We're probably close to reaching 2,000 shows, which is more than Julia Child and Jacques Pepin together.

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.

Kids are now eating things like edamame and sushi. I didn't know what shiitake mushrooms were when I was 10 - most kids today do.

If kids can learn how to make a simple Bolognese sauce, they will never go hungry. It's pretty easy to cook pasta, but a good sauce is way more useful.

It's okay to play with your food.

Whether it's books or TV, or whatever the case may be, the backbone of what I do is my restaurants.