What were your favorite foods growing up?
I didn't have any favorite foods -- in fact, I didn't like food much at all (until I learned to cook it myself of course).

Where and when did your career in food begin?
I used to help out at the lunch counter in my father's drugstore.

If you didn't become a chef, what would you be?
A parachutist or a ballerina

Who/what has shaped your cooking the most over the years?
Monty Python and Alton Brown

How would you describe your cuisine?
Eclectic. I make things like aphrodisiac chicken, titty turkey, Jurassic omelets, sexy tarts.

Where did you get the idea of Evil Auntie?
My co-producer & I took care of a friend's tiny dog for over 10 years. The dog never liked me. We used to say that I was her Evil Auntie. I was also inspired by my Great Aunt Myrtle -- and of course Julia Child.

What are your favorite culinary weapons in the kitchen?
The 55 year old hand/stand mixer that came from my grandmother.

What is your favorite secret ingredient?
Canadian whiskey & various aphrodisiac spices.

How is your cooking show different from other cooking shows on TV?
Though you'd have to watch it to see, I engage in flights of fancy.

When did you become interested in acting? How did you decide to meld your passion for acting with your love of cooking?
My co-producer said I had to do it.

What was your worst cooking disaster?
I once planned over 12 dishes for Thanksgiving dinner including hand made pasta. It was too much, everything that day was a failure and I injured my hand rolling the pasta.

What is your least favorite food?
Turnip greens

What is your beverage of choice?
Iced tea & the bubbly

What are some recent dining and culinary trends you have been observing?
Fresh seasonal foods & local produce

What is your best cooking tip for a home enthusiast?
Keep it simple & sexy