Into it: Todd English

... Reading?

I'm reading Gael Greene's book Insatiable. It's about her career in New York as a food critic for New York Magazine. It's an insider's book on what being a restaurant critic is all about. I like Fiasco, about Thomas E. Ricks. I've just started reading it. He's a journalist, and it's about his take about what's going on [in Iraq]. He gives some real-life stories about what's happening.

I'm a big Entourage fan. I think the whole premise of these guys, the way they trounce around L.A. trying to make it, is great. The dialogue is great, Ari [played by Emmy-winner Jeremy Piven] is great. There's a movie called Vatel. It's about Louis XIV's chef. It's pretty interesting if you're a culinary fan. It's about the way he created so many amazing things – the invention of crème brûlée. An all-around interesting guy. Big Night is a great movie. It's a good rental.

Everything from Frank Sinatra to System of a Down to Jack Johnson. I'm not really a total headbanger, but I think [System of a Down] are pretty brilliant guys. I know a couple of the members of the band, so I'm listening to some of their stuff right now, usually at the gym. I like some of the stuff from the Brand New Heavies. I listen to The Beatles. [When I'm cooking] I'll listen to some jazz – John Coltrane, things like that.

• Todd English owns 17 restaurants around the country, including 'Olives' in Boston, New York, and Seattle. His newest, Riche by Todd English, opens in New Orleans on Sept. 18.