Loyal customers, or customers who recommend their friends, give me the most pride. I think that is the biggest compliment I can get. I think in the restaurant business, it takes patience from the customer to spark up a relationship with the restaurateur, but it takes also work from the restaurateur to spark up a relationship with his customer.

Kitchens should be designed around what's truly important-fun, food, and life.

Céline Labaune has the knowledge, passion and dedication to finding us only the best truffles from the most reliable source of truffle pickers. It is always a pleasure and a relief to work with the ones who care the most!

I like to go hear jazz late-night up in Harlem.

After six years at Le Cirque, I decided to start my own business. I opened Daniel at 76th Street in May 93.

We are in the top five restaurants in New York. Daniel is about luxury. It's a luxury where when somebody has never come they maybe expect to be intimidated, but once they have the experience I think they feel this is a welcoming, fun and great experience to have. The menu, the price point, the level of service, and class we offer to people... I think it's incredible. Not every restaurant can be like that - it's a commitment, in terms of dedication to excellence.

For me, the food I like to make is the food I can enjoy all the time anytime. Its not too calculated or technical.