Eleven Madison Park: Daniel Humm

Podcast Summary

• Creating a Positive Work Culture: Key to Business Success: Investing in teams, tools, and partnerships helps businesses and individuals overcome challenges and reach their full potential. Building a positive work culture is essential for success in any industry.

  Successful businesses and individuals understand the importance of creating a positive work culture, investing in the right tools and partnerships, and staying adaptable during challenging times. Wondery Plus subscribers can listen to the full story of Daniel Humm, the head chef and owner of the top-ranked restaurant in the world, 11 Madison Park, and how he built his business despite the challenges of the recession. Humm emphasized the importance of creating a strong company culture and the role it plays in driving success. Amica, a leading insurance provider, also prioritizes building a human connection with its customers. They offer personalized policies and excellent customer service, making insurance feel less like a chore and more like a partnership. Atlassian, a software company, is revolutionizing teamwork through AI-powered collaboration tools like Jira and Confluence. These tools help teams accomplish more together than they could alone, making it easier to make informed decisions and produce the best results for customers. Successful businesses and individuals understand the importance of investing in their teams, tools, and partnerships to overcome challenges and reach their full potential. Whether it's in the restaurant industry, insurance, or technology, the key to success is staying adaptable and focused on creating a positive work culture.

• Renowned chef Daniel Humm pivots to plant-based menu after pandemic: Successful chef Daniel Humm shifts 11 Madison Park to a plant-based menu, making it the first Michelin 3-star vegan restaurant, inspired by pandemic experiences and upbringing

  Even successful businesses can undergo significant changes when their leaders experience transformative events. Daniel Humm, the renowned chef behind 11 Madison Park, a Michelin-starred restaurant in New York, decided to pivot to an entirely plant-based menu after the pandemic forced its closure. This shift is unprecedented in the fine dining world, as no other Michelin 3-star restaurant is vegan. Humm's experiences during the pandemic, including feeding the community and facing personal hardships, instilled a new sense of urgency and purpose in him, leading him to reevaluate his approach to food and its impact on the planet. His upbringing in Switzerland, where he learned to respect and use every part of ingredients, laid the foundation for this pivot.

• The interviewee's complicated relationship with his architect father led him to find solace in sports and later, cooking.: Despite a challenging upbringing and unconventional choices, the interviewee discovered his passions for sports and cooking, shaped by his experiences.

  The interviewee's relationship with his architect father was challenging, leading him to find solace and a sense of belonging in running and later, cycling. At a young age, he excelled in these sports, but never felt good enough for his father. He left home at 15 to live with his girlfriend and pursue a professional cycling career. While training, he worked in restaurants to earn money, eventually finding a passion for cooking and developing a mentor-like relationship with chefs. By 18, he had a child with his girlfriend, and the simplicity of their non-traditional lifestyle brought them great happiness. Despite the difficulties and unconventional choices, the interviewee's experiences shaped his love for sports and cooking, leading him to discover his true passions.

• From a cycling accident to a culinary career: Setbacks can lead to new passions and growth. Focusing on mastering a craft despite challenges can lead to success.

  Setbacks and challenges in life can lead to new opportunities and passions. The speaker shares his experience of a severe accident that led him to reconsider his career in cycling and discover his love for cooking. He was inspired by the precision and calmness of chefs he had observed at a three-star restaurant before his accident. After ending a long-term relationship and feeling the pain of memories, he pursued a culinary career in the US. The intense and old-school kitchen environment was a stark contrast to his previous experience as a cyclist. Despite the challenging conditions, he focused on mastering the craft and kept a journal of his dishes to remember techniques. This dedication paid off, and he still works in a similar way today. Through this experience, the speaker learned that setbacks can pave the way for new discoveries and growth.

• A Chef's Journey from Michelin Star to San Francisco: Learning the basics, persevering through challenges, and staying humble are essential for success in the culinary world.

  Starting from humble beginnings, the chef learned the fundamentals of cooking and gained experience by working in various kitchens, including a small farm in Switzerland. Through dedication and hard work, he eventually received a Michelin star within six months. However, the sudden attention and pressure led to some stress and even caused him to yell at team members. Eventually, he was recruited to work at a restaurant in San Francisco, where he faced new challenges but also opportunities for growth. The chef's journey highlights the importance of learning the basics, persevering through challenges, and staying humble in the face of success.

