Daniel Humm transitions Eleven Madison Park to a plant-based menu

TLDR Daniel Humm, owner of Eleven Madison Park in New York, decided to transition the restaurant to a fully plant-based menu after a transformative year that reshaped his views on food and the environment. This decision followed his journey from leaving school at 14 to becoming a renowned chef, facing challenges like the 2008 financial crisis and the impact of the pandemic.

Timestamped Summary

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06:13 Daniel Humm, owner of the renowned 11 Madison Park in New York, has decided to transition the restaurant to an entirely plant-based menu after a transformative year that changed his perspective on food and the planet.
12:38 Daniel Humm left school at 14, began working in restaurants for money, and developed a passion for cooking after a cycling accident made him reconsider his career path.
19:36 Daniel Humm worked in a kitchen where extreme attention to detail was required, leading him to focus on perfecting his craft and eventually becoming a head chef at a small inn in Switzerland, earning a Michelin star within six months.
25:51 Daniel Humm reflects on his early days in the kitchen, acknowledging past moments of being overwhelmed and yelling, before eventually being recruited by Danny Meyer to work at 11 Madison Park in New York.
32:02 Daniel Humm saw the opportunity to run the kitchen at Eleven Madison Park in New York as a chance to reach the pinnacle of success in the culinary world, despite the high stakes and challenges he faced.
38:16 The financial crisis in 2008 hit Eleven Madison Park hard, leading to months of losses and low customer turnout, until a glowing review from the New York Times transformed the restaurant's fortunes overnight.
44:59 Daniel Humm emphasizes the importance of intention, creativity, beauty, and classic roots in creating dishes at Eleven Madison Park.
51:45 Daniel Humm had to make the difficult decision to part ways with his business partner, took ownership of Eleven Madison Park, and faced the challenges of the pandemic that led to the closure of the restaurant and a significant impact on his team.
58:22 Daniel Humm reopened Eleven Madison Park two weeks after shutting down during the pandemic to produce meals for those in need, reconnecting with the purpose of food and committing to continue serving meals to those who are food insecure even after reopening the restaurant.
01:05:08 Daniel Humm decided to make his restaurant 100% plant-based, focusing on creativity and creating mouthwatering moments using only vegetables, aiming to impress guests and push the envelope in the culinary world.
01:11:36 Daniel Humm's passion for pushing boundaries and reaching higher levels in the culinary world was inspired by a childhood experience that taught him to never settle for limitations.
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