Charlie Trotter Quotes

"A jazz musician can improvise based on his knowledge of music. He understands how things go together. For a chef, once you have that basis, that's when cuisine is truly exciting."

"Chefs, as a whole, say yes to any project, fundraiser, or tasting because they have such a generous spirit."

"I couldn't really relate to the fraternity or party scene, to the people out in the mall every day protesting one thing or another. I felt like there was no one I could relate to."

"Students need to learn how to think critically, how to argue opposing ideas. It is important for them to learn how to think. You can always cook."

"One must know combinations, one must have a true knowledge of food to be in the moment."

"All four elements were happening in equal measure - the cuisine, the wine, the service, and the overall ambience. It taught me that dining could happen at a spiritual level."

"What I was reading was already part of my psyche, but finally someone else was saying it's okay to walk alone."

"We were all looking forward to this and we spent a lot of energy in trying to do this, ... But as the budget continued to escalate, we just finally said, 'Do we really want to pay off an 11-1/2, 12-million dollar restaurant?'"

"We said, 'We've got to write his book for him,'"