Mario Batali

“As far away as you can get from the process of mechanisms and machinery, the more likely your food’s going to taste good. And that that is probably the largest thing I can hand to anybody is let your hands touch it. Let them make it.”

“In America, I would say New York and New Orleans are the two most interesting food towns. In New Orleans, they don’t have a bad deli. There’s no mediocrity accepted.”

“The passion of the Italian or the Italian-American population is endless for food and lore and everything about it.”

“You have to be generous if you want to spend your time making someone else dinner. Even if you’re charging, you’re still giving.”

“The Gulf Coast has the potential to create a culinary raw ingredient paradise that smart cooks can capitalize on.”

“Protein has been intensely over-represented on the plate. Now, the garden should be the main drag for main courses.”

“Shop often, shop hard, and spend for the best stuff available – logic dictates that you can make delicious food only with delicious ingredients.”

“If you want your kids to listen to you, don’t yell at them. Whisper. Make them lean in. My kids taught me that. And I do it with adults now.”