I don't do social events, I don't do award ceremonies, I don't do charity dinners. I live my life off-radar.

Don't dress for others, dress for yourself. Clothes should be an extension of what you represent and what you feel inside.

I've never tried to be a celebrity chef, people call me that but I was that young boy that the media chose.

I didn't understand myself well enough be an ambassador to my world, to inspire people to want to cook, to inspire young people to want to come into my industry.

Gastronomy is the French Foreign Legion. You don't need any qualifications. Just walk through the door and keep your head down. Be respectful - "Yes chef!" - and you'll be given a trade. One day you'll be in a position where you can put a roof over your children's heads, you can put food on their table, create security for them.

I came from the old world of gastronomy. Many years ago I walked into the kitchens of the Hotel St George and I feel very fortunate that I worked for chefs that were behind their stoves. I saw that world of gastronomy. I can sit here today and say that I saw the golden age of gastronomy. It's gone, it's gone. It's never going to have that anymore, once the accountants get involved the romance fades. That's the reality.

When you walk down the street of Kabul your values for life changes, they do change.