Philip Rosenthal

I don't have the talent, the temperament, or the patience to be a great chef. I'd much rather order from someone who can really do it. I love restaurants. They make my life better.

I am a terrible chef; I'm not a good cook. I don't have the talent, the patience, the desire even to cook the way these great artists that I meet around the world cook, and I'm very, very happy to support them. I invest in restaurants because I love them so much.

I don't want to live in a world without the diner and the coffee shop and the mom and pop places, the ethnic restaurants.

It's our most underrated value, I think, as human beings is our sense of humor. It's how we choose our friends.

I've inherited a Jewish sensibility and sense of humor from my parents and all those who came before me. All the Jewish comedians, character actors and writers I was exposed to also reminded me of my family in their sense of humor.

Because you know what happens when you say 'hello' or 'good morning?' You make a connection. And isn't that what being human is all about?