I love people, and I'm excited that I can turn them on.

I opened my own restaurant when I was 17. I went broke, then traveled around the country, learning about different kinds of foods, had three other restaurants that went broke. It didn't all start just a few years ago!

I wait for the next opportunity to have something to do with food. If I get rested, my mind just starts creating new dishes - click, click, click.

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.

When the taste changes with every bite and the last bite tastes as good as the first, that's Cajun.

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

I don't think life is to be taken too seriously. Take it too seriously, and it'll getcha.