I wouldn't ask any of my employees to do anything I wouldn't do. And I work as hard, if not harder than the rest of the staff, to set an example. I also believe in giving my employees a lot of room to be creative and to express themselves.

What I go for in my cooking is sinful, bold and real.

I had a fierce curiosity about this food thing.

I've never really had a problem with people.

Get up every day and try a little harder than the day before.

Food is very representative of a city's culture. In order to really get to know a place and the people, you've got to eat the food.

I love fresh citrus and always keep lemons, limes, and oranges on hand; they come in handy for spritzing up quickly grilled meats, seafoods, and vegetables, especially when followed up by a quick drizzle of extra virgin olive oil.