I do know what my first meal in the next world would be Spaghetti Aglio e Olio, heavy on everything.

I was always a person on my mother's hip in the kitchen. My mom really wanted her kids at her side as much as possible, and she worked in restaurants for over fifty years. And my grandfather had ten children, and he grew and prepared most of the food. My grandmother, on my mother's side, was the family seamstress and the baker. So my mom, the eldest child, was always in the kitchen with my grandpa and I was always in the production and restaurant kitchens and our own kitchen with my mom. And it's just something that has always spoken to me.

I have this extraordinary life during the day, and then I get to come home to my sweet husband who loves to cook with me. I have a nice glass of wine, he has some scotch, we chat, we cook, and we hang out with the dog. I have an absolute dream life.

If you're humble and hardworking, opportunities will arise for you.

I have a fat head - I get freaked-out looking at pictures of me.

Whatever it is you want to do, take a job in that field. You will learn by experience and, slow and steady, you'll get it done!

I used to say I would never run unless I was being chased by someone with a gun. Now I'm a little obsessed with it!