--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I started out in the early 1970s…" description: "\"When I started out in the early 1970s French cooking was really my only serious influence. For the first 10 years of having the seafood restaurant open..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d9/rick-stein-5306_cooking_when-i-started-out-in-the-early-1970s-fr_2831461.png" --- # When I started out in the early 1970s French cooking was… ![“When I started out in the early 1970s French cooking was really my only serious influence. For the first 10 years of having the seafood restaurant open I went to France, and particularly Brittany, to pick up ideas.” quote by Rick Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d9/rick-stein-5306_cooking_when-i-started-out-in-the-early-1970s-fr_2831461.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d9/rick-stein-5306_cooking_when-i-started-out-in-the-early-1970s-fr_2831461.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d9/rick-stein-5306_cooking_when-i-started-out-in-the-early-1970s-fr_2831461.png) > “When I started out in the early 1970s French cooking was really my only serious influence. For the first 10 years of having the seafood restaurant open I went to France, and particularly Brittany, to pick up ideas.” [Rick Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-stein/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Early career shaped by French culinary tradition, especially Brittany’s seafood. **In simple terms:** French cooking heavily influenced his early restaurant work. Key Takeaway Learn from masters. Themes cooking influence heritage Mood reflective inspirational Type professional educational When to use this quote - restaurant opening - menu development - travel for inspiration Key Concepts culinary arts regional cuisine Questions to Reflect On - How can you blend influences with your own voice? - What other cuisines could broaden your palate? A Different Perspective May limit originality if over‑relied on one tradition. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cooking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cooking/) [Food](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/food/) [French cooking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/french-cooking/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Influence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/influence/) [Restaurant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/restaurant/) ## Related quotes > [Unless its Michelin-starred food, people wont pay top dollar for top food so its hard to do good old-fashioned French cooking and get people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-stein/unless-its-michelin-starred-food-people-wont-pay-top-dollar-for-top/) [Rick Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-stein/) > [I regard Chinese seafood cookery as among the best in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-stein/i-regard-chinese-seafood-cookery-as-among-the-best-in-the-world/) [Rick Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-stein/) > [We did a dish called seafood thermidor, which was, essentially, a glorified fish pie. It's great because you don't use much fish in it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-stein/we-did-a-dish-called-seafood-thermidor-which-was-essentially-a/) [Rick Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-stein/) > [South-east Asian salads are a great balance of salty, sweet-sour and spicy. Its important to have both pork and seafood, but you can vary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-stein/south-east-asian-salads-are-a-great-balance-of-salty-sweet-sour-and/) [Rick Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-stein/) > [In the early 70s I was offered a job on a newspaper. At the last minute the offer was withdrawn because there was a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-stein/in-the-early-70s-i-was-offered-a-job-on-a-newspaper-at-the-last/) [Rick Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-stein/) > [This is what London's all about for me: good local restaurants. It's what makes a civilised city. For me, as a country boy, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-stein/this-is-what-london-s-all-about-for-me-good-local-restaurants-it-s/) [Rick Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-stein/) > [I still feel that French cooking is the most important in the world, one of the few that has rules. If you follow the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-child/i-still-feel-that-french-cooking-is-the-most-important-in-the-world/) [Julia Child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-child/) > [French cooking is really the result of peasants figuring out how to extract flavor from pedestrian ingredients. 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Both ingredients have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yuto-tsukuda/if-i-am-correct-the-secret-to-this-sauce-is-honey-and-balsamic/) [Yuto Tsukuda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yuto-tsukuda/) > [I grew up in France, my first language was French, and I tend to gravitate towards French cooking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-stack/i-grew-up-in-france-my-first-language-was-french-and-i-tend-to/) [Robert Stack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-stack/) > [Economic theorists, like French chefs in regard to food, have developed stylized models whose ingredients are limited by some unwritten rules. Just as traditional…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-akerlof/economic-theorists-like-french-chefs-in-regard-to-food-have-developed/) George Akerlof > [Mastering the Art of French Cooking... doesn't mean it has to be fancy cooking, although it can be as elaborate as you wish.