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

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.

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.

Because the show is popular, people do recognize us on the streets.

In recent years, I've been writing because I'm fortunate enough to work in the world of food television, to travel and taste and learn about cooking from the best chefs in the business.

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