Charlie Trotter quotes

Excellence is about fighting and pursuing something diligently, with a strict and determined approach to doing it right. It's okay if there are flaws in the process - it makes it more interesting. (Charlie Trotter)
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.
Charlie Trotter
To me, searching for perfection isn't anywhere near as interesting as trying to find your own voice.
Charlie Trotter
I wasn't using college as a stepping stone to law school or some other career. I just wanted a liberal-arts education.
Charlie Trotter
Chefs, as a whole, say yes to any project, fundraiser, or tasting because they have such a generous spirit.
Charlie Trotter
My fantasy is to have a restaurant where there are no written menus, but where you just ask people, What are you in the mood for? Fish? Meat? White wine?
Charlie Trotter
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.
Charlie Trotter
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
Life's too short. You may be on this planet for 80 years at best or who knows, but you can't just pedal around and do the same thing forever.
Charlie Trotter
For over 20 years, I have been saying that Chicago is by far one of the greatest food cities in the world.
Charlie Trotter
Ultimately, I want to prepare food that will be recognized equally in Tokyo, London, and Paris. I am after that universality, that transcendence. (Charlie Trotter)
You've got to give away what you love.
Charlie Trotter
I love faltering. I love, in a sense, coming up short. Because you learn nothing from success. You learn so much from failing.
Charlie Trotter
The art of cooking is among the most intimate things that we can do for another.
Charlie Trotter
Cuisine is only about making foods taste the way they are supposed to taste.
Charlie Trotter
One must know combinations, one must have a true knowledge of food to be in the moment.
Charlie Trotter
Always make stock in a large quantity and freeze it in plastic bags. That way, when you want to make a nice soup or boil veggies, you can simply pull the bag out of the freezer.
Charlie Trotter
I never considered Miles Davis a perfectionist; I always considered him as an excellence-ist, where deviation is actually kind of cool.
Charlie Trotter
If you want the meaning of families and life and religion and philosophy rolled into one package, all you need to read is 'The Brothers Karamazov.'
Charlie Trotter
The idea that you have to pursue greatness... it's up to you; it's your life.
Charlie Trotter
Any fool can be happy. What I'm interested in is satisfaction. There's got to be more to life than just being happy. You've got to be fulfilled. You've got to be satisfied; philosophically satisfied is what I mean. (Charlie Trotter)
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
If people give me a year or two of their best effort, then I am their friend for life.
Charlie Trotter
My plan is to work on a master's in philosophy.
Charlie Trotter
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