"I was supposed to go to Greece for the first time with a friend, but at the last minute they backed out. But I said, “\'Screw it. I’m going.' I filled up my backpack and went with no reservations anywhere. It was a life-changing moment, because
"When I was in Greece, people told me, 'To become a great chef you have to be able to cook a perfect octopus.'"
"I was traveling with some chefs in Salamanca, Spain, and we went to the arenas where they have the bullfights. Years ago, boys had to kill a bull to become a man. If you didn’t do it, they threw food at you and disgraced you."
"I got it before I went to compete on Top Chef the first time to keep all the evil spirits away from me."
"He’s a poisonous frog from South America, inspired by some trips to the rainforests in Brazil."
"My mom and my wife have peacock feathers around the house, because they mean good luck."
"I got that as a young cook when I was in Philadelphia, because I always wanted to become a star."
"One of my favorite movies as a kid was Legend with Tom Cruise, which takes place in the marshes with fairies, so this is my nod to my childhood."