Swiss chef Daniel Humm is widely considered to be one of the best chefs in the world. The visionary known for his work at the three-Michelin-starred Eleven Madison Park has received just about every culinary accolade imaginable, from James Beard awards to a #1 spot on The World’s 50 Best Restaurants.
But, by his own account, he may never have achieved that success if it weren’t for a kind and thoughtful mother who taught him to believe in his dreams. And while the chef is still a culinary legend, he’s also now a children’s book author.
In Daniel’s Dream, Humm shares a semi-autobiographical story from his childhood, in which he could have gotten in serious trouble at home, but instead, he found the compassion and encouragement he needed to believe in himself. That support, Humm says, made all the difference as he pursued his goals.
Chef Daniel Humm in front of Eleven Madison Park.
Photo:
Parents/Ye Fan
Daniel’s Dream Is a Story For The Next Generation of Innovators and Activists
As a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador, Humm is passionate about environmental causes. On the heels of attending the United Nations Climate Conference, Humm says he felt dismayed by the pressing issues at hand but encouraged by the youth activism he saw there.
It was then that he realized, “Our only hope is our children because our generation is not going to figure this out. There isn’t the sense of urgency that is required.”
His experience at the conference inspired Humm to do something meaningful to encourage young people to pursue their passions the same way he had, and that’s where he got the idea to write his first children’s book.
The Book Highlights the Importance of Nurturing a Child Who Feels Like an Outsider
Daniel’s Dream opens with a description of the titular Daniel. “Anything he loves he takes too far, does too long, plays too loud, and builds too big,” the text reads.
Humm says this might as well be a description of himself as a kid, pursuing his interests with a laser focus and a passion bordering on obsession, to the exclusion of everything else, including school. Like Daniel, Humm says he often felt misunderstood and out of place. Illustrator Diana Pedott represents this visually by giving Daniel’s clothes a streak of red, which contrasts the other kids’ blue and green clothing.
“It takes more time to nurture a kid that is different,” Humm says. “It takes more from the parents. I think it takes more listening and guiding and sort of hand holding a little bit to find that path. But I think it can create incredible results. It can create incredible, creative people, and we need those people more than maybe the ones that fit in.”
His Mother’s Parenting Philosophy Change Humm’s Life—and Inspired His Book
In Daniel’s Dream, Humm depicts two very different authority figures — a teacher, Mr. Finn, and Mama Brigitte, based on his mother. The stern Mr. Finn, is a stand-in for every out-of-touch authority figure who stifles a child’s spirit. After the children are tasked with drawing their “dream house” he insists that Daniel make his vision fit on a standard sheet of paper. But Daniel’s dreams can’t be contained, and when he stays behind to work on his house, his ideas spill off of the paper, onto the desk, the floor, and the walls, getting him sent to the principal’s office and then home.
Mama Brigitte is the rare adult who sees Daniel’s exuberance as an asset and encourages him to follow his dreams. Instead of scolding him for getting in trouble at school, she listens to Daniel and comforts him. Then she surprises the child by covering the house in rolls of paper so he can express himself without limits.
“This happened to me, and it changed my life from that moment on,” says Humm. “I never felt like I was fitting in. I never felt like I was good enough. And then, with that lesson, it became clear to me that there are no limits, and the limits that are given are to be broken.”
As a Father of Three, the Book’s Message Feels Even More Urgent
Mama Brigitte’s display of love and support encourages Daniel to follow his passions in the book, just as Humm’s own mother encouraged him to trust himself and dream big.
Humm says he felt free to pursue his passions as he grew up, from running to cycling to, eventually, the culinary arts. With the encouragement of his parents, Humm felt free to explore the subjects that mattered to him, and his success is proof that the approach paid off.
Now a father of three, Humm says he wants his own kids and all kids to understand that, “There is no wrong path. As long as it’s authentic to you, that’s what you should follow. The spirit of the book is, there are no rules for dreams.”
Daniel’s Dream Ends on a Magical Note
At the end of the story, his dream house complete, Daniel has a magical moment in which he reaches inside his drawing and pulls out fresh tomatoes, a nod to his work as a chef.
This little glimmer of magic was important to Humm because, he says, “I think the world is really a magical place. Even with all the reasons why it isn’t, I do,” says Humm. “The world continues to amaze me, and people continue to amaze me and inspire me. It’s a very magical place.”
Daniel’s Dream is now available for pre-order and will release on September 9, 2025.