Once you have your basics down, you can start breaking the rules.

I dont know too many parents that want to feed their kids soda, but high-fructose corn syrup is cheap. The price of soda in 20 years has gone down 40 percent while the price of whole foods, fruits and vegetables, has gone up 40 percent and obesity goes up right along that curve.

I don't really like money - I like the things you can buy with money.

I think the patterns are set very early when the kids are young. But at the same time, there are some flavors kids just don't like.

Recipes tell you nothing. Learning techniques is the key.

Most cooks try to learn by making dishes. Doesnt mean you can cook. It means you can make that dish. When you can cook is when you can go to a farmers market, buy a bunch of stuff, then go home and make something without looking at a recipe. Now youre cooking.

I hate okra and grated mountain yam for the same reason. They're both slimy.