In actuality, there was casting for the show and it was pretty difficult.

I cook everything. I love Mediterranean cooking, I love Asian cooking. I do lots of Japanese noodles.

Two words to improve any dish. Ba, Con

It's very important to me that people who are actual chefs and other professionals in the culinary world, understand that I'm not, and have never held myself out as being, like a CIA trained chef.

You know the great irony is that people think you have to have money to enjoy fine food, which is a shame.

Cooking for people is an enormously significant expression of generosity and soulfulness.

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

However, I was a restaurant critic at Chicago magazine before I worked at Esquire, and I've been a really enthusiastic home cook for a long time. It's just something I'm passionate about.

My place in Chicago is a 105 year old house, but I really like contemporary spaces too, so it's refreshing and fun to be in a space where you can do contemporary things.

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

My whole problem is that all of my favorite things at Thanksgiving are the starches, and everyone is trying to go low-carb this year, even a green vegetable has carbs in it.

Sometimes more is hidden behind a truth than a pack of lies.

I do not have a bride gene. I haven't been planning a wedding since I was 3. I never put a sheet on my head and pretended that it was a veil.

My dad was great. He was very droll, very dry.

Let me know if you're going to do something stupid, kid, 'cause I'll ditch you like that.

Instead of the question "What must I do for my employer?" substitute "What can I do"

I am optimistic that humanity is going to make it, that humanity is going to reach, finally, a new state of consciousness which will then create a different kind of world.

I've always admitted that I'm ruled by my passions.

I don't even like old cars. I'd rather have a goddam horse. A horse is at least human, for God's sake.

Humanity connected is God.

I wanted more firsts with Tod. But all I had left was a handful of lasts.