I lost my brother when he was 30, and that was devastating for me. I don't know if I will ever get over it.

You just need a little perspective. Warmed chocolate can give you that.

For a healthy alternative to buffalo wings, slide the bone of a human finger into a block of tofu and bake.

My goal is to make Italian food clean and accessible and beautiful and tasty, with simple ingredients that people can find at a local grocery store, because people don't want to go to a gourmet shop in search of items that will sit in their pantry for years after they use just a teaspoon or pinch of them.

Many chefs of a certain caliber do not see me as a chef. I don't have a restaurant. They see me as a TV food personality, not a chef. I've gotten respect, trust me, they respect me, but I think that I can't hit that particular level of respect from them until I have a successful Vegas restaurant that not only makes money but creates unbelievable food and a fabulous experience. I don't think people think I can cook, and they don't think I know what the hell I'm doing.

The summer before I went to culinary school, my family wanted me to take a job on a movie to make sure that I was making the right decision. I think they hoped I would change my mind about culinary school.

It's almost ingrained in people that, just like you can't be a smart model, you can't be a good-looking cook.