I am a sufferer of endometriosis. I didn't want any young women to go through what I went through. I thought that people should know about it.

I always loved my bangles, I can't remember a time when I didn't have a bangle on.

I have great empathy for all the contestants that come on 'Top Chef,' whether they go home right away or they make it to the finish line. It's a very vulnerable position they put themselves in and I feel for them.

During the course of filming 'Top Chef,' I gain 15 lbs., so I'm used to needing two dress sizes.

I think eating in itself is the act of great sensuality, so all you have to do is point the camera in the right direction.

Miami, which has already aired, has this wonderful blend of Caribbean culture and Latin American culture and Southern American culture (talking about fried chicken). All those combine to make for a very very interesting array of ingredients, restaurants, and the chefs that come there. It also has great seafood, not to mention the glorious citrus that's there. And all those things inform what you do - and they should.

Part of my job as a food writer is to describe food. So my work on 'Top Chef,' I feel, is an extension of that. When we give a criticism to the contestant, we want to make sure we tell them why it's not working and why it would work if they did it a different way.