I moved to Louisiana to become the executive Chef at Commander's Place. And I must say I had some encouragement from friends such as Ella Brennan, the queen of the New Orleans's culinary set, and others. This was very flattering to a young man with a dream. I was only 26 years old.

If you don't follow your dream, who will?

I grew up in Fall River, Massachusetts. My background was modest, and I worked at a Portuguese bakery in town.

My food is Louisiana, New Orleans-based, well-seasoned, rustic. I think it's pretty unique because of my background being influenced by my mom, Portuguese and French Canadian. There's a lot going on there.

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

We'll be going to the fish market and a farmer's market this afternoon to get what we need to make and eat dinner as a family. I'm trying to expose my kids to going to a farmers market or the fish market and learning what that's all about.

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