A good, stinky French cheese or a good Stilton. These are things I really, really love. Dessert I can obviously live without.

Even on the Serengeti, it ain't a barbecue if there ain't some kind of beer.

In fairness, you know, I'm a big believer in if your kid makes noise in the restaurant you should remove the child immediately.

I'd never done anything useful as far as my writing.

Wholesome food is wholesome food anywhere. I may not like something but, generally speaking, if it's a busy, street food stall serving mystery meat in India, they're in the business of serving their neighbors. They're not targeted toward a transient crowd of tourists that won't be around tomorrow. They're not in the business of poisoning their neighbors.

Anyone who's a chef, who loves food, ultimately knows that all that matters is: Is it good? Does it give pleasure?

I'm certainly dismayed by what I'm seeing now. There's a lot of ugliness of a kind I've never seen in my lifetime, or heard in my lifetime. But, look, I'm a romantic. I'm hopeful.