About Marcus Samuelsson: Marcus 'Joar' Samuelsson is an Ethiopian-born, Swedish-raised chef and restaurateur.
The avocado is native to the Mexican state of Puebla, which helps explain why it's so popular in Mexican cooking.
I don't have memories of Ethiopia as a child. I didn't learn about Ethiopian culture until after I moved to New York and started meeting people from the Ethiopian community.
Between the ages of six and nine, my palette was taking shape as well as my identity as a chef. It was then that I learned the difference between salty, sweet, sour and even spicy.
The same ten dollars you spend on lunch is all it costs for City Harvest to feed 37 kids who are hungry. That's pretty astounding.
When I ride the subway back and forth, sometimes I look at the other passengers and wonder if any of them are children who have been adopted or parents who have adopted.
Avocados have a creamy texture, making them a healthier replacement for ingredients like butter and mayo in recipes, though they do contain a surprisingly large amount of fat - a whopping 30 grams per medium-sized avocado.
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.
There has long been a debate in the aid community and in Africa about how to most effectively help situations of poverty in developing nations and underprivileged communities.
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.
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.
I stand behind everything I've done.
Each city should have its own type of restaurant.
It's fascinating when you're from another place, but you don't speak the language.
My father loved to take us on historical vacations, and you should have seen the stares we received in East Berlin.
Many people are turned off at eating vegetarian because of the misconception that all dishes are just an arrangement of bland vegetables.
I feel fortunate to be part of the cooking community. We learn from each other.
I am many different things, and that is why I am so proud to be American.
I think the kitchen is the new garage. And I think for a guy that wants to go out and be an evolved person, he should know about his local favorite restaurant. He should know how to cook something.
I'm a firm believer that people find their own passions.
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.
Most people cringe at the thought of a casserole.
