Renowned for his culinary skills and his impeccable standards, Thomas Keller has established a collection of restaurants that set a new paradigm within the hospitality industry. In 1994, he opened The French Laundry in Yountville, a wine country landmark that has been widely hailed as the finest restaurant in the world. He followed that ten years later with Per Se, which brought the chef’s distinctive style to Manhattan. Today, both restaurants enjoy 3-star Michelin ratings, making Keller the first and only American-born chef to hold multiple three-star ratings from the prestigious dining guide. casual dining restaurants include Bouchon (Beverly Hills, Yountville, Las Vegas), Bar Bouchon (Beverly Hills) Bouchon Bakery (Yountville, Las Vegas, NYC), and Ad Hoc (Yountville). This program has been sponsored by Fairway Market.

Image credit to Deborah Jones

“Passion is not something I look for in a person…what I look for is desire. Desire is something that is always there, even when the passion subsides.” [12:00]

“You don’t let failures define who you are, you let it become a growth period.” [19:30]

“As chefs we’re trained to say yes. The minute you walk in the door, ‘no’ is not a word in your vocabulary.” [28:50]

Thomas Keller on Chef’s Story