Samuelsson Quotes & Sayings

I stand behind everything I've done. — Marcus Samuelsson

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

Food has always been in my life. Being born in Ethiopia, where there was a lack of food, and then really cooking with my grandmother Helga in Sweden. And my grandmother Helga was a cook's cook. — Marcus Samuelsson

There are so many times there could have been a left turn instead of a right turn in all people's lives. I think mine are pretty crystal clear, because of being adopted, being born in Ethiopia, being adopted to Sweden. — 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

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 learned at a young age what chasing flavors meant, and I've been doing that my whole life. — 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

There is a risk of becoming linguistically schizophrenic. Because your brain is so fluent in both languages, it is fooled into thinking that the structure you have put together in the target language is correct merely because it is correct in the source language. — Geoffrey Samuelsson-Brown

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

Pasta isn't just for Italian food anymore. Now there are tasty pasta recipes found in Asian cuisine, and it's emerging as a newfound love for vegans. — 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

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 feel fortunate to be part of the cooking community. We learn from each other. — 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

Thanksgiving is probably my favorite holiday - it's a day that's American to the core and it's a day that's all about what and how we eat. — Marcus Samuelsson

While eating gluten-free may help you lose weight initially because it eliminates baked goods, one has to be smart when choosing replacement options because the gluten-free versions often have the same number of calories. — Marcus Samuelsson

Each city should have its own type of restaurant. — Marcus Samuelsson

I feel like there's a lot of tasks in cooking that I want to master, that I want to do better. — 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

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

They say never trust a skinny chef, but the fact is, to stay healthy when you're a chef means you have to work twice as hard. — 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

While most individuals use the flesh of the coconut in their cooking, coconut water and oil are also known to have numerous health benefits. — 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

I love using rice as a flour; I'll grind roasted rice and dip fish in that. It gives a beautiful, crunchy texture. — Marcus Samuelsson

Clean water and access to food are some of the simplest things that we can take for granted each and every day. In places like Africa, these can be some of the hardest resources to attain if you live in a rural area. — 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

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

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

Although I believe affection and romance should be shown all year around, it's always smart to have a good plan up your sleeve for Valentine's Day. — 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

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

I am many different things, and that is why I am so proud to be American. — 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

We struggle with eating healthily, obesity, and access to good nutrition for everyone. But we have a great opportunity to get on the right side of this battle by beginning to think differently about the way that we eat and the way that we approach food. — Marcus Samuelsson

For centuries, soup kitchens have been a way for local communities to offer a way of support, both nutritional and emotional to their less lucky neighbors. — Marcus Samuelsson

Coconut is one of those love-hate ingredients. — 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

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

People might not protest for overtly political or social causes, but when they can't feed themselves and their family, they will take to the streets. — Marcus Samuelsson

Here's a thought: what if we ban the word 'healthy food' from our culinary vocabulary? I'm not talking about banning foods that are considered healthy. I'm talking about changing the way we think about food overall. — Marcus Samuelsson

Oatmeal is a cheap and healthy breakfast. — Marcus Samuelsson

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

For many sports fans, the onset of fall only means one thing: It's football season! — Marcus Samuelsson

If you get hungry mid-day, a banana is the best snack at your desk, after a workout, or in between classes. Fruit is a very good snack in general. — Marcus Samuelsson

It showed nothing. I'm not pregnant. — Mikael Samuelsson

We can all agree that government can't solve the obesity crisis alone. It's an ongoing issue that will require a collaborative effort across private and public sectors if we want to see some long-term success. — Marcus Samuelsson

I'm an avid runner and play soccer every weekend, but I also have to constantly watch what I eat, and I'm always thinking about how to balance my meals. — Marcus Samuelsson

Every time a significant discovery is being made one sets in motion a tremendous activity in laboratories and industrial enterprises throughout the world. It is like the ant who suddenly finds food and walks back to the anthill while sending out material called food attracting substance. The other ants follow the path immediately in order to benefit from the finding and continue to do so as long as the supply is rich. — Bengt I. Samuelsson

I get so tickled when that pilot happens to be an African American because I rarely see that. The same is true when I go to find restaurants. I mean, most places I go, I kind of have some idea who the chef is, which is why I want to go. — Marcus Samuelsson

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

Egypt is the largest wheat importer in the world. In some part, this is due to irrigation issues and inhospitable climes. Egypt's dependence on wheat is also partially because for decades it has been cheaper to import wheat, corn, soy and barley from the U.S. than to grow it locally. — Marcus Samuelsson

While keeping active is a major aspect of staying fit, what you use for fuel definitely factors in. — Marcus Samuelsson

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

There shouldn't be an announcement that divides our food between what tastes good and what is good for us. — 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

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

I had a long-lasting love affair with the flavors from Japan and the hustling New York street vendors. And, of course, a life-changing return to Ethiopia has made huge impacts on my life in food. — 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

I always suggest something fast and simple so you have more time to share with friends; and when we think of the ultimate food to serve for a football game, only one thing comes to mind - wings! — Marcus Samuelsson

Most people cringe at the thought of a casserole. — 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

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

I'm lucky to live in New York, a city that offers so many options for lunch. I can pick up dumplings from a Midtown food truck, grab empanadas by the dozen in Spanish Harlem or get a fantastic bowl of ramen in the East Village. — 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

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

Most of my education has been around food. — Marcus Samuelsson

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

People come up to me all the time and ask how I stay the way I am, and it's no secret. The first lesson a chef needs to learn is how to handle a knife; the second is how to be around all that food. — Marcus Samuelsson

Most cultures traditionally link food and spirituality directly with periodic restrictions and celebrations punctuating the year. Abstinence from particular foods or full-on fasting is part of many religious traditions and holidays. — 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

In Europe I couldn't be anything but a black cook working for somebody. My inspiration was to own, to be the chef. — Marcus Samuelsson

Getting to a place of comfort can be uncomfortable. — 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

Spices, of course, are essential. — Marcus Samuelsson

In the harrowing aftermath of Haiti's earthquake, one of the greatest needs became desperately clear: safe water. — Marcus Samuelsson

For decades, many blacks were reluctant to pursue a profession that was associated with servitude. If you went to school, it was to become a lawyer or doctor. Older generations didn't understand why one would spend money to learn how to chop, peel, dice, and saute vegetables when that trade could be taught at home. — 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

What makes Harlem special is that at any given time, food seekers can not only find food deeply rooted in Southern, Latin and African traditions, but also can taste the newer Senegalese, Chinese, and Italian influences as well. — 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

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

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

As a chef, I always have in mind how to properly feed the public, but at times it's easy to forget that some people have trouble even getting any food, much less adequate nutrition. — Marcus Samuelsson