Yes or No: Have you heard of these bands?

Metric

Ra Ra Riot

Wilco

Lil Wayne

Lady Ga Ga

Kings of Leon

Fleet Foxes

A Brief Smile

Only Wilco – who I heard in Portland, Maine in July.

What was the last concert you saw?

Steely Dan

Do you listen to music while you cook?

Yes

What is your perfect summer BBQ soundtrack?

Stevie Ray Vaughan, The Allman Brothers, Dixie Chicks, Marshall Tucker Band

How is the food at Cafe 2 influenced by its home in the MoMa? Do you think there is a connection between art and food?

Sure there is.  But Café 2 is more about the connection between the food and the human beings who are enjoying the museum’s art.  The menu is designed to help all kinds of people from all kinds of walks of life – different ages, nationalities, income brackets – to better enjoy the art by refueling with wonderful food we hope is deeply satisfying, nourishing and nurturing.

Do you have any specific anxieties about serving food in the Museum of Modern Art?

No. It is a privilege to do what we do in the context of such a remarkable institution.  Our job is to give people yet another reason to enjoy visiting a great museum.

Do you have an art collection of your own, or any favorite artists?

Yes.  I couldn’t live without it; at home and in our restaurants.  No such thing as a favorite artist.  Just love good art.

If you had to live without either cheese or bread for the rest of your life, which would you sacrifice?

Cheese

Do you prefer waffles or pancakes?

Pancakes -- smothered with peanut butter and drizzled with maple syrup.

If you had to serve dinner at one of your restaurants without either music or bread, which would you give up?

Music.  If the question were at home, I’d have elimated the bread in favor of music. We have better bread in our restaurants and I get to hear my own music at home.

Do you prefer sparkling or flat water?

Flat

In your book, Setting the Table, you express you love for food, music, and art. How has music influenced all of your restaurants, (not just Blue Smoke)? 

We use music to set up by, serve by, and break down by.  If it makes people feel better than they otherwise would have, then I am happy.  Each restaurant needs to be thoughtful about how music is used to amp the feeling.  Tabla was the most challenging.  But we’ve nailed it and you should check it out.  

Which of your restaurants do your kids like the best?

Tie between Blue Smoke and Shake Shack.  But they love the ones with tablecloths too!