A plate of food has to have balance. For example, a mild fish like skate mustnt be overwhelmed by the side dishes. They should have personality and color, but they also have to be subtle.

Determine who you are and what your brand is, and what youre not. The rest of it is just a lot of noise.

Days off are few and far between in the restaurant business. But on an hour off, I like to have a glass of wine with my wife.

I begin my day online and end my day online. I like to prepare myself for the next day and have a sense of closure before I go to bed.

Everybody these days wants to be a star, including myself. Don't get me wrong, I'm a chef but you want to market yourself and your projects.

Everyone could use instructions on every aspect of cooking: pantry, storage, refrigeration, cooking, what to buy. Everyone that I come into contact with could use help.

I love hospitality, and I love cooking. The kitchen is where I feel most at ease and where I feel most like myself.