I can't stay friends with anyone who doesn't have a passion for something; and, generally speaking, artistic people, creative people carry it right into the kitchen, too. They have a zest for life; the excitement of living. All of the great eaters I've known are also men of great wit.

When I was a kid, I used to send away for those ventriloquist kits on the back of comic books.

A summary of every Jewish holiday: They tried to kill us, we won, let's eat!

Smoked salmon is for dinner. Belly lox is for breakfast. Don't get that mixed up.

I just never saw my mother in any other room but the kitchen. There were always pots going.