I don't like to see animals in pain. That was very uncomfortable to me. I don't like factory farming. I'm not an advocate for the meat industry.

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

People are generally proud of their food. A willingness to eat and drink with people without fear and prejudice... they open up to you in ways that somebody visiting who is driven by a story may not get.

I do my very best to avoid shark fin.

If anything is good for pounding humility into you permanently, it's the restaurant business.

Food is so personal - I mean someone is talking to you when people are cooking for you. I like to hear an identifiable voice.

If I'm in Rome for only 48 hours, I would consider it a sin against God to not eat cacio e pepe, the most uniquely Roman of pastas, in some crummy little joint where Romans eat. I'd much rather do that than go to the Vatican. That's Rome to me.