I had a really good time with Martha Stewart, who also is somebody I really admire a lot. I've learned a lot from her and I think all of America has, about attention to detail and using fresh ingredients and making things beautiful and special.

Queer Eye for the Straight Guy is a form of service journalism. To be successful, I think it has to be a combination of a good story, it has to be funny, and it also needs to be packed with useful information.

I cook everything. I love Mediterranean cooking, I love Asian cooking. I do lots of Japanese noodles.

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.

Cooking for people is an enormously significant expression of generosity and soulfulness.

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

People want honest, flavourful food, not some show-off meal that takes days to prepare.