Marcus Samuelsson Quotes & Sayings

I always get asked for suggestions on what to get food-lover friends. While there are many gifts out there that a foodie would love, it's always good to do some research beforehand so you know you're getting a gift that will last. — Marcus Samuelsson

Weekends are sacred for me. They're the perfect time to relax and spend time with family and friends. — Marcus Samuelsson

Since the gluten-free diet is not for everyone, it's recommended that you stick with a gluten-free diet for at least 3 weeks first to see if it works for you. — Marcus Samuelsson

With all the endless varieties and toppings you can add to burgers, there's no need to keep munching on the boring burgers and ketchup found at all the tailgating events and BBQs. — Marcus Samuelsson

When I ride the subway back and forth, sometimes I look at the other passengers and wonder if any of them are children who have been adopted or parents who have adopted. — Marcus Samuelsson

While you can find zucchini in markets in most places year-round, allowing you to make everything from breakfast dishes like zucchini and onion frittatas to snacks like zucchini-stuffed crab cakes, the onset of fall marks the beginning of hard squash season. — Marcus Samuelsson

In Ethiopia, food is often looked at through a strong spiritual lens, stronger than anywhere else I know. It's the focal point of weddings, births and funerals and is a daily ceremony from the preparation of the meal and the washing of hands to the sharing of meals. — Marcus Samuelsson

In the hot summer months, popsicles are a perfect way to cool down while enjoying a delicious, fruity treat. Frozen, refreshing, mouth-friendly candy on a stick cannot get any better ... or can it? — Marcus Samuelsson

The darker the chocolate is, the more antioxidants it contains. So when eaten in moderation - just a few bites from a well-made dark chocolate bar, for instance - there's no need to feel bad about indulging once in a while. — Marcus Samuelsson

You know that old expression "It's not whether you win or lose; it's how you play the game". That line was definitely not coined by a chef. Because for a chef, it's only about whether or not you pull through. If you fail, nobody cares how hard you tried. — Marcus Samuelsson

I met Charlie Trotter before I actually saw him in person; I was 24 when I first opened the pages of Charlie's cookbook 'Charlie Trotter's' and was greeted by a man I would know and admire for the next 20 years. — Marcus Samuelsson

While I'm more of a soccer and tennis fan myself, I still enjoying catching some football games when I get the chance. — Marcus Samuelsson

You have to balance, but you can be aggressive as a chef. It benefits the food. You have to be passionate. You can't be angry cooking. — Marcus Samuelsson

For me, brunch is such a versatile meal since you can play on both the sweet and savory in your dishes. — Marcus Samuelsson

It wasn't until I came to New York and started to see the African American community, but also the Ethiopian community here, and started to eat the food, started to understand the music. I said, you know, I got to go and understand the culture. So me and my sister went. — Marcus Samuelsson

For many of us, clean water is so plentiful and readily available that we rarely, if ever, pause to consider what life would be like without it. — Marcus Samuelsson

Simple ingredients can be used to make elegant dishes with just a little extra attention to detail. — Marcus Samuelsson

The fact is that more and more people are developing a sensitivity to gluten, without necessarily being allergic to it. — Marcus Samuelsson

If it's done really well, you don't want big portions because you think, 'That was so fulfilling. I'm not stuffed. I feel great.' — Marcus Samuelsson

Larousse Gastronomique has always been the first and last word on classic European techniques and recipes. I love that it has expanded its reach to cover world cuisines and modern culinary innovations, making it more indispensable than ever. — Marcus Samuelsson

I had seen the photographs of Harlem in its glory days, stylish men in bespoke suits, women so well dressed that they'd put the models in 'Vogue' to shame. I knew that Harlemites loved to dance, to pray, and to eat. — Marcus Samuelsson

My father was a big influence - it was very important to him that we traveled, and he gave me my strong work ethic. — Marcus Samuelsson

When I get the chance to make my favorite breakfast on the weekend, I often choose to make pancakes. — Marcus Samuelsson

