“We are, after all, citizens of the world—a world filled with bacteria, some friendly, some not so friendly. Do we really want to travel in hermetically sealed popemobiles through the rural provinces of France, Mexico, and the Far East, eating only in Hard Rock Cafés and McDonald’s? Or do we want to eat without fear, tearing into the local stew, the humble taqueria’s mystery meat, the sincerely offered gift of a lightly grilled fish head? I know what I want. I want it all. I want to try everything once.” (Kitchen Confidential)
“The school counsellors always told my parents, ‘Anthony needs a controlled environment.’ That’s what the kitchen is. For an undisciplined, dysfunctional guy like me, it’s a world of absolutes. I like the regimentation. You either fuck up or you don’t. My mission in life is conquering fear. Back there I’m strong; out here, as a civilian, I’m the biggest fucking pussycat in the world. I can go to someone else’s restaurant as a customer and I’ll put up with the worst abominations and still tip the waiter 20 cents at the end of the meal.” (as told to The Guardian, 2001)