Today there are very few chefs at that high level who are behind their stoves. You don't feel their presence within the room. Where's the romance? Where's the show? Where's the theater? The modern day restaurant - it's like dining in a chapel. It's boring.

People do peculiar things in life and they do for whatever reason but I think one of the greatest crimes in life is when you lie.

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

I find supermarkets fascinating places. It's extraordinary, you can buy anything there.

Chefs today choose to step onto that treadmill where they have to be seen. Every day they have to go to this party, they have to go to that party. But then you think "Who is doing the cooking?".

A tree without roots is just a piece of wood.