As you move through this life...you leave marks behind, however small. And in return, life - and travel - leaves marks on you.

Context and memory play powerful roles in all the truly great meals in one's life.

I am not a fan of people who abuse service staff. In fact, I find it intolerable. It’s an unpardonable sin as far as I’m concerned, taking out personal business or some other kind of dissatisfaction on a waiter or busboy.

Cooking is work that is traditionally done by working-class people. The work itself is not glamorous. It's repetitive, and it's a lot closer to factory work than art, whatever level you're doing it at. Certainly chefs are used to living like rock 'n' rollers to some extent, inasmuch as we get a lot of those fringe benefits without having to learn how to play guitar.

I learned a long time ago that trying to micromanage the perfect vacation is always a disaster. That leads to terrible times.

I feel that if Jacques Pepin shows you how to make an omelet, the matter is pretty much settled. That's God talking.

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