Scott Conant opens restaurants. It’s just what he does. Truthfully, Conant’s resume is so ridiculously long and impressive, it’s nearly impossible to list all of his jobs and achievements – that’s how many he’s had and rocked! But we will try…
Conant didn’t start out in food by restaurant-launching, he got there after working hard as a chef in restaurants and bringing culinary glory to each. Since those successes, he went on to open many restaurants starting with L’Impero which earned the title of “Best New Restaurant” from the James Beard Foundation. He opened the very well-known Scarpetta in 2008, which has won him countless devoted diners and a highly-respected spot among the industry’s heavy-hitters. He’s also written several cookbooks and is a judge on Food Network’s cornerstone show Chopped. Is that all? His latest restaurant opening was this past December – CORSAIR in Aventura.
But to me Conant is so much more than his culinary resume — a friend and a die-hard Lionel Richie fan who loves baby-smell and fantasizes about being a hippie, he is also supremely cool, funny and full of surprises.
Check out these 18 things you definitely didn’t know about Scott Conant (according to Scott Conant)
1- My spirit animal is Lionel Richie. 
2- I’ve always wanted to learn to play the guitar and live like a hippie with no real responsibilities (for a few years). I remember seeing Willie Nelson perform on tour when I was younger. Drinking whiskey on his bus and just playing shows all over. I always thought that looked awesome, but I guess it wasn’t the life for me!
3- My lucky number is 13
4- I think the ultimate hangover cure is to keep drinking.
5- My death row meal would be my mother’s sausage and peppers and my wife’s Börek
6- The most ambitious food I’ve tried was at the Chopped judge table — eating duck testicles at 8 am is about as ambitious as I ever want to be.
7- The most embarrassing thing that’s happened while filming is Aaron Sanchez. 
8- My favorite food memory from growing up is my mother’s sausage and peppers.
9- If I had an entire day free, I would spend it sleeping — but since that seems to be impossible for me, I would more likely spend it running around a big field with my kids.
10- I love artist Aileen Chong and have several of her pieces in my office.
11- I cook to Bob Dylan. Willie Nelson. Kris Kristofferson.
12- If I could only eat one food for the rest of my life, it would be chicken cutlet sandwiches with avocado.
13- My favorite midnight snack is Reduced-Fat Skippy Peanut Butter.
14-My guilty pleasure is Casa Dragones sipping tequila. By the bottle.
15- The first thing I do when I get up in the morning is drink a double espresso.
16- I’ve been lucky enough to have experienced all my food fantasies: street food in Singapore and morning sushi at Tsukiji market in Tokyo.
17- The best person to follow on Instagram are Frank Prisinzano of Sauce, Frank and Lil Frankies.
18- My favorite smell is from when my daughter’s were babies. The smell of babies is just the best in the world…but only when they’re clean!
