I, personally, think there is a really danger of taking food too seriously. Food should be part of the bigger picture.

Good food is very often, even most often, simple food.

You know, from age 17 on, my paycheck was coming from cooking and working in kitchens.

I'm not impressed by any cooks who can brag about a filet mignon. A guy who can take the neck of a shank or can use tripe to make into something delicious is really interesting to me; that's impressive.

In that sense, what a great way to live, if you could always do things that interest you, and do them with people who interest you.

I wasn't that great a chef, and I don't think I'm that great a writer.

I could eat bloody Elvis - if you put enough vinegar on him.