Authenticity

Brown made his name with the quirky Good Eats on Food Network from 1999-2011. In each episode, Brown examined a new recipe or ingredient, the science behind it, the proper tools to use and its history. He plans on reviving the show as an online-only series.

But though he's a star, Brown is leery of the Kitchen-Industrial Complex, telling fans they don't need to buy titanium corkscrews or an $8,000 pizza oven. On Good Eats, he insisted that every gadget do multiple tasks.

"I have no endorsement deals and I don't have multiple homes," says Brown. "At some point along the line, I decided authenticity above everything else." He adds: "I like empowering people."

His own tastes are, as you might expect, all over the map. He puts harissa and mayonnaise in his scrambled eggs, and adds curry to watermelon, suspecting that since India and the American South both have fearsome heat, they might have complementary flavors.

"I'm pedantic, I guess, when it comes to my tastes," he says. "I'm fascinated by Japanese food and, at the same time, I'd rather have a well-made Cuban (sandwich) than almost anything on earth. And I'm pretty sure french fries are the best food on earth."