We caught up with the celebrated Chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten (jean-georges.com) as he toasts the debut of Tin Building by Jean-Georges to get his daily dish–and all the delicious details of his expanding epicurean empire.
BREAKFAST: Coconut Chia Bowl with summer berries
WAKE-UP TIME: 7:30-8:00am
DIET: I make my own breakfast lunch - mostly vegetables and fish. I check out my restaurants and explore new restaurants.
NEMESIS: GMO
ESCAPE: In the summer, I like to paddle board on the lake by my house upstate. In the winter, I love to ski. Year-round, I like to do yoga frequently and acupuncture. I like to participate in activities that are good for the mind, body and soul, where I’m peaceful.
Jean-Georges Vongerichten
WEAKNESS: I have to have a square of two of chocolate every night before bed.
UNIFORM: When I’m not in my whites, I’m in all black.
HOTEL: I’m an Aman-junkie.
WORKOUT: Yoga.
LAST MEAL: 24-pieces of the best sushi, one by one so I can savor the different flavors and textures.
MOVIE: Tampopo
MENTOR: Louis Outhier
NEIGHBORS: The Hudson River—that’s my view!
SHOES: Anything Prada.
PET: I don’t have a pet per say but I have a small garden in my apartment, I nurture, feed and look after it like one would do a pet.
BEST ADVICE: Keep it simple but sexy and delicious.
PHILANTHROPY: Food Dreams Foundation which I founded with my son Cedric and daughter, Louise. Food Dreams is a non-profit organization dedicated to bridging the gap between underprivileged students and the working culinary community.
MANTRA: Season with your senses.
SINGER: Serge Gainsbourg.
TV SHOW: Tokyo Diner on Netflix.
APP: WhatsApp—it’s the best app for communicating with my family, friends and restaurant teams around the world.
CAR: My orange Chevy 1953 truck—I’ve had it for so many years and it’s very beautiful and nostalgic to me.
COCKTAIL: Negroni.
DINNER: My favorite way to have dinner is to order a number of dishes and share family-style with friends.
SOULMATE: Herve Descottes. We have worked together for many years on the lighting in my restaurants and he is one of my best friends.
BEDTIME: Before midnight.
BOOK AT BEDSIDE: I don’t typically keep books by my bedside—I don’t have a lot of time to read.
WEEKEND BAG: James Perse fabric weekend bag.
FAVORITE WORK OF ART: My Nakashima hand-made wooden table.
YESTERDAY: Yesterday, I spent my day at Tin Building for a pie & tart tasting with our new pastry chef. I then had a call with our team in Philadelphia, I reviewed kitchen plans for other projects, cooked lunch for myself, my brother and team, and I had a few afternoon calls, spent the evening and beginning of service at Jean-Georges and went out for dinner.
ZODIAC: Pisces.
Photography by: PHOTOS BY BRANDON SCHULMAN
