Nathan Myhrvold on Charlie Trotter: 'He Made an Immeasurable Impact on the World of Fine Dining'

"He enjoyed singling out his chefs and servers, one by one, by interrupting their task at hand and inquiring, for all to hear, 'If you were on a desert island and could only bring one book to read, which would it be?' Newer employees answered nervously, realizing the question was a test, and having clearly been put on the spot for Charlie's amusement. Experienced Trotter's team members responded with the correct answer, 'Yours, Chef!' It was his way of breaking the invisible tension that divides the diners and service team in traditional fine dining, putting the whole room at ease." — Nathan Myhrvold, co-founder of Intellectual Ventures and principal author of Modernist Cuisine, remembers chef Charlie Trotter.