Emeril Lagasse

“I think you’ve got to keep it simple, keep it fresh. Stay away from all that processed stuff, read the labels.”

“If you don’t follow your dream, who will?”

“When I cook with my son, I might chop vegetables and have fun with different shapes. Cooking is a way to teach kids about other things, like reading or math with all of the weights and measures. There are so many things that are part of cooking that are also very educational.”

“Kids are now eating things like edamame and sushi. I didn’t know what shiitake mushrooms were when I was 10; most kids today do.”

“I love fresh citrus and always keep lemons, limes, and oranges on hand; they come in handy for spritzing up quickly grilled meats, seafoods, and vegetables, especially when followed up by a quick drizzle of extra virgin olive oil.”

“A lot of parents ask me how to get kids to eat more vegetables. The first thing I say is that it starts from the top.”

“I have a lot of influences. I’m American-schooled. I’m classically trained. I’m a pretty universal student, if you will. I have a lot of degrees, which really don’t pay the rent. I have two doctorate degrees, I have a bachelor’s degree, but I’m still a cook.”

“My philosophy from day one is that I can sleep better at night if I can improve an individual’s knowledge about food and wine, and do it on a daily basis.”