My contribution I hope is to get people to eat full-flavored food. If I could come away with that alone, that would be a fantastic accomplishment. I'm also very proud of being a very American chef.

Do I exaggerate? Boy, do I, and I'd do it more if I could get away with it.

I would wear a full-length cape if I could get away with it - I do love a good swirl in a fog.

If I could live in a cabaret, I would. If I could live in 'Moulin Rouge,' I would.

Frankly, if I could get away with not having to perform, I'd be very happy. It's not my favorite thing to do.

Nobody believed the 'Food Network' could last. Even I was short sighted and thought to myself, 24 hours of food on TV? They'll run out of things to talk about in four days! But that wasn't true. 'Food Network' continues to get better and evolve.