We trust something in a grocery store and assume it's good. We don't learn about the most precious thing in life-the food we put in our body. Educate yourself!

I didn't want to do just another set of recipes. I think that's useless.

I opened a restaurant that had nothing but California wines.

When you've got a great business going, you go open another and take the risk of losing the whole thing. It's fun!

We closed the restaurant in New Orleans and brought the entire staff to San Francisco. But we had to go home.

In '71 or '72 I returned to New Orleans and stayed there. I started cooking Louisiana food. Of all the things I had cooked, it was the best-and it was my heritage.

I'm a professional cook. I've worked with other cooks from all over the world, but my family is not that way - they're always lived within 25 miles of my hometown!