- 01 What are you reading? A Swedish translation of Miles: The Autobiography. I always find new things to learn—about culture, about race—in the story of Miles Davis.
- 02 What do you never travel without? I’ve always needed to write down my experiences, food ideas, thoughts. So it used to be a notebook; now it’s my iPad.
- 03 Favorite movie? Anything by Terrence Malick.
- 04 TV show? I like the silliness of The Mindy Project.
- 05 Beer, wine or spirits? Beer after playing soccer. Wine if I’m hanging with Daniel [Boulud]—I like anything from the Brown family in Napa. Late night, brown liquor like something from Glenmorangie.
- 06 Your go-to meal? My wife’s Ethiopian cooking.
- 07 Favorite restaurant, outside of your own? Places that help you understand the DNA of an area, like the Boqueria in Barcelona or the hawker stalls in Singapore.
- 08 Who’s your biggest culinary influence? It beginswith my grandmother. [Then, Chicago’s] Charlie Trotter was probably the biggest hand I ever got. And [New Orleans creole legend] Leah Chase, who’s been at it for 70 years.
- 09As a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up? I thought I’d be a soccer pro.
- 10 Favorite shoes? Old-school sneakers, like Stan Smith white Adidas or Chuck Taylor Converse.
- 11 What’s your watch of choice? I have a gorgeous Tiffany that was given to me, but I can’t wear it often. It would get destroyed.
- 12 Favorite designer? Duro Olowu, a Nigerian designer in London, paired with Ralph Lauren—that’s a look you can ride.
- 13 Best outfit? I’m most comfortable in my chef outfit. But I havea fitted Valentino suit that I can wear anywhere.
- 14 What do you drive? At home, the Q and 3 trains and a Shinola bike. In Stockholm, my sister’s really nice Volvo.
- 15 If your house were on fire, what object would you save?As much of my art collection as I could. I would go two-fisted with a Julie Mehretu and a Lorna Simpson.
- 16 What’s the biggest challenge you’ve had to overcome? I luxuriate in being a black man. But there are obstacles. You have to learn to jump above them—and learn how they can be a bridge to something better.
- 17 What keeps you up at night? My wife [Maya Haile] is about to have a baby, so right now, it’s a 3:30 a.m. snack with her.
- 18 What causes are closest to your heart? Three Goats, a foundation that my wife and I created to get girls on the border of Ethiopia and Somalia access to clean water, food and an education, and C-CAP, which gives young adults culinary skills.
- 19 Who is your role model? I was 23 when I lost my dad. He was a fisherman who became a geologist, and watching him move between blue-collar and white-collar worlds taught me a lot.
- 20 How would you like to be remembered? Please—I’m just starting! Come back in 48 years, and we can talk.
Marcus Samuelsson
Ethiopia-born, Sweden-raised Marcus Samuelsson has been a culinary star since he first made his mark at New York’s Aquavit in the mid ’90s.
Illustration by Graham SmithIllustration by Graham Smith