I couldn't really relate to the fraternity or party scene, to the people out in the mall every day protesting one thing or another. I felt like there was no one I could relate to.

You can't be afraid to not have everything figured out. There's too much pressure on young people today to have it all figured out when they're in college.

As the party who screwed up you have a responsibility to fess up to the problem and provide a clear explanation.

It's a lot harder to get people to 'ooh' and 'aah' over beets and carrots than it is to get them to 'ooh' and 'aah' over artichokes or asparagus, and I enjoy being able to take these humble, 'lowbrow' foodstuffs up a few notches and serve them with great exuberance.

The party pretty much spreads throughout the entire house, except in the bedrooms. But there are people in the living room, outside, in the kitchen, in the kids' play room, all over.

I worked in 40 restaurants over a five-year period.