I've been working in boutique hotels my whole life.

Chestnuts are my favorite ingredient to use in the fall, especially for the holidays. I always find that they are meaty, hearty and have a mysterious refinement when cooked or roasted over sea salt.

Determine who you are and what your brand is, and what youre not. The rest of it is just a lot of noise.

My mother's blueberry pie from scratch was amazing. I still make it today.

The most important things in life happen over conversations while eating.

I don't enjoy eating humble pie.

I like old fashioned things. We have these old wine buckets at the restaurant and none of them match.

I love hospitality, and I love cooking. The kitchen is where I feel most at ease and where I feel most like myself.

I'll transform anything as long as it's edible.

The worst day is just that I did not enter the culinary world sooner. And the best day was seeing the reaction of my one year old daughter when she tasted her first crisp apple!

A plate of food has to have balance. For example, a mild fish like skate mustnt be overwhelmed by the side dishes. They should have personality and color, but they also have to be subtle.

Do what you want that works.

A hound will die for you, but never lie to you.

I like those crisis moments - if you're on top of it and don't get pulled under by panic and fear, it's a very bonding thing.

Italians stay so true to their classic silhouettes and the things that they've always done.

I'm very independent, I like to be alone a lot, I like to go shopping by myself - that's my quiet time.

It is the quality and the character of the leader that determines the results and performance.

As for developing a writing style'I would say that I tried to copy the pacing of the old movies I loved as a kid.

Sometimes I wake up in awe that I'm alive. I can't get over that part, so I guess it makes me kind of like an existentialist.

As things are brought back under Christ's rule and authority, they are restored to health, beauty, and freedom.

When a role seems fun it's easy to play. It kind of comes organically.