What are your favourite foods/tastes/flavors? - I love sushi. Contrasting flavors and textures, sweet and sour, cold and hot, crunchy and warm, etc.

What are your favourite utensils? - Knives. They're important, plus a good way to impress!

What is your most useful piece of kitchen equipment? - Stovetop

What is your favourite season? -  Spring, Fall, and Winter. Summer's just too bloody hot. Spring because of the freshness of everything. Fall and winter because of all the holidays and celebrations with great food.

What is your favourite mealtime? - Anytime I can spend  time at home preparing it.

How do you decide what to cook? - What's present in the kitchen and also what's going on in my life at the time.

What inspires you? - Music, movies, literature. Friends and family.

What is your favourite drink? - dark beer or mojitos

What are your likes and dislikes? - Likes: a perfectly sharpened knife; sushi, a positive attitude. Dislikes: truffles; arrogance/negativity; Michigan Wolverines

How can you inspire others to enjoy great food and cooking? - by education and teaching.

How and why did you become a chef? - Still working on finding that out for myself.

What are your top ten ingredients? - lamb, fresh seafood, potatoes, herbs, eggs, milk, salt, pepper, mushrooms, cheese

What are your kitchen secrets? - Try everything at least once. The good stuff, more than once.

What are your top tips? - Ask. Learn. Be willing to listen.

Do you have any favourite junk food? - Boneless buffalo wings, hands down.

How do you feel about cooking for children? I think it's very important. The earlier they are exposed to good food, the better. Mom and dad said my first meal was pot roast. My first memory  of making food is arguing with my brother over who had to get their hands messy to mix up the meatloaf.

Can you give one piece of advice for the domestic cook? - Practice. Keep an open mind.