I hope the cooks who are working for me now are getting that kind of experience so they can use what they're learning now as a foundation for a great career.

It wasn't about mechanics; it was about a feeling, wanting to give someone something, which in turn was really gratifying. That really resonated for me.

Now the restaurants have begun to catch up with the wine-making; there are numerous great restaurants in Napa Valley, and it's wonderful because the people are there for just that: great food and great wine.

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.

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.

Your idea of that dish has evolved, and if you're a cook, you can start thinking in different ways about it, maybe even a different way than I think about it.

I wanted to learn everything I could about what it takes to be a great chef. It was a turning point for me.

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.

Food should be fun.

I drank more wine when I wasn't working as much, to be honest.

My childhood wasn't full of wonderful culinary memories.

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.

A kaiseki meal is like that, very small courses over a long period of time.

But once in a while you might see me at In and Out Burger; they make the best fast food hamburgers around.

I have no formal culinary training, right.

I like to drink young wines, wines which are robust and have a lot of forward fruit to them.

I think every young cook wants to write a book.

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

In any restaurant of this caliber, the chefs are in the same position, building relationships.

It's one thing you aspire to: someday, you'll be able to write a book.