Nightline Platelist: Homage to Thomas Keller

Dec. 22, 2008— -- How does a man without any formal culinary education go on to own eight acclaimed restaurants? Chef Thomas Keller, 53, says it's necessary to have a strong work ethic.

His path to success wasn't easy. Keller's first New York restaurant, Rakel, received enthusiastic reviews but didn't draw a crowd. Even so, he didn't quit. Instead of giving up Keller moved to California, where he opened The French Laundry, the first of his many publicly celebrated restaurants.

CLICK HERE for a delicious holiday recipe from Thomas Keller.

Food was scarce in Keller's childhood home in Palm Beach, Fla. He was the second youngest of five siblings, "so there was always a battle to get something to eat." Raised by a single mother, Betty, Keller believes it was her that really instilled his work ethic.

"My mother had an enormous impact on me. It was really more about my work ethic and the desire. I think people talk about passion as something you have to have to do something really well. Well, I don't totally disagree with that but I think passion ebbs and flows. I think the one thing that is most important in being successful is have a strong, a strong desire to do something. And my mother gave me that desire. She gave me that work ethic to continue to try to reach your goals; continue to strive to do that job," he said.

Because his mother was constantly working to support the large family, Keller's most vivid food memories stemmed from the holidays. "I don't have those fond memories of sitting on my mother's knee or my grandmother's knee stirring a pot of cocovan or polenta or whatever. For me, the greatest memories I had as a child were certainly around the holidays – Thanksgiving, Christmas – that was the time when my mother really spent those moments in the kitchen cooking for us. Whether it was a great turkey at Thanksgiving or a standing rib of roast at Christmas time or ham or things like that around the table. And there was always food then! So we didn't really have to fight for food being the youngest of the group."