Quotes by Michael Mina

About Michael Mina:

Michael Mina is an American celebrity chef, restaurateur, and cookbook author. He is the founder of the Mina Group, a restaurant management company operating 18 concept restaurants. He is the executive chef at his two namesake restaurants in San Francisco and Las Vegas. He authored his first cookbook in 2006 and has made numerous television appearances. Mina has one Michelin star at each of his namesake restaurants in San Francisco and Las Vegas.
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

From a young age, I understood the idea of balanced flavor - the reason you put ketchup on a hamburger. I was that kid who wouldn't eat something if there was something missing. I never really understood it until I began cooking professionally, balan...

Michael Mina

I loved the cooking; that was what I was passionate about, but getting to watch the guests eat - because you could see everything from the kitchen - just watching people eat and looking at the plates when they came back, just understanding, this is s...

Michael Mina

I believe what makes cooking in Las Vegas different from cooking in most other cities are the guests that dine with you in Las Vegas.

Michael Mina

Of course you do things differently in your 30s and 40s than in your 20s.

Michael Mina

With chefs, the problem is we have to be very confident because people are looking at us for that. So pretty soon, you think you're a plumber, you think you're an electrician, you think you're an accountant.

Michael Mina

I like complicated dishes but also appreciate simple foods.

Michael Mina

When designing a kitchen, always keep in mind the social aspect.

Michael Mina

I loved growing up in Washington, but I have been a diehard, 100 percent 49ers fan since I was 11.

Michael Mina

I did want to share with you one of the greatest lessons I've learned over the years cooking for my kids - there is enormous value in bringing children into the kitchen.

Michael Mina

You have to always remember who your guest is, and that's who we cater to.

Michael Mina

Even in fine-dining restaurants, you have people that say 'I want to be out in half hour', 'I want to be out in 45 minutes.' It happens.

Michael Mina

When your parents are Middle Eastern immigrants, you have three choices. You can become a doctor, a lawyer or an engineer.

Michael Mina

I had always been told cooking was a servant's job.

Michael Mina

I'm passionate about pleasing people.

Michael Mina

The part that I know I enjoy most is the restaurants. You can't do everything, you know? For me, the priority has been being deeply involved in my restaurants and figuring out different ways to make them run better.

Michael Mina

There's always room to improve in a restaurant. A restaurant is better or worse every day than it was the day before. It's impossible not to be, because it's human.

Michael Mina

I liked to screw around in the kitchen when I was a kid. But I started cooking when I was 15.

Michael Mina

I'm not a big breakfast eater.

Michael Mina

Chefs become attracted to being able to get product and then clientele - those are the two things that attract you as a chef.

Michael Mina

When I first went to Las Vegas, I thought I would never go to Las Vegas; you can't get anything. But then I realized that they were trucking in almost everything; you could get a lot of your product, and I think that's why a lot of chefs actually wen...

Michael Mina

Author Bio

  • NameMichael Mina
  • DescriptionAmerican chef
  • Born1969
  • CountryEgypt
  • ProfessionRestaurateur