Restaurant Chat: Stephen Starr discusses inspirations, regrets and plans

Craig: How many restaurants can one guy own, Stephen? What kind of limits have you set for yourself and the company in the future? Also, what other fields do you see yourself entering outside restaurants?

Craig: ... Stephen humming a Dylan tune in the background over the phone ... "How many restaurants can one guy own ... how many ..."

Stephen: I do restaurants that I get excited over. I don't say to myself "How many restaurant can one guy own?" If i get moved by an idea I wanna do it. I think this has been a key component to my success. I cannot do the amount of restaurants I've done in Philadelphia in other markets so I want to concentrate in Philadelphia and New York. I would like to pursue the opening of a hotel here in Philadelphia in the future.

Craig: We're going to wrap this conversation up pretty soon. But first, one more question ... Who do you admire most outside your company on the local scene? Who do you think might be the "next Stephen Starr"? And which Starr kitchen alums cooking on their own out there are you most proud of?

Craig: Actually, that was three questions ... sorry.

Stephen: I do not see a person or company in Philadelphia crazy enough to do what we've been doing over the last two years. However, I'm extremely proud of Jose Garces, who I think is a tremendous chef who took a lot of what he learned with Douglas and myself and created a formula that is giving him great success. Also, Aimee Alexy has just been amazing ever since she left us at Blue Angel many years ago.

Craig: On that note, I'm going to call this chat finito. Thanks very much, Stephen, for taking the time to join us and answer all these brilliant questions. You've been a great guest.

Craig: Thanks also to everyone who joined in for today's chat. I'll be back next week at the same time, same URL, but with a different menu du jour. Until then, be well, and may you all eat something worth bragging about!