PartyLines- photographs by Patrick McMullan

Does a shaved head make you a better chef? “Men with shaved heads are always better. Just ask my wife. ” —Tom Colicchio

—Kim Cattrall

What kind of mustard do you eat? “Dijon! French mustard! Not Golden's. Dijon! And not French's! ” You don’t like American mustard? “I’m American! I put that stuff on hot dogs at ballgames. ” —Drew Nieporent

—Bobby Flay

What’s a good way to beat the heat? “ I’ll tell you what the Beards could have done: throw a cocktail reception and red-carpet indoors!” —Ted Allen

—Danny Meyer

Do you have to wear Crocs when you work with Mario Batali? “That’s Mario’s deal. I wear Danskos. I need something a little sturdier. ” —Anne Burrell

—Grant Achatz

How realistic is Top Chef? “It’s just TV, it’s not real restaurant cooking. It’s TV! It’s fun! ” —David Chang

—Stephanie March

David Chang got a party bus for tonight. What’s the theme? “It’s always all about David. It always has been, always will. ” —Wylie Dufresne

—Gail Simmons

Your restaurant minibar has only twelve seats. “For six tables I have five cooks. I am a nonprofit. ” —José Andrés

—Michael Psilakis

What do you eat for breakfast? “If I want to have a good productive day, I will eat lots of whole grains, cereal, and lots of tofu and stuff. It's really kind of lame and California — hippie-dippy bullshit. ” —Ilan Hall

—Donatella Arpaia

—Masaharu Morimoto

What’s your favorite food to stay cool? “Frozen grapes. Put them in vodka first. ” —Todd English

—Susan Ungaro

—Thomas Keller

You were named New York’s ‘Sexiest Chef’ in 2007. What’d your friends say? “[To friends] What’d you think when I got that sexy-chef award? Pretty gay, right? ” —Johnny Iuzzini