The world is full of people who would like nothing better than to spend six hours on a golf course. I would rather be chopping shallots.

My whole problem is that all of my favorite things at Thanksgiving are the starches, and everyone is trying to go low-carb this year, even a green vegetable has carbs in it.

If I have committed any culinary atrocities, please forgive me.

I like to have friends in the kitchen and make a big mess and use every pot in the kitchen.

However, I was a restaurant critic at Chicago magazine before I worked at Esquire, and I've been a really enthusiastic home cook for a long time. It's just something I'm passionate about.

I went in saying I wanted to be the food guy.

You know the great irony is that people think you have to have money to enjoy fine food, which is a shame.