"If somebody has a chance to put my food in their mouth, that tells the story"
About this Quote
The phrasing matters. "Has a chance" is disarmingly humble, almost passive, as if the chef is lucky to be invited into the moment. But then comes the decisive turn: "that tells the story". He’s reframing taste as narrative authority. One mouthful becomes a verdict on your choices, your background, your generosity, your discipline. It's also a reminder that cooking is one of the rare arts where the audience literally consumes the evidence; the response isn't applause, it's swallowing.
Contextually, Lagasse rose in the era when chefs became TV personalities and restaurants became lifestyle content. This line pushes back against the idea that performance is the product. His subtext is: you can package the persona, but you can't package the bite. The eater is the editor, and the story gets published in real time.
Quote Details
| Topic | Cooking |
|---|---|
| Source | Help us find the source |
| Cite |
Citation Formats
APA Style (7th ed.)
Lagasse, Emeril. (2026, January 16). If somebody has a chance to put my food in their mouth, that tells the story. FixQuotes. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/if-somebody-has-a-chance-to-put-my-food-in-their-87574/
Chicago Style
Lagasse, Emeril. "If somebody has a chance to put my food in their mouth, that tells the story." FixQuotes. January 16, 2026. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/if-somebody-has-a-chance-to-put-my-food-in-their-87574/.
MLA Style (9th ed.)
"If somebody has a chance to put my food in their mouth, that tells the story." FixQuotes, 16 Jan. 2026, https://fixquotes.com/quotes/if-somebody-has-a-chance-to-put-my-food-in-their-87574/. Accessed 24 Feb. 2026.





