Every once in a while, a cookbook comes along that simply knocks me out.

I use other cookbooks for inspiration. I must say I tend to cook from my own cookbooks for parties.

People have more fun if they don't eat so much they have to be taken home in an ambulance.

When I wrote 'Barefoot in Paris,' I wanted to make simple recipes that you could make at home that tasted like French classics.

I love to take something ordinary and make it really special.

I measure everything, because I always think that if I've spent so much time making sure this recipe was exactly the way I want it, why would I want to throw things into a pot?

I always have music. I love it to be very upbeat. When you're having drinks, I like something like Cesaria Evora. During dinner, I like the much more traditional - old Frank Sinatra and things like that.