For me, food is about memories, feelings, emotions, and so is Le Bernardin, and that's why it's not just a restaurant.
Eric RipertI have more eating memories than cooking memories and many memories of being in the kitchen - I was always attracted to the kitchen - but nobody ever wanted me to touch anything.
Eric RipertWhen you are 25, 30, you know, you have no responsibility, no mortgage, no kids, no retirement to think about, nothing.
Eric RipertA lot of foreign people say, when asking about eating habits, 'What is your guilty pleasure?' I have no guilt. Whatever I do, I enjoy and it's the point. I think if you start to feel guilty about it, that's a problem. So, no guilty pleasures. I have pleasure and no guilt at all.
Eric Ripert