Mom ran the house, so we grew up Portuguese.

Life just doesn't hand you things. You have to get out there and make things happen. that's the exciting part.

One big reason I do what I do is there's no two days alike. It's not work for me. It's my life. My passion.

I'm working harder than ever now, and I'm putting on my pants the same as I always have. I just get up every day and try to do a little better than the day before, and that is to run a great restaurant with great food, great wine, and great service. That's my philosophy.

Mom ran the house, so we grew up Portuguese.

Music is one of those things that is constantly going in my head all the time. It's sort of like the evolution and creation of doing food, or my philosophy about wine. It's always beating in my head, so it keeps the spirit moving.

I've never really had a problem with people.