The first time I did Cake Boss or Ice-T or Andrew Lloyd Webber was on 'Best Week Ever.'
Becoming the first Indian woman to compete on Food Network's 'Iron Chef' and 'Next Iron Chef' was really a great accomplishment and led to my spot as a judge on 'Chopped.'
I've known Emeril for more than 20 years from when I featured him on 'Lifestyles of the Rich & Famous' from his days at Commander's Palace in New Orleans and from when I helped start the Food Network where he subsequently hosted an amazing 2,000-plus shows.
I'm obsessed with 'Top Chef'.
I'm Gordon Ramsay, for goodness sake: people know I'm volatile.
Way back in the day, I used to cook for Thomas Keller at Rakel in New York City. Keller is a down to earth, kind, supportive person. I wish people could see that.
The first glimpse I had of what Mario Batali's friends had described to me as the 'myth of Mario' was on a cold Saturday night in January 2002, when I invited him to a birthday dinner.
I'm in a very unique position in that I got to participate in the Food Network by contest. That's long gone, being voted on, but I don't forget where it came from, and I don't forget the people who worked to put me here.
Anthony Bourdain is a legend and an inspiration for me.
I've baked more cakes since I've been on 'Bake Off' than I have in my life.
Chefs have the ego of an actor and fashion designer combined.
I was at a party, and some squiggly looking dude with a bow tie came up and said, 'How'd you like to be on TV?' Turns out he was the programming guy at the Food Network. They had me come into the office, and I did a 'Ready, Set, Cook' with Emeril Lagasse, I believe.
I'm the only girl on The Food Network who grills - I have two bestselling grilling books. I try to really focus on what men and women can do outside together out on the grill. I think it's really fun to have men and women out there together, having fun, working and enjoying themselves.
The most followed chef is Delia Smith. She is my age and doesn't try to be entertaining, she encourages people to learn the basics.
There's never been anyone like Vertamae Smart-Grosvenor, and there never will be. She is such an important source of inspiration for me, reluctant recipe writer and follower that I am.
In 1981, we opened Felidia, and the newspapers, the city papers, the big timers came, and I got invited on the 'Today Show' and so on. A lot of food luminaries would come to Felidia - Julia Child, James Beard, they all came.
If my last supper was ever going to be cooked by a chef, it would have to be Thomas Keller.
When I'm in L.A., I go to Spago because the chef is a friend of mine.
Is it OK to admit to being slightly obsessed with the TV programme 'Great British Menu?'
When I was growing up, Chef Charlie Trotter inspired me a lot.
I love good food and I love to eat in nice restaurants. I love Japanese food. I love Gordon Ramsay in London; he is pretty amazing.
People see me on TV two and three times a day, and see me cooking all these wonderfully Southern, fattening dishes. That's only 30 days out of 365. And it's for entertainment.
I became friends with a lot of chefs. I was a judge on 'Top Chef' last year. It was a dream come true.
Jamie Oliver's books are the best. I love Jamie. Bless him!
I love 'Top Chef.' I think it rewrote the book on how food shows are presented on TV.
