Tom Colicchio is like the new guy who came along around sophomore year of high school, the one you misread as mostly a jerk but who ended up being your crush for the next two years. In other words, Tom Colicchio grows on you.

Here's a cozy little Q&A with he of Top Chef fame, which only adds to his appeal. (We always have Fresca in our fridge, too, Tom! And tequila also makes us crazy.)

Three great little nuggets for us regular cooks:
"You don't need to have a Rolls-Royce kitchen to make a great meal."

"Recipes tell you nothing. Learning techniques is the key.

"Buy the best you can find or afford and don't overmanipulate it."