• A young chef's journey from San Francisco to New York's 11 Madison Park: Trusting a visionary mentor and working hard led a young chef to transform a renowned dining room into a world-class destination

  The speaker's journey in the food industry began with a trip to California, where he was introduced to the creative and culturally rich gastronomy scene. At a young age, he found success at Camden Place in San Francisco, earning high praise from critics. Despite this, he was approached by renowned restaurateur Danny Meyer to work at 11 Madison Park in New York. After much consideration and multiple visits, the speaker decided to take on the challenge of revamping the large dining room, trusting Meyer's vision to make it one of the great dining rooms in the world. The speaker's story highlights the importance of trust, hard work, and the pursuit of excellence in the face of daunting opportunities.

• From blank slate to Miles Davis inspiration: Resilience, collaboration, and staying open to unexpected inspiration are key to culinary success.

  For Daniel Humm, the road to culinary success at 11 Madison Park was filled with challenges and unexpected twists. Though he was given a blank slate to revamp the menu, the intense pressure to please customers and make the business profitable was a steep learning curve. He discovered that a chef's success hinges on their ability to manage the business and make it financially sustainable. Partnering with GM Will Guidara, they focused on hospitality as a key differentiator, making guests feel welcome and returning for more. A seemingly innocuous review from the New York Observer, which called the restaurant a "bit of Miles Davis," became a source of inspiration. The team adopted 11 words commonly used to describe Miles Davis, such as cool, endless reinvention, and forward-moving, and integrated them into the restaurant's ethos. This unexpected review sparked a transformation, leading Humm and Guidara to reimagine fine dining, making it more approachable and cool. This story illustrates the importance of resilience, collaboration, and staying open to unexpected inspiration in the pursuit of success.

• Perseverance and adaptability in the restaurant industry: During economic downturns, staying committed to goals and finding innovative solutions can lead to success in the restaurant industry

  Perseverance and adaptability are crucial for success in the restaurant industry, especially during economic downturns. The story of 11 Madison Park illustrates this well. The restaurant, which had been aiming for a coveted four-star review from the New York Times, faced significant challenges when the financial crisis hit in 2008. The recession led to a decrease in customers and revenue, but the team didn't give up. They creatively found ways to make the restaurant appear busy and full when the critic was expected, eventually securing the elusive four-star review. The artful presentation of their food also contributed to their success, with many considering their plates as modern art. This success story underscores the importance of staying committed to your goals and finding innovative solutions to overcome adversity.

• Four Essential Elements of Cooking: Deliciousness, Beauty, Creativity, and Intention: Renowned chef's success hinges on four essential elements: delicious food, visually appealing presentation, innovative techniques, and sincere intention.

  For the renowned chef, perfection in cooking comes down to four essential elements: deliciousness, beauty, creativity, and intention. These principles were first exemplified in a simple celery root dish and have since been the foundation for all of his culinary creations. After achieving success with 11 Madison Park, he and his business partner expanded their business, but found it increasingly challenging to balance their roles in the kitchen and as brand ambassadors. Despite the distractions, they continued to uphold these four fundamental elements in their dishes, allowing them to maintain their reputation as a Michelin-starred restaurant.

• Realizing misaligned goals led to a business split: Success and accolades can lead to overwhelming opportunities, causing a loss of control and misalignment in goals. Stay true to your passions and values to navigate unexpected challenges.

  Even after achieving great success and reaching the pinnacle of their profession, the speaker and her business partner, Daniel Humm, realized they were no longer aligned in their goals and were holding each other back. The pursuit of awards and accolades, while driving them to improve, ultimately led to overwhelming opportunities and a loss of control over their schedules. When they parted ways, the restaurant industry was hit by the pandemic, forcing them to close the doors of 11 Madison Park and leaving many employees displaced. Despite the challenges, the experience taught them the importance of staying true to their passions and values, and the resilience needed to adapt to unexpected circumstances.

