My dream job is to be a rock drummer and the alternate drummer for the Foo Fighters.

My mom, who's been in the restaurant business for 40 years, is the number-one influence in my life. But I look up to a lot of people in the industry. Tops on my list is Mario Batali. My mom and Mario taught me the same lesson: Food is love.

Work hard. Laugh when you feel like crying. Keep an open mind, open eyes and an open spirit.

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.

My husband cooks fancier food for himself than I've ever cooked on-air. I call him from the road, and he's making champagne-vanilla salmon or black-cherry pork chop. Half of me is feeling unworthy. Not only am I not a chef, I'm not a better cook than my own husband!

Decide what it is that you are and then stay true to that thing. My brand is based very much on how I live my day-to-day life.

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