Cookbooks hit you where you live. You want comfort; you want security; you want food; you want to not be hungry and not only do you want those basic things fixed, you want it done in a really nice, gentle way that makes you feel loved. That's a big desire, and cookbooks say to the person reading them, 'If you will read me, you will be able to do this for yourself and for others. You will make everybody feel better.'

The best way to eat crabs, as everyone knows, is off newspaper at a large table with a large number of people.

A world without tomatoes is like a string quartet without violins.

To feel safe and warm on a cold wet night, all you really need is soup.

And, for an unsurpassed double whammy, there is talking about eating while you are eating with friends.

Both happy and sad people can be cheered up by a nice meal.

Dinner alone is one of life's pleasures.