Alex Guarnaschelli

Give yourself enough time to really learn how to cook. ”

Winter blues are cured every time with a potato gratin paired with a roast chicken. ”

My most memorable meal was with my parents at Joel Robuchon's Restaurant Jamin in Paris. It was Christmas 1982, and the flavors - from cauliflower and caviar to crab and tomato - astounded me. It was the first time I remember thinking that I would like to really learn how to cook. ”

Easter is an arts and crafts moment where your whole family and friends can get involved. ”

Stuffed cherry tomatoes are satisfying without being filling and make a great alternative to bread-based starters. You can assemble these appetizers ahead of time and refrigerate them until you're ready to serve. ”

Sometimes I look up a recipe for chicken and tomatoes and end up cooking pork. The inspiration gets lost in translation. ”

Iron Chef America' is so real. Imagine putting on television the whole process of making that food, the technique. It's all about technique. It doesn't even matter if you show the faces sometimes. ”

The longer I look at something, the more my imagination churns and I can find somewhere to put it. ”

The hardest thing about being a full time chef is leaving my work behind when I go home at night. I'll toss and turn about a menu item or forget to order produce and wake up at 4 A.M. in a cold sweat over some artichokes. ”

I like all of McClure's pickles, but my personal favorites are the spicy ones. ”