21 years ago when I started cooking, to be a cook meant that you were going to stay in the basement. Being a chef, you would never be on a book tour. You could never dream that 20 years later on you would be on a book tour. It wasn't a part of your dreams because it was just totally unrealistic. When did cooks - restaurant cooks, not cooks that have 15,000 television shows - when did cooks become part of pop culture the way they are?

People will travel anywhere for good food - it's crazy.

Close interaction with farmers and scientists can expose the chef to new flavours that can be used to delight diners.

I've never had anything but the freedom to do what I wanted just as long as it made me happy.

I still cook at home. A lot of chefs I think don't cook at home. But I still do, I love cooking at home, I love having friends.

I can't crack jokes because I don't have any.

The restaurant industry is brutal.