Being an Ethiopian-born, Swedish-raised chef, there's nothing traditional about my Thanksgiving spread.

Thanksgiving is probably my favorite holiday - it's a day that's American to the core and it's a day that's all about what and how we eat.

You have to balance, but you can be aggressive as a chef. It benefits the food. You have to be passionate. You can't be angry cooking.

Thanksgiving is one of my favorite American traditions. I quickly picked it up when I moved to the U.S. from Sweden.

While some people may think being a chef only entails making enticing dishes and pushing the culinary boundaries, being a part of the food industry involves much more.

I love Thanksgiving because it's a holiday that is centered around food and family, two things that are of utmost importance to me.