It's very important to me that people who are actual chefs and other professionals in the culinary world, understand that I'm not, and have never held myself out as being, like a CIA trained chef.

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

Two words to improve any dish. Ba, Con

Believe me, I understand the need for easy and speedy. After a 12-hour day of shooting 'Chopped,' say, I'm talking stir-fry, spaghetti, heck, peanut-butter sandwiches. But that's not about the joy of food. That's survival.

For each episode the five of us are all wearing clothes by the same designer. It's a different designer for each episode, but for each one we're all wearing their clothes.

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

Jay Leno is not a guy who likes change. He eats the same food every day.