Steak and its accompaniments - wine, vegetables, potatoes and generous desserts - is a primal source of pleasure to which many people can relate.

so I have a lot of love for the old steak and potatoes.

Sometimes, early in their careers, chefs make the mistake of adding one too many things to a plate to get attention. If a chef is just coming up with wiz-bang gimmicks on their plate, that has nothing to do with bringing real pleasure to people.

We served scrambled eggs and steak once in a while. There were powdered potatoes; we didn't have to peel potatoes. A lot of seafood and chicken once in a while. No rice. We got up at 6 a.m. and were done by 4 or 5 p.m.

The great source of pleasure is variety

I've been in love with Washington ever since renting my very first apartment there many years ago while working as a Senate intern.