In actuality, there was casting for the show and it was pretty difficult. Ted Allen More Quotes by Ted Allen More Quotes From Ted Allen Oh, did I tell you I have a cookbook? I have a cookbook deal. Ted Allen cookbook deals The world is full of people who would like nothing better than to spend six hours on a golf course. I would rather be chopping shallots. Ted Allen golf people world Planning a dinner party in a way that you're actually capable of getting it done without panicking is important. It's bad hospitality for the host to be freaked out. Ted Allen party important done When I come home from a shoot, I'd rather reheat food I've made than eat takeout. Ted Allen coming-home made home Because the show is popular, people do recognize us on the streets. Ted Allen streets shows people In recent years, I've been writing because I'm fortunate enough to work in the world of food television, to travel and taste and learn about cooking from the best chefs in the business. Ted Allen writing years travel I cook everything. I love Mediterranean cooking, I love Asian cooking. I do lots of Japanese noodles. Ted Allen noodles asian cooking One of the smartest things you can do on 'Chopped' is to take one of those ingredients and make a pickle out of it, because almost every dish benefits from that. I'm feeling like those intuitions are becoming more natural. Ted Allen intuition becoming feelings People who hardly ever cook at all, suddenly at the holidays, feel like it's their responsibility to not only cook dinner for large groups of people suddenly, but to serve things that are fussy or fancy or formal. And I don't think that's what anybody really wants, especially if you're not good at it. Ted Allen holiday responsibility thinking For each episode the five of us are all wearing clothes by the same designer. It's a different designer for each episode, but for each one we're all wearing their clothes. Ted Allen clothes designer different It's okay if you finish cooking something easy after your guests arrive - some dishes must be prepared a la minute, as chefs say. Just remember to keep talking. Ted Allen cooking guests talking My whole problem is that all of my favorite things at Thanksgiving are the starches, and everyone is trying to go low-carb this year, even a green vegetable has carbs in it. Ted Allen thanksgiving vegetables years I've leased the apartment; my partner is going to come out here. But we're keeping our house in Chicago because real estate is a really good investment and also because it is just crammed with full of stuff! Ted Allen chicago real house The funny thing about Thanksgiving ,or any big meal, is that you spend 12 hours shopping for it then go home and cook,chop,braise and blanch. Then it's gone in 20 minutes and everybody lies around sortof in a sugar coma and then it takes 4 hours to clean it up. Ted Allen thanksgiving home lying I am much more interested in the process than results. Ted Allen results process A friend told me about the casting notice for 'Queer Eye.' I was in Chicago and I had a contract with 'Esquire' magazine, so had been coming to New York City regularly and thought I'd catch a cheap flight, crash on a friend's sofa and do this hilarious audition that I had no chance of winning. Ted Allen eye new-york winning Not to sound too much like Christopher Guest in 'Waiting for Guffman,' but on Thanksgiving you're putting on a show! Ted Allen thanksgiving waiting sound When the idea of 'Chopped' surfaced, it was originally meant to be taped at some guy's mansion with him and his crazy Chihuahua. A stuffy fellow in a tuxedo was to host, and the losing chef's dish was then fed to the dog! I am not kidding, I saw it! I think it is genius! Twisted, but genius! Ted Allen crazy dog thinking I had a little epiphany when I was a writer at 'Chicago' magazine. I sat down to dinner at the Ritz-Carlton. Somebody poured a white dessert wine with chocolate cake. It was a wine I would never have expected to make sense. The idea of any wine tasting fabulous with chocolate cake was fascinating to me. Ted Allen cake wine white Sesame oil is probably my favorite condiment, period. Ted Allen oil my-favorite periods