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.

Cooking for people is an enormously significant expression of generosity and soulfulness, and entertaining is a way to be both generous and creative. You're sharing your life with people. Of course, it's also an expression of your own need for approval and applause. Nothing wrong with that.

I'm in a loft and the kitchen is in the very center of the apartment. The whole place revolves around it.

Buying stock is exactly the same thing as going to a casino, only with no cocktail service.

I'm a home cook and love to read about food, but I'm not trained as a chef. I'm just really into cooking and passionate about it.

Two words to improve any dish. Ba, Con

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