They were like, great, now look, ... I was always drawn to the kitchen.

The idea ... is taking common ingredients that everyone can find, that everyone knows, and doing something special [for] friends and family,

So I'm pushing myself, but I am still at heart a home cook, and I use that to my advantage when talking about food.

[Some chefs] who come from the restaurant kitchen have a hard time identifying with the needs of the home cook,

Food is more than just food. It's a means to an end, a means to getting people together.

intended to forestall any more immediate response.