I'm OK with firing people when they fuck up, but canning them when they've done nothing wrong - that's painful. [on the layoffs needed after 9/11 hit the business] — Marcus Samuelsson

As people of color, it took a whole generation in many ways to get us out of the kitchen, and it's gonna take us the same whole generation to get us back into the kitchen and have ownership of restaurants, hotels and stuff like that. — Marcus Samuelsson

But one of the things I have learned during the time I have spent in the United States is an old African American saying: Each one, teach one. I want to believe that I am here to teach one and, more, that there is one here who is meant to teach me. And if we each one teach one, we will make a difference. — Marcus Samuelsson

Everyone's favorite breakfast dish can be prepared in a moment's time with just a few ingredients and minimum effort. — Marcus Samuelsson

My parents were there: in front of me, behind me, in the middle of my life at all times: reprimanding me, giving me confidence, teaching me valuable lessons, to help make me the man I am today. — Marcus Samuelsson

Sweden was once a very homogenous society, but no more. For decades, people have been coming into Sweden from all over the world, and that's changed the way we cook. — Marcus Samuelsson

I can take a lot of pride that I can launch cookbooks and there's an audience out there that supports that. — Marcus Samuelsson

I'm a firm believer that people find their own passions. — Marcus Samuelsson

Cooking with your kids and engaging them in hands-on activities are two ways to begin to educate children about the healthy eating, and kick start the important task to help change how the younger generation looks at food and nutrition. — Marcus Samuelsson

Even before the earthquake in Haiti, only half the country's population had a source of safe drinking water. — Marcus Samuelsson

Going meatless reduces our carbon footprint and helps us lead the way towards climate change. — Marcus Samuelsson

I have never seen a picture of my mother. My mother's family never owned a photograph of her, which tells you everything you need to know about where I'm from and what the world was like for the people who gave me life. — Marcus Samuelsson

I had great schooling, and my parents were always in front of me, or next to me, or behind me, making sure I had whatever I needed. — Marcus Samuelsson

I love cookbooks for completely different reasons. I love 'The Harry's Bar Cookbook' and Marco-Pierre White's 'White Heat' for their feel. For pure learning, Gray Kunz wrote a great cookbook, 'The Elements of Taste', published in 2001. The first time I read Charlie Trotter's, the Chicago chef's first cookbook, I was blown away. — Marcus Samuelsson

Aside from the obvious chocolate cookies and ice cream, chocolate can be used in a variety of ways for desserts. — Marcus Samuelsson

To become a good cook is to know yourself, and I, at this point, know myself. I know myself, and I know the cook I want to be and the cook I am striving to be. — Marcus Samuelsson

Being an Ethiopian-born, Swedish-raised chef, there's nothing traditional about my Thanksgiving spread. — Marcus Samuelsson

As a chef, I could not wash my hands - nor clean pots, pans, utensils, meats or produce, nor make soups and sauces - if I did not have clean water. Were this to happen, of course, these would be the least of my concerns. Because water is the linchpin of survival: without it, not much else matters. — Marcus Samuelsson

In Africa, you have no clean water, but you have good food options. In Harlem, everyone can shower and get fresh water, but you often have bad food options. — Marcus Samuelsson

Without food, we cannot survive, and that is why issues that affect the food industry are so important. — Marcus Samuelsson

Pot lucks are fun, especially when you encourage your guests to bring dishes that represent their families or cultures. — Marcus Samuelsson

When I'm in need of a quick meal or party dish, a burger is hands-down my go-to pick! Burgers are easy, fast, and don't even require utensils to eat, making them the perfect get-together main course, tailgating essential, and simple dinner recipe to whip up any night of the week. — Marcus Samuelsson

I've been lucky to travel and work all over the world through the lens of the back of the house, and I love that monocle. I love that lens, because it's real people. — Marcus Samuelsson

Salad can get a bad rap. People think of bland and watery iceberg lettuce, but in fact, salads are an art form, from the simplest rendition to a colorful kitchen-sink approach. — Marcus Samuelsson

