Decide which you want to play up: your clothing or your jewelry, but not both. Let one be the star and one the supporting player.

Wine, like food, is so emotional. If you think about it, so much of the courting ritual is surrounded by wine and food. There's a built-in romance to wine.

The cookbooks and the writing in general have been a real bonus, but it's not something I've ever pursued... I've been lucky, I guess.

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.

I usually doze off between 7:30 and 9 p.m. while putting my baby to sleep. Then I suddenly wake up remembering I'm an adult with no bedtime. I spend the next four hours catching up on reading, e-mails, and other adult pursuits until I collapse for good until sunrise.

All chefs are like Jewish mothers. They want to feed you and feed you and impress you. It's an eagerness to please.

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