• Transforming businesses during challenging times: Businesses can adapt and thrive by using the right tools, innovating, and giving back to their communities.

  Having the right tools and resources can help businesses adapt and thrive, even in challenging times. Daniel Humm of Eleven Madison Park transformed his closed restaurant into a meal production facility, feeding over a million people in need during the pandemic. Meanwhile, businesses can enhance their presentations with tools like Canva to save time and create compelling visual content. Additionally, the American Express Business Gold Card offers flexible spending capacity and valuable statement credits, providing powerful backing for businesses. Whether it's through innovative solutions or community service, adapting and growing is key to success.

• Chef Daniel Humm's Purposeful Pivot: Despite financial struggles, Chef Humm found meaning in serving those in need, leading him to open a Michelin-starred, plant-based restaurant and continue providing meals for the community.

  Even in the face of financial hardship and personal sacrifice, Chef Daniel Humm found purpose and meaning in using his culinary skills to serve those in need. This experience led him to reevaluate his life's work and make a commitment to running a plant-based, Michelin-starred restaurant, 11 Madison, while also continuing to provide meals for those in need. The decision to go plant-based at such a high level is significant and requires creativity to recreate classic dishes without using animal products. The focus remains on providing a memorable dining experience, but now with a more sustainable and ethical approach. This shift is not just about the food, but also about the impact on the environment and the community.

• Creating intricate vegetable dishes at a high-end restaurant: Vegetable dishes require more thought, preparation, and time in the kitchen compared to meat dishes, but offer unique opportunities for creativity and artistry.

  Creating delicious vegetable dishes at a high-end restaurant can be more challenging and time-consuming than cooking meat. Chef Daniel Humm shared his experience of making intricately prepared vegetable dishes, such as caramelized kombu and mushrooms with dehydrated pine needle mushroom powder, requiring more thought, preparation, and time in the kitchen. While meat dishes may seem simpler to prepare, the creativity and artistry involved in vegetable cooking can be more complex. Additionally, as a chef and CEO, Humm acknowledged the pressure and responsibility of running a successful business and making significant changes to the restaurant's menu. Despite the challenges, Humm expressed excitement for the next chapter of his career and the opportunity to continue pushing culinary boundaries with vegetable dishes. Humm's remarkable journey from dropping out of school at 14 to achieving success in the culinary world also underscores the importance of perseverance and determination.

• Encountering a remarkable girl fueled chef Daniel Humm's belief in reaching for more: Passion, hard work, and luck led Daniel Humm to success. He defines passion as a deep commitment and endures hardships to achieve his goals. During the pandemic, he adapted by offering takeout and started a family-friendly podcast.

  Passion and determination, combined with the right opportunities and people, can lead to great success. Daniel Humm, the chef and owner of 11 Madison Park, shared a story about an encounter with a remarkable girl when he was young, which instilled in him the belief that there's always something bigger and more to reach for. Humm attributes his accomplishments to both hard work and luck, including meeting inspiring people and taking risks. He also shared his unique perspective on the meaning of passion, which he describes as a deep commitment that requires suffering or willingness to endure hardships. During the pandemic, 11 Madison Park adapted by offering a takeout option, which aligns with Humm's vision of food as nurture and giving back to the community. The podcast episode also highlights Humm's new family-friendly podcast, The Cat in the Hatcast, which embodies his playful and adventurous spirit.

• A cautionary tale of fame and reality TV: The Swan, a past reality TV show, exposed the extreme lengths for fame and the potential negative impacts on society

  The Swan, a reality TV show from the early 2000s, serves as a cautionary tale about the lengths people will go for fame and the potential harm of reality television. The show, which isolated women for months, subjected them to physical transformations, and forced them to compete in a beauty pageant, was a viewing nightmare rather than a dream opportunity. This disturbing social experiment, which aired on CBS and was the subject of a recent episode of The Big Flop podcast, highlights the questionable decisions that have shaped the history of pop culture. By examining the failures of the past, we can gain valuable insights into the complex relationship between entertainment and societal norms. Listen to The Big Flop on Wondery Plus for more in-depth discussions about these fascinating flops.