Some people like to paint pictures, or do gardening, or build a boat in the basement. Other people get a tremendous pleasure out of the kitchen, because cooking is just as creative and imaginative an activity as drawing, or wood carving, or music.

Eating is the secret to good cooking.

The main thing is to have a gutsy approach and use your head.

I'd like for people to be able to go to the universities and get a degree in fine arts-gastronomy.

I always try to buy just what I need. You get ideas as to what's in season and what's best. I think if you have a preconceived idea before shopping, that makes it difficult. You have to have an open mind.

You have to eat to cook. You can't be a good cook and be a noneater. I think eating is the secret to good cooking.

I had my first French meal and I never got over it. It was just marvelous. We had oysters and a lovely dry white wine. And then we had one of those lovely scalloped dishes and the lovely, creamery buttery sauce. Then we had a roast duck and I don't know what else.