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Nature is extremely important to me. Which may be just about the only trouble I'll have in New York. I'll miss the trees!

If you've ever walked a mile into a virgin forest - you know, like a deep forest where trees have been uncut - the energy is totally different from the shopping mall.

Street and park trees provide tremendous benefits to cities.

It can be tough when you're on the road, but I think food is meant to be enjoyed, so whenever we go to a new place, we look for the specialty item there.

If I get to a place early in the morning, I try to walk around by myself. I still try to find cool places to go to, like a record store in St. Louis or some restaurant in Chicago.

When I'm on the road, restaurants are like gyms: I know where I want to be in each city.

I don't go to the cool, trendy restaurants. I go to either the holes in the wall or the super-fancy restaurants where there are no cool people.

All of the people who work in the kitchen with me go out into the forests and on to the beach. It's a part of their job. If you work with me you will often be starting your day in the forest or on the shore because I believe foraging will shape you as a chef.

I've got to be by trees, otherwise I get claustrophobic.

If we ever have free time, my partner and I are fond of going on walks through the local state forests and parks.