Francois Payard

How did you get involved with City Harvest?

City Harvest is an organization that I am proud to support. I am a longtime friend of Eric Ripert who is also a great supporter of
City Harvest and I appreciate the immediacy of what they do, providing help directly to people in need. It is one of the best organizations. In a large city like New York, it's impressive how many lives they affect for the better and I am always happy to be a part of their work.

Why is hunger an important issue for you?
The issue of hunger is very important because so many people are struggling to afford food, but by making a small effort we can help so many others. In restaurants, like in supermarkets, we always have leftovers. It costs nothing to share these leftovers with people and it is less wasteful than throwing them away in the garbage so you are doing a good thing all the way around.

How has your involvement with City Harvest affected your outlook on food and/or hunger in New York City?
By being involved with City Harvest I have become more aware of the importance of recycling fresh food and avoiding waste, but also I now realize how many people are in need.

What inspired you to become a chef?
I grew up in a family of chefs. Everyday, I saw my dad cooking for us. As a child, I always dreamt of being as good as he was. My grandma also shared with me her love of food and gave me a passion for food.

What is your favorite part about being a chef in New York City?
There is always a new ingredient to learn about, a new restaurant to try and always something new happening in New York. It’s hard to keep up with everything that is happening but I like that there is always something new.

What is your favorite hidden gem of a restaurant or bakery in New York City?
My favorite hidden baked goods are made by Vegan Divas. A great hidden restaurant is Bistro Chat Noir.

What is your favorite type of food to eat?
I like eating pasta. You can do so many things with it. You can create a new dish with pasta just by incorporating different ingredients. There is always a new combination to try.

What is your favorite type of food to make?
I like making a great salad.

What can you not live without in your kitchen?
I cannot live without my espresso machine.

What is in your refrigerator?
Organic produce

What is your favorite junk food?
My favorite junk food is a granola bar.

What was the last best meal that you had?
I had an incredible steak at TBar Steak & Lounge in New York.

• At the Chef's Table
• The Food Council