When I graduated I wasn't sure what I wanted to do, but I knew I didn't want a conventional career. Charlie Trotter More Quotes by Charlie Trotter More Quotes From Charlie Trotter My parents couldnt be looser. It was the ultimate laissez faire upbringing. Charlie Trotter laissez-faire-capitalismultimateparent What I was reading was already part of my psyche, but finally someone else was saying it's okay to walk alone. Charlie Trotter okayreadingbook 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. Charlie Trotter meservicewinespiritual I timed my previous wife's pregnancy to the moment to have my son born on Bob Dylan's 50th birthday. There is no bigger Bob Dylan fan than me. You don't just time the day and impregnate your wife to get your kid to be born on Bob Dylan's 50th birthday. Charlie Trotter daymebirthdayson Cooking is exactly like making music. Charlie Trotter makinglikemusiccooking If you know what you're doing, you can make a meal happen with any kitchen knife. But using a top-quality knife versus a low-quality one is the difference between driving a Jaguar and a VW Jetta across the country. They'll both get you there. But the Jaguar will give you a much smoother ride. Charlie Trotter rideyoukitchendriving You know the old adage that the customer's always right? Well, I kind of think that the opposite is true. The customer is rarely right. Charlie Trotter customertruethinkyou It's a lot harder to get people to 'ooh' and 'aah' over beets and carrots than it is to get them to 'ooh' and 'aah' over artichokes or asparagus, and I enjoy being able to take these humble, 'lowbrow' foodstuffs up a few notches and serve them with great exuberance. Charlie Trotter greatenjoyhumblepeople I've always liked root vegetables because most of them have a natural sweetness. They have a high fructose content, especially when you cook them and caramelize them in a saute pan. Or you can take a turnip and cook it slowly in the oven until it's browned, and it takes on a kind of sweetness. These vegetables are pretty easy to like. Charlie Trotter highyouvegetableseasy The idea that you have to pursue greatness... it's up to you; it's your life. Charlie Trotter youryougreatnesslife I'm really not that comfortable with people. I mean, I love individuals, but I'm not very social. Charlie Trotter comfortablelovemeanpeople I don't ever want to lose that mind-set where you've got to be able to realize different ideas-slash-fantasies-slash-possibilities in your life. Charlie Trotter realizeloseyoulife A quarter century of running a restaurant - that's a long time to do one thing. Charlie Trotter restaurantlong-timetimelong I've always been a little crazy. Charlie Trotter littlebeenalwayscrazy I worked in 40 restaurants over a five-year period. Charlie Trotter five-yearperiodoverrestaurants If you ever want to get anywhere in life, you're going to have to push it, and somebody's going to push you to get there. End of story. Charlie Trotter endstoryyoulife The most successful food, I think, is food that both appeals to the super-sophisticated diner or foodie and to the lay diner at the same time. Charlie Trotter thinksuccessfultimefood
