I always like to have flowers on the table. I think they make it look special.

I love Alton Brown's show 'Good Eats,' about the chemistry of food. It's really thoughtful.

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

The most overrated tool: a pasta maker. Why make it when you can buy it? It's a lot of work!

Instead of going out to dinner, buy good food. Cooking at home shows such affection. In a bad economy, it's more important to make yourself feel good.

I don't like sitting at a table that's too large, where everyone is too far apart. That's a party killer.

I try to greet my friends with a drink in my hand, a warm smile on my face, and great music in the background, because that's what gets a dinner party off to a fun start.