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.

I've always been known for bold flavors and rustic cooking, but there is another side to me. As you evolve as a cook, you understand life and how serious it is. There comes a point where there's got to be a better balance.

It's okay to play with your food.

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.

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

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.

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