you understand the foundations of cooking - whatever kind you like, whether it's French or Italian or Japanese - you really don't need a cookbook anymore.”

“No, it's funny, when I eat out it's not typically in the kind of restaurants people might imagine.”