Cooking is in an honest profession where you cannot hide and let others do the work for you. You have to show up, work hard and prove you can do it faster and better. And find a mentor who will recognize your talent and push you in the right direction. — Marcus Samuelsson

Taking dishes straight off the restaurant's menu and putting them into a cookbook doesn't work, because as a chef you have your own vision of what your food is, but you can't always explain it. Or you can't pick recipes that best illustrate who and where you are and what you're doing. And if the recipes don't work, you don't have a book. — Marcus Samuelsson

Every day, whether I am teaching or entertaining - I absolutely love bringing different people and cultures together. — Marcus Samuelsson

I am a chef through and through. Everything I do - whether it is cooking for kids in Harlem or cooking in a fine dining establishment - all my days are consumed by food. — Marcus Samuelsson

My father loved to take us on historical vacations, and you should have seen the stares we received in East Berlin. — Marcus Samuelsson

Chocolate is one of the world's most beloved discoveries, and when we need a quick boost of energy and endorphins, chocolate is the go-to treat. — Marcus Samuelsson

I love having a croissant and a great cup of coffee. Just one cup. — Marcus Samuelsson

While some people may think being a chef only entails making enticing dishes and pushing the culinary boundaries, being a part of the food industry involves much more. — Marcus Samuelsson

It's often hard for us to imagine going without some of our luxuries like travel, dining out, or Internet, much less our basic necessities like food and water. But try for a minute to imagine how life would be with such deprivations. — Marcus Samuelsson

Children want to mimic adults. They notice when you choose to prepare fresh vegetables over calling in another pizza pie for dinner. They will see that food made with love and care outweighs going through the drive-through window. — Marcus Samuelsson

The dialogue and conversation about food is everywhere - television, chat rooms, social media outlets and among everyday conversations. — Marcus Samuelsson

The same ten dollars you spend on lunch is all it costs for City Harvest to feed 37 kids who are hungry. That's pretty astounding. — Marcus Samuelsson

Between the ages of six and nine, my palette was taking shape as well as my identity as a chef. It was then that I learned the difference between salty, sweet, sour and even spicy. — Marcus Samuelsson

The journey into adoption started for my parents, as it does with so many families: my mother and father desperately wanted to have kids, but they couldn't. — Marcus Samuelsson

I cannot stress a greater importance than to teach the young generation about the risks of unhealthy eating. A great way to pique their interest in nutrition is to involve them more in the cooking process. They not only will learn to cook for themselves, but also develop a lifetime of healthy habits. — Marcus Samuelsson

Chefs don't eat at normal hours, so the only time you feel like you really need a meal is after service, when you're exhausted and just crave something to help you wind down. — Marcus Samuelsson

One of the first things my father taught me was that the library was made for and available to me. It's a place where you not only learn from books but you learn responsibility - how to borrow, take care of, and give back. — Marcus Samuelsson

As an adopted person, once you find out about that 'other' side of yourself, it's almost like you find out who you really are. — Marcus Samuelsson

We know so much about the European food story, and we're getting to know about the American food story; but we know so little about the African food story. — Marcus Samuelsson

I think it's very expensive to not eat healthy. Eating healthy is the only affordable option we have left. — Marcus Samuelsson

I learned from my grandmother, who grew up in devastating war times, how important it is to keep with tradition and celebrate the holidays during tough times. — Marcus Samuelsson

Not only are pasta dishes delicious, but they are also great, easy options for a quick dinner during a busy weekday. — Marcus Samuelsson

I love Europe, but we are still struggling with that kind of development. First of all, we don't have a smart conversation about the difference between an immigrant and a refugee. A refugee can't go back. An immigrant is someone - I chose to move to America. And I also have the option of saying hey, didn't work out, I can move back. That's a completely different story than someone who is locked in. — Marcus Samuelsson

If you're cooking for someone important - whether it's your boss or a date - never try a new recipe and a new ingredient at the same time. — Marcus Samuelsson

