Hard work IS its own reward. Integrity IS priceless. Art DOES feed the soul.

America has been very open to immigrants in terms of laws, getting loans - it has been helping immigrants more than it's been helping African Americans in starting a small business. That's key, whether you're starting a restaurant or a laundromat.

One of the first things my father taught me was that the library was made for and available to me. It's a place where you not only learn from books but you learn responsibility - how to borrow, take care of, and give back.

You know that old expression "It's not whether you win or lose; it's how you play the game". That line was definitely not coined by a chef. Because for a chef, it's only about whether or not you pull through. If you fail, nobody cares how hard you tried.

For many of us, clean water is so plentiful and readily available that we rarely, if ever, pause to consider what life would be like without it.

In Europe I couldn't be anything but a black cook working for somebody. My inspiration was to own, to be the chef.

Hard work IS its own reward. Integrity IS priceless. Art DOES feed the soul.