Keith McNally on Balthazar’s First-Ever Fashion Collaboration

Show Notes: You’ve never done a “fashion collaboration” at Balthazar. Why now, and why with Ami?

Keith McNally: Partly because we’re neighbors. The Ami store is only three blocks away. And partly because when my management team met the Ami team last month, they returned gushing about how nice and low-key the Ami team were. I tend to like people who are understated and low-key quite a lot. I also like Ami’s brand.

What’s your impression of Alexandre Mattiussi and Ami? If you and Alexandre have had dinner together, where and what did you eat?

Absolutely terrible man. No, of course not! I haven’t met Alexandre Mattiussi. I’m quite a shy person. Ask my staff. Seventy percent of the time when I dine at my restaurants, I dine alone. I actually like my own company. (Which is fortunate because no one else does.)

Does the idea of adding a new element to the guest experience at Balthazar excite or frighten you?

Nothing frightens me except rejection. I don’t know why, but I like seeing the Ami brand in Balthazar’s dining room a lot. I really like their logo.

What’s the biggest change you’ve ever made to the atmosphere or experience of Balthazar in the past?

In the last year, I’ve come round to preferring the sound of the restaurant “din” to the sound of music. Apart from weekend nights, when I DJ from 11 p.m. until 1 a.m., the level of the music is very, very low. This would have been unthinkable four years ago.

Do you notice a New York Fashion Week bump at Balthazar? Have you been to any fashion shows before?

Balthazar is already so busy at lunch and dinner seven days a week that an increase in business is impossible right now.

Fashion people, art people, businesspeople, or media people: which crowd do you enjoy having in Balthazar the most?

It always depends on the person, not the profession. Always.

Why do you think Parisians love eating at Balthazar so much when they are visiting NYC?

I like to think the reason why Parisians seem to particularly like Balthazar is because it reminds them how restaurants in Paris used to be, but I’m probably wrong. I usually am about most things.

Has this experience inspired you to upgrade your wardrobe?

You must be joking!

Great question: 36 and counting.