Welcome to my list of “Things I Think Are Important”. At some point I expect to write some reviews about these things; please feel free to post your own thoughts there.

Movies:

• Ratatouille – “Anyone can cook!” A culinary philosophy I hold near and dear to my heart.

Web sites:

• Google – Yes, I start here when I’m making a new recipe or menu.

Books:

• The Making of a Chef – Probably the most inspirational and motivating culinary book I’ve read.
• The Apprentice – Jacques Pepin’s autobiography
• Kitchen Confidential – Do I really need to say anything about this book? Bourdain’s one of my heroes.
• The Fourth Star – In the kitchen of Daniel Boulud’s Manhattan restaurant, Daniel.
• The Perfectionist – About Bernard Loisseau’s suicide in 2003, ostensibly because he lost a Michelin star
• The Omnivore’s Dilemma – A controversial book, but one that helps form much of my own culinary philosophy