Females make better cooks than men. Females have a better palate. They have a better sense of smell. They never take shortcuts; this is why they're very good in kitchens. The weakness in what they do is they are not as physically strong as men, so they're never really given the opportunity.

Cooking is a philosophy; it's not a recipe.

My tortured life - with its extremes and conflicts - might have been difficult for me to deal with, but the press couldn't get enough of it. I was in the papers every day, 'the enfant terrible of the culinary world.'

Generally, I respect critics; they have their job to do.

The family that I live for only breathes the air that smells of combat.

I was a high-school teacher. I am a strong advocate for women's rights, and I'm not a woman.

To be honest, I'm a little upset these days. My family has been exposed to the media. Some people break into our house. My ex-girlfriend's photos are circulating online. To say that these are things I need to endure for the sake of celebrity... that's sad. I want to respectfully request that my private life remain private.

The thing that's carried over from my visual-art education into what I do musically is my openness.