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

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

A recipe has no soul. You, as the cook, must bring soul to the recipe.

I wonder if I love the communal act of eating so much because throughout my childhood, with four older brothers and a mom who worked in the restaurant business, I spent a lot of time fending for myself, eating alone - and recognizing how eating together made all the difference.

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.

Success is measured by the memories you create.

And don't forget music - music in the kitchen is an essential ingredient!