I think the most important thing when you are in a competition and you have, let's say, ingredients you have to use make something you did already because none of the judges, you know, probably had it in our lifetime, so I think do something you feel confident with, not something completely new where you are not sure how many hours or how many minutes you have to cook it or if the seasoning is right or if the combinations of spices and herbs are right.

Most seasonings are based on family tradition.

Only you can judge your life. You have to live up to your own expectations.

I fell in love with food because of my mother. So, I will definitely be sharing and expanding more recipes from my culture (as well as many other cultures), and will be sharing recipes that I have experienced from my whole culinary life.

My passion for writing cookbooks really came from my love of collecting cookbooks.

Prep things in advance so that you don't have to cook everything at the last moment.

Thirty-five years ago, being a cook was the same as being a used-car salesman.