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" The Momofuku Culinary Lab started as a space where we could focus on creating and innovating. I didn't want us to worry about working on projects in a restaurant; there are just too many distractions in service and running a kitchen to be able to focus on creating your dishes. "

David Chang

Worry

Focus

Service

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" I wanted to disprove the notion that you couldn't open a great restaurant in a casino. "

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" Food, to me, is always about cooking and eating with those you love and care for. "

David Chang

Food

You

" I was terrible at desk jobs. "

" Cooking and gardening involve so many disciplines: math, chemistry, reading, history. "

" I lived across the street from Noodle Bar. I could barely stand it, because you're there all the time; you can't get away. "

" Don't even get me started. I'm not against all vegetarians. But if you're a vegetarian for ethical reasons, you may be causing more harm. "

David Chang

Ethical

Harm

" I love the intensity of the fine-dining kitchen, but loathe the fine-dining experience. "

" I want to make simple food new. "

" Yes, natural is good and healthy, and whole foods are important. However, experimentation is important, too. "

" Fear is a driving force for most of the things that I do. I don't know if that's healthy. "

" If people ask me, 'What do you think could improve in Toronto dining,' I'd say there's nothing to improve on. "

" New York gives us a wide colour palette to cook from. We have cuisines from around the world, and that lets us pick and choose. "

David Chang

World

New

" If you ask what people say what American cuisine is, they cannot really do it. I don't know what it is. "

" I've never bribed my way into a restaurant. I've never slipped a C-note or greased a palm. In truth, I've never even considered it. I've assumed, of course, that people do such things. "

" I doubt I'd ever do television to the extent that, say, Gordon Ramsay has. "

" Momofuku is not me. It's everyone. I'm just the facade. We have to exceed expectations and be our harshest critics. "

" People are trying to figure out what American food is; it's certainly an amalgamation. "

" Everyone tries to compare cooks to rock stars. I see more comparisons to the fashion world. "

David Chang

Stars

Fashion

" Chef Thomas Keller was an inspiration to me and many, many young cooks like me. He told us that the role of the new, modern chef is different. "

David Chang

Inspiration

" For everyday diners in Manhattan, cracking the waiting list at Nobu is said to be harder than getting courtside tickets for the Knicks. "

" If you're going to be a vegetarian, limit yourself to food from a place you can go to in two hours and just eat that. "