Two words to improve any dish. Ba, Con

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

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.

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

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.

Life isn't about what you achieve but the emotions you get out of it all.

Children show me in their playful smiles the divine in everyone.

Spirituality actually must be above politics. Or some other sort of business.

Libraries help you to dream!

When you are unhappy, is there anything more maddening than to be told that you should be contented with your lot?

I can almost see what Gabriel meant when he asked, 'What has the free world got that you can’t get here?' Almost. Freedom, Gabriel. That’s what you can’t get here.

Discipline is doing what you hate to do, but nonetheless doing it like you love it.

An audience shouldn't listen with complacency.

I have musician friends who play too much golf, and they're not as good at music anymore.

I think my favorite experience is whatever I'm doing now.