You gotta have good olive oil. You should have a cooking olive oil and you should have a finishing olive oil, like an extra-virgin olive oil.

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.

Everyone needs a mentor.

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

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.

I think you've got to keep it simple, keep it fresh. Stay away from all that processed stuff, read the labels.

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