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

Home base is the support system where we have a culinary team, my own writers because of the shows and the books and stuff, we have a culinary team of about six people. Marketing, public relations, accounting and all that sort of stuff.

Spice is life. It depends upon what you like... have fun with it. Yes, food is serious, but you should have fun with it.

Cooking is so popular today because it's the perfect mix of food and fun.

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.

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 had a fierce curiosity about this food thing.