If you know what you're doing, you can make a meal happen with any kitchen knife. But using a top-quality knife versus a low-quality one is the difference between driving a Jaguar and a VW Jetta across the country. They'll both get you there. But the Jaguar will give you a much smoother ride.

It's a challenge to demonstrate that you can prepare some really interesting food with humble ingredients.

In my case, vertical food was less about standing things up than layering things: more an attempt to gain texture by weaving things together.

Charlie Trotter Quotes