It's an interesting thing, Top Chef. Some of the contestants will make you one great dish, and then make you something on the next show that will make you say, "Is that the same person?"

There's a lot of processed food in America and I know that can make some tourists who're used to fresh food feel sick.

Restaurants are like having children: its fun to make them, maybe, but then you have them for good and bad. You are going to have to raise them and if something goes wrong when they are 30 years old, they will still be your little boy.

Italian food is all about ingredients and it's not fussy and it's not fancy.

I want to give people a basic education, and to help them think for themselves when it comes to food.

When I was 27, if I didn't put 15 things in one dish I wasn't happy.

I like the Japanese knives, I like French knives. Whatever's sharp.