A man obsessed: obsessed with perfection, sharing, aesthetics, taste, savoir-faire, and much more.

Everywhere in the world there are tensions - economic, political, religious. So we need chocolate.

It is impossible to remain indifferent to Japanese culture. It is a different civilisation where all you have learnt must be forgotten. It is a great intellectual challenge and a gorgeous sensual experience.

The planets resources are rare; we must consume more ethically and equitably.

Everyone talks about Spanish influences, but where is it?...Tell me 10 great Spanish restaurants in London....You can’t give me the addresses. Nor in Paris.

The image foreigners have of French cuisine is fattening and very fancy food. But it's not true - French food isn't just rich. The word "healthy" doesn't exist in French. We have many, many words, but not that one. To me, healthy means paying close attention to feeding people.

Techniques are not the most difficult to teach. The attitudes chefs take are much more important.