Once you understand the foundations of cooking - whatever kind you like, whether it's French or Italian or Japanese - you really don't need a cookbook anymore.
Thomas Keller

Food should be fun.
Thomas Keller

We go through our careers and things happen to us. Those experiences made me what I am.
Thomas Keller

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.
Thomas Keller

When I go out to eat, it's usually something moderate in style.
Thomas Keller

Let's face it: if you and I have the same capabilities, the same energy, the same staff, if the only thing that's different between you and me is the products we can get, and I can get a better product than you, I'm going to be a better chef.
Thomas Keller

Then, as the day progresses, depending on how the product is coming in - for instance, the fish man will fax us and say black bass is great - throughout the day, we'll also make judgment calls and adapt to what's available.
Thomas Keller

Hopefully, imparting what's important to me, respect for the food and that information about the purveyors, people will realize that for a restaurant to be good, so many pieces have to come together.
Thomas Keller