Quotes

I am proud to live in this country, where anything is possible.

I lived on Nantucket in college during the summer and have spent a lot of time there since. It's a special place for me.

The bosses can't read your mind, so I think women should tell them what they want out of their careers. And so I think that if you're just a good person, you work hard, you say 'yes,' and you are driven, you will eventually work your way to the top. At least, that's how it's been for me.

I think I was afraid of being a mother for many reasons. I wanted to be a good mom, and I was fearful at one point of even working at the national level because I was afraid that I would disappoint a child or I wouldn't be as ready for a big position as maybe I should have been when I came to Fox.

No one wants to get up at 5 A.M.

Absolutely, yes, I'm proud of every woman, of every American, that makes her dreams come true.

I love steamed vegetables.

It's quite true to say that if you work with marvellous fresh ingredients, the simplest dish is taken to another level.

My brother, a businessman, is the main cook in his home and my sister teaches cookery. Good food and good music were the mainstays of my childhood.

I studied music at school and played the recorder. Later in life music was a great way of supplementing my income because I was paid really badly as a young chef. Luckily an old friend - we did music at school together - and I formed a duo, The Calypso Beat, which later became the Calypso Twins.

To be honest, 'Ready Steady Cook' was a great opportunity, but I did compromise myself. I was stood there quizzing chefs on what they were doing when I knew exactly what they were doing and why.

My mum was the most wonderful cook and our house was always full of delicious food and interesting people. I remember dad entertaining the likes of Des O'Connor and Bruce Forsyth. But what really shaped my childhood were the amazing Jamaican dishes that mum produced so effortlessly.

I'm all about big, bold flavours! Roasts! Cheese! But I do like a neat work surface.

The great thing about coming to Melbourne is that people talk about Sydney being the food capital but Melbourne is a lot more; it has that residential feel, a feeling of homeliness. When you go to restaurants, it's known as a creative, artistic city. That's what you get with the food.

My Mum was the main reason why I became a chef. She influenced all of my family to feel free in the kitchen - it was the centre of our home and I have wonderful memories of helping Mum cook and experiencing the love and patience that went into the food.

It's important to be dedicated and enthusiastic when you're starting a career. It might take a long time to get established and the money won't flow in straight away.

I dislike anger so much, I even find it difficult watching 'EastEnders.'

Everybody's got the ability to cook. They just have to be shown.

What I've tried to do over the years is to kind of open the door to say 'It's a meal, it's OK, don't panic, don't get worked up about it.'

Christmas for me means starting the day with ackee and saltfish, and cornbread muffins.

Our house was always full of friends and family and we would all sit down to enjoy my mum's Caribbean food, which was always a generous and shared experience.

When you come to Jamaica, there's a handful of things you simply have to try that's right on the top of the list, and I think jerk chicken definitely has to be number one.

We were brought up with having a love of your garden, having somewhere you can go in, it's your little sanctuary, you can go there and you can switch off.

When it comes to cooking, it's a skill you learn and develop.

I must admit that I do love to dance, but doing it in front of the nation is a whole different matter!