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.

My extravagance is my garden - it's the first thing I look at every morning when I wake up. It gives me so much pleasure.

Anyone who tries to make brownies without butter should be arrested.

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

Food is not about impressing people. It's about making them feel comfortable.

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

I think the best shortcut is to choose really simple recipes. Because I think you can make simple recipes that are as delicious as complicated ones.