I'm an American chef. I'm American. I live here. I love being here. But, of course, it is different. A black man's journey is different. — Marcus Samuelsson

Eating vegetarian doesn't mean you have to eat boring, humdrum dishes. — Marcus Samuelsson

I want people to understand my journey and to be inspired by that. You can be an immigrant, and if you work really hard, you can have your own restaurant. — Marcus Samuelsson

I happen to love coconut, particularly for that sweet and crunchy texture it adds to any dish. — Marcus Samuelsson

Although I may not know a lot about football, I do know a lot about food! As a result, not many people ask me to join their fantasy leagues, but they will come to me for suggestions on what to serve for guests for a weekly Sunday get-together. — Marcus Samuelsson

The avocado is native to the Mexican state of Puebla, which helps explain why it's so popular in Mexican cooking. — Marcus Samuelsson

When you are already eating as cheaply and meagerly as possible, any raise in cost can quickly plunge you and your family into hunger. — Marcus Samuelsson

While I hold my own political views, it's important not to get too wrapped up in individual candidates and personalities, but instead to focus on the real issues. — Marcus Samuelsson

I feel very fortunate that I was raised in a multicultural family, and it came through food. — Marcus Samuelsson

I would love to take a cooking class from Gandhi. Maybe I could teach him how to cook, and he could teach me his message. I wouldn't mind learning how to make couscous from scratch from a North African woman, either. — Marcus Samuelsson

I want to make sure the cooking industry becomes more and more diverse. — Marcus Samuelsson

I credit my grandmother for teaching me to love and respect food. She taught me how to waste nothing, to make sure I used every bit of the chicken and boil the bones till no flavor could be extracted from them. — Marcus Samuelsson

Many popsicles you'll find in a supermarket have a lot of unwanted sugar or preservatives, but with a few ingredients you can make healthier popsicles with any flavor you can imagine. — Marcus Samuelsson

Most people cringe at the thought of a casserole. — Marcus Samuelsson

I've lived all over the world, but Harlem is very special to me, and when I decided to open a restaurant near my home, I didn't want it to be business as usual. — Marcus Samuelsson

Even just a few spices or ethnic condiments that you can keep in your pantry can turn your mundane dishes into a culinary masterpiece. — Marcus Samuelsson

Coconut oil is one of the most beneficial sources of fat. It is comprised of medium-chain fatty acids or MCFAs, which are easier to break down and metabolize into energy than large-chain fatty acids, which are often stored in the body as fat for later use. — Marcus Samuelsson

The food business is very tough, but there's also a lot of love and very giving. — Marcus Samuelsson

Many people are turned off at eating vegetarian because of the misconception that all dishes are just an arrangement of bland vegetables. — Marcus Samuelsson

Childhood nutrition and healthy eating is a cause that is extremely close to my heart. — Marcus Samuelsson

Spices, of course, are essential. — Marcus Samuelsson

Hard work IS its own reward. Integrity IS priceless. Art DOES feed the soul. — Marcus Samuelsson

Just like keeping a healthy diet is important to maintaining a healthy lifestyle, eating the right foods is just as important for getting the most out of your workout. — Marcus Samuelsson

Casseroles don't have to be about canned ingredients and vegetables you normally wouldn't even think of eating alone, much less stuck in between layers of sauce and breadcrumbs. They can vary from everyone's favorite all-time casserole, macaroni and cheese, to the ultimate English casserole, Shepherd's Pie. — Marcus Samuelsson

Where is the stretch? Where is the perfect fit? Where does it make sense? You have to be a Baryshnikov. — Marcus Samuelsson

Every time you use the word 'healthy,' you lose. The key is to make yummy, delicious food that happens to be healthy. — Marcus Samuelsson

The holidays are my favorite time of year! Christmas was always one of the biggest celebrations in Sweden, and I look forward to the festivities each year. — Marcus Samuelsson

Healthy can be the new good. Eating delicious should not be sacrificed because it's healthy. — Marcus Samuelsson

Criticism is part of the creative man's journey, and I appreciate it. — Marcus Samuelsson