However, I was a restaurant critic at Chicago magazine before I worked at Esquire, and Ive been a really enthusiastic home cook for a long time. Its just something Im passionate about. – Ted Allen
When I come home from a shoot, Id rather reheat food Ive made than eat takeout. – Ted Allen
Ive always hoped Chopped would telegraph our enormous affection and love and admiration for chefs and food, but at the same time, we are inflicting extraordinary cruelty on them. – Ted Allen
Believe me, I understand the need for easy and speedy. After a 12-hour day of shooting Chopped, say, Im talking stir-fry, spaghetti, heck, peanut-butter sandwiches. But thats not about the joy of food. Thats survival. – Ted Allen