How to Get a Reservation at ABC Kitchen

That's what Deepak Chopra and I laughed about last week at the launch party for my new book, Home Cooking with Jean Georges. To put a spin on the classic book party, I teamed up with Deepak Homebase at ABC Carpet and Home to have a conversation with Deepak about food, sustainability, and the joy of eating.

Before and after the talk, I celebrated my book launch with my family and friends the way I like best--with great food and drink. My chefs Greg Brainin and Dan Kluger prepared an amazing spread of dishes and cocktails from the book and from ABC Kitchen. It was amazing seeing my whole family (including my infant grandson Olivier) and so many friends--old and new--come together.

But back to the question at hand: the secret to scoring a reservation at ABC Kitchen. (Apparently, Deepak gets tons of requests every day.) I'm thrilled with how popular ABC is, but I want it to be a place where anyone can eat, so I always keep tables open for walk-in customers. All around the bar, we serve the full menu every night to walk-in diners. As with getting a reservation, it's easier to get a walk-in table if you come earlier in the evening.

The other way to get a taste of ABC Kitchen is to cook from my new cookbook. I created the recipes for my family up in our country home, where I cook simple, sustainable meals using the freshest ingredients from local farmers' markets. I was so happy with those dishes, I put them on the menu at ABC. What I want both the restaurant and the book to do is to inspire you to eat and cook dishes that highlight the beauty of seasonal ingredients. It's that easy.