Balance is key in cooking - you want a little acid, a little sweet, a little savory - the flavors should be harmonious.

Patience was not something that came naturally to me, but in cooking it is the quintessential skill.

Find combinations of flavors you love and buy the best quality ingredients you can afford. Your food is only going to be as good as the sum of its parts, like anything else.

I reveled in the most basic rules and techniques that are the foundation of professional cooking. For example, it is essential to use a sharp knife: the sharper the knife, the more fluid and precise your work and the less likely you are to get hurt. Dull knives are a danger - they slip far more often.

I would not say I'm an aggressive shopper. I want to be; I aspire to be an aggressive shopper. I am a meek, meek shopper.

Choose older eggs for hard cooking.