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.

Growing up in New England, being schooled and classically trained, it needed to shake, it needed to evolve.

I spent a lot of time on farms when I was young. My uncle and my dad owned a big farm.

A lot of parents ask me how to get kids to eat more vegetables. The first thing I say is that it starts from the top.

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

I started cooking when I was about 10. I have memories like when I was 6 or 7 with my mom, and when I was 12 I started getting real serious about cooking.

You know, in 1975 I couldn't get a job in New York City because I was American. The kitchens were predominantly run by French, Swiss, German, and basically I got laughed at. I had education, I had experience, but got laughed at because I was American.