I Grew Up In The

Talking To Other People While You're Cooking, It Doesn't Come Naturally.

These Days It's Cool To Be Ethnic And To Be Different, But When I Was A Kid, It Was Not Cool - At All. My Friends Would Come Over And My Mom Would Make Crepes With Eggs, Stuffed With Mozzarella Cheese, Tomatoes And Spinach. And They'd Be Like, 'what Is This?'

It Helps Immerse Yourself In What You Potentially Want To Do. Being Involved, Learning Firsthand And Observing The Craft And Absorbing All You Can, Makes It Easier To Define What You Want. It Will Also Ultimately Make You A Better Chef. Culinary School, Or Even A Single Class, Is A Great Bet Too.

I'm Not Just A Female Chef. I'm A Woman In A Brand New Hotel, And That's Why I Think It's So Perfect To Be At The Cromwell, In A Corner Of One Of The Busiest Intersections Of The World, With My Name In Lights. It's Different In All Those Sorts Of Ways, And I'm Hoping I'll Be Able To Carry That Through. Because If I Can't, It's A Step Back For Women In General. People Will Say - Men Will Say - "see, That's Why It's Mostly Men".

I Have Been Blessed With A Good, Fun, And Wonderful Life, But I've Also Seen A Whole Lot Of Pain.