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-child/mastering-the-art-of-french-cooking-doesn-t-mean-it-has-to-be-fancy/) [Julia Child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-child/) > [“I have never looked to religion for comfort - belief is just not in my genes. But reading Mastering the Art of French Cooking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-powell/i-have-never-looked-to-religion-for-comfort-belief-is-just-not-in-my/) [Julie Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-powell/) > [Speaking of trust, ever since I wrote this book, 'Liespotting,' no one wants to meet me in person anymore - no, no, no, no,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pamela-meyer/speaking-of-trust-ever-since-i-wrote-this-book-liespotting-no-one/) [Pamela Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pamela-meyer/) ## More by Rick Stein > [Our seas do have fish in them. We have to change our eating habits, the type of fish we tend to go for. Pollack…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-stein/our-seas-do-have-fish-in-them-we-have-to-change-our-eating-habits-the/) [Rick Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-stein/) > [In my eyes, baking and pastry-making is like a science - all the measuring of quantities and temperatures.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-stein/in-my-eyes-baking-and-pastry-making-is-like-a-science-all-the/) [Rick Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-stein/) > [If a recipe is good, I'm not going to mess with it, but they are recipes I've spent quite a bit of time getting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-stein/if-a-recipe-is-good-i-m-not-going-to-mess-with-it-but-they-are/) [Rick Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-stein/) > [A lot of my customers wouldnt go to a McDonalds but we are all after the same thing in this business: pleasing the customer.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-stein/a-lot-of-my-customers-wouldnt-go-to-a-mcdonalds-but-we-are-all-after/) [Rick Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-stein/) > [I dont think Ill ever stop working, its what I do even though I dont have to - thats one of the pleasures of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-stein/i-dont-think-ill-ever-stop-working-its-what-i-do-even-though-i-dont/) [Rick Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-stein/) > [I love the Chinese words for greeting: not strictly 'Hello' but 'Have you eaten yet?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-stein/i-love-the-chinese-words-for-greeting-not-strictly-hello-but-have-you/) [Rick Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-stein/) > [Losing close relatives doesnt get any easier, really, but losing your parents is the big deal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-stein/losing-close-relatives-doesnt-get-any-easier-really-but-losing-your/) [Rick Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-stein/) > [The first day in Tokyo was disorientating - all neon, gadgets and extreme politeness - but I was surprised to find that I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-stein/the-first-day-in-tokyo-was-disorientating-all-neon-gadgets-and/) [Rick Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-stein/) > [My father, Eric, was bipolar and as he got older, his illness affected the family more and more. My mother was magnificent in protecting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-stein/my-father-eric-was-bipolar-and-as-he-got-older-his-illness-affected/) [Rick Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-stein/) > [On the surface, our lives seemed idyllic. My four siblings and I grew up on a 150-acre farm in Oxfordshire, and spent every holiday…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-stein/on-the-surface-our-lives-seemed-idyllic-my-four-siblings-and-i-grew/) [Rick Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-stein/) > [I've never worked in anyone else's kitchen, but at college there was a guy called Tom Chivers who was a great chef and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-stein/i-ve-never-worked-in-anyone-else-s-kitchen-but-at-college-there-was-a/) [Rick Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-stein/) > [I do think there is continuing sense in people buying recipe books from somebody they trust.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-stein/i-do-think-there-is-continuing-sense-in-people-buying-recipe-books/) [Rick Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-stein/) > [As a child, I was embarrassed by my dads effusive episodes, but I suppose I got used to living with someone who was intermittently…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-stein/as-a-child-i-was-embarrassed-by-my-dads-effusive-episodes-but-i/) [Rick Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-stein/) > [I eat out a lot, so being at home is just great. I usually make a chicken rice recipe that I picked up in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-stein/i-eat-out-a-lot-so-being-at-home-is-just-great-i-usually-make-a/) [Rick Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-stein/) > [I particularly like writing on planes. You've got nothing else to do but concentrate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-stein/i-particularly-like-writing-on-planes-you-ve-got-nothing-else-to-do/) [Rick Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-stein/) [Explore all 102 Rick Stein quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-stein/) ## More Cooking quotes > [Before Noah, men having only water to drink, could not find the truth. 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I examined them closely and reckoned they had only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-brown/in-the-back-of-the-fridge-i-checked-out-some-stewed-apples-destined/) [Helen Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-brown/) > [My Mom always cooked healthy. Greek food lends itself to cooking healthy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cat-cora/my-mom-always-cooked-healthy-greek-food-lends-itself-to-cooking/) [Cat Cora](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cat-cora/) > [Cooking brings me so much joy. 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