I always say three things make a writer: inspiration obviously perspiration doing the work. But the third is desperation. I'm not really fit for anything else or to have a real job. That fear drives me. The pressure has always been self inflicted.
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.
