Quotes by

Tom Colicchio

Even cooking at home, the difference between my wife cooking and me cooking is major. When my wife cooks, the kitchen looks like a disaster. When I cook its completely clean and organized and it doesnt look like anyone has been cooking in there. – Tom Colicchio

Most cooks try to learn by making dishes. Doesnt mean you can cook. It means you can make that dish. When you can cook is when you can go to a farmers market, buy a bunch of stuff, then go home and make something without looking at a recipe. Now youre cooking. – Tom Colicchio

So you can say, Get Big Government out of here, and dont tell me what to eat, but when kids are going to school, and theyre being fed junk, were pretty much telling them what to eat, and were telling them junk is OK. – Tom Colicchio

Its funny how I use social media because I dont use it to promote my restaurants that much. I use it for social issues and I think thats what its for. I do a few things – I mess around with music a lot because thats a passion of mine. If something strikes me and I want to share it, I do. – Tom Colicchio

I cant deliver lines, but I can talk about food all night long. – Tom Colicchio

You can buy a box of low-fat macaroni and cheese made with powdered nonsense. Im not worried if Im using four different cheeses and its high in fat. Its real food. Thats whats more important. – Tom Colicchio

I think steak is the ultimate comfort food, and if youre going out for one, that isnt the time to scrimp on calories or quality. – Tom Colicchio

In New York, Ill walk down the street and someone will say, Nice show, and thats it. If Im at a food festival, its open season. – Tom Colicchio

Theres the issue of hunger, and theres an issue of if youre going to cut out food programs. We should be focusing on healthy food. Right now, fruits and vegetables are very expensive. So what can we do on the policy side to bring the cost of fruits and vegetables down? – Tom Colicchio

Asian food is very easy to like because it hits your mouth very differently than European food does. In European food, there may be two things to hit – maybe sweet and salty, maybe salty-savory, but Asian kind of works around, plus you have that distinct flavor thats usually working in Asian food. – Tom Colicchio

We are not really privy to all that crazy stuff that goes on in the show. I go to work, eat, and talk about food. The wild things happen when we arent around. I expected Top Chef to last three or four seasons and we are now shooting season ten. – Tom Colicchio

Were adults. Were the ones who should teach the kids whats good to eat. I dont think the government should ever regulate what we eat at home, but were feeding them in school with tax dollars. Quite frankly, if my tax dollars are being spent to feed kids, Id rather feed them better food. – Tom Colicchio

Theres a food revolution going on throughout the country. And it doesnt matter if youre down south, up north in Maine, if youre out west in Portland or Seattle. – Tom Colicchio

Recipes tell you nothing. Learning techniques is the key. – Tom Colicchio

As a chef, I had started working with groups like Share Our Strength and various local food banks in New York, raising money for hunger-related issues. And not only me, but the entire restaurant industry has been very focused on this issue. – Tom Colicchio

I travel around and hear from so many kids. Their parents say they were always very picky but they watch the show and they want to try stuff. The show is entertainment, but I think it has done so much for the public perception of what food can be. – Tom Colicchio

Hunger is a political issue, and there are several things politically that are keeping people hungry – not funding food stamps adequately, not funding school lunches adequately. So there is a political solution to the problem of hunger. – Tom Colicchio

You have to know the classics if you want to cook modern food. – Tom Colicchio

I started cooking in kitchens right out of high school, and I was lucky to work with a lot of great people, but I had no idea it would turn into this. Of course no one should go into this business because they want to be the next Emeril. – Tom Colicchio