How to pronounce “anita” in English

Female Presenter: We are joined today by chefs Anita Lo and April Bloomfield.Anita Lo is the chef and owner of Annisa, which opened in 2000, right nearby in Greenwich Village.She appeared on "Top Chef Masters," finishing in the final four of "24 Chefs." And Chef Lo released her first cookbook, "Cooking Without Borders," in October of 2011.

I didn't mean it like that.Anita Lo: She always has these quips about me.April Bloomfield: But I just don't think about it.

Ok." Now I'm thinking about it, but--.Anita Lo: I think I've been forced to think about it.We're constantly being asked like, about, 'cause we're such a minority.

Sort of, your journey.Anita Lo: You can go.I don't know. I came from a food obsessed family.

It's been open now over ten years, twelve years.Anita Lo: Twelve years.Well, I had been the chef of a restaurant called Mirezi on 5th Avenue.

How did that experience change your life or your cooking?Anita Lo: Actually, we filmed "Top Chef Masters" before the fire.And it actually aired like, two weeks after the fire.

I mean, you said that you couldn't ride the wave of that publicity in terms of the actual restaurant.Anita Lo: Oh, my gosh.Yeah. I mean, business is, people are still coming in from it.

April Bloomfield: It's good to get that second wave.Anita Lo: Yeah. Female Presenter: And April, have you ever thought about competing on a show like that?April Bloomfield: No. I'm not a very competitive person.

So, this was kind of personal for me to do.Anita Lo: I've been wanting to write this book for almost two decades.I was turned down by agents.

You have to pick one of your children.Anita Lo: You have to stand by all of them I think.Yeah. Female Presenter: Is there one that you would recommend that Googlers try in their tiny New York kitchens?

We don't have a staff.Anita Lo: I love my Nannie's chicken paprikash.I grew up with that.

And I'm curious if there's other unexpected influences in your work, in your cooking.Anita Lo: I think it's interesting that I think Japanese cuisine is probably the biggestinfluence from Asia that I have in my book.

Female Presenter: Fusion cooking is--.Anita Lo: Fusion cooking is yeah, delicious.Female Presenter: Junk food is--.

Female Presenter: My favorite thing about New York City is--.Anita Lo: Diversity. April Bloomfield: The weather.I like the weather.

A food trend I hate is--.Anita Lo: There are no food trends that I hate.April Bloomfield: Yeah. Female Presenter: A food trend I love is--.

Reality chef competitions are--.Anita Lo: Stressful. April Bloomfield: I was gonna say the same thing and I haven't done a competition.Female Presenter: Well, you did do one.

Female Presenter: Pasta and pig face.Anita Lo: I don't know.Roast chicken. Female Presenter: What do you cook to impress your mom?

I'm kidding. Female Presenter: What's in your fridge right now?Anita Lo: Lots of condiments.Lots and lots of condiments.

Beer, sake, and--. April Bloomfield: Lots of condiments.Anita Lo: The bottle of wine you brought over last night.Female Presenter: I sense a theme.

I'd love it. So I noticed that both of your cookbooks, you each had co-authors.Anita Lo: I tried to write my own book for two decades and then I realized I didn't have time.

I'd love it. So I noticed that both of your cookbooks, you each had co-authors.Anita Lo: That's awesome.

I'd love it. So I noticed that both of your cookbooks, you each had co-authors.Anita Lo: I was intrigued.

I'd love it. So I noticed that both of your cookbooks, you each had co-authors.Anita Lo: Yeah. Female Presenter: It's tempting.

I'd love it. So I noticed that both of your cookbooks, you each had co-authors.Anita, do you have anything else coming up that's on the horizon that you could share?

I'd love it. So I noticed that both of your cookbooks, you each had co-authors.Anita Lo: Not at the moment.

I'd love it. So I noticed that both of your cookbooks, you each had co-authors.Anita Lo: I think food is always about sharing.

I'd love it. So I noticed that both of your cookbooks, you each had co-authors.Anita Lo: Thank you so much.

Please welcome Anita Diamant.Anita: Hi, thanks for taking time out of your day, or I guess you want to thank me for the legitimate opportunity to play hooky.Although I was thinking of Google as not a place anybody wants to play hooky from in hindsight.

Although I was thinking of Google as not a place anybody wants to play hooky from in hindsight.Anita: As a consumer and user of Google, I feel that I belong here on behalf of everybody who Google's as a verb.I mean my 84 year old mother knows what Google as a verb.

I'd love to hear more about how you did the character research.Anita: Character research? female: Yeah.Anita: Again, I never know how to answer that.

Anita: Character research? female: Yeah.Anita: Again, I never know how to answer that.Because I knew pretty early on that I didn't just want one protagonist, I wanted to tell it from multiple points of view.

Or do you just sort of start writing and see where that story goes organically from there?Anita: Yes.Anita: I usually-- when I-- I've written three novels and I'm about to start a fourth one and I still feel like very much a journeyman.

Anita: Yes.Anita: I usually-- when I-- I've written three novels and I'm about to start a fourth one and I still feel like very much a journeyman.I sort of learn how to do it again every single time I write.

female: Do you ever web your characters to create names?Anita: Web them? female: Like kind of put the images of what the person is to fill them out as a person?Anita: No I don't actually.

Anita: Web them? female: Like kind of put the images of what the person is to fill them out as a person?Anita: No I don't actually.That's the more organic part of what I do.

So it's very easy to go back-- female: Right.Anita: --and revise and just sort of search and change everybody's name once.Once you made it, then not a blonde, no no no, you can change that back.

Or the most fascinating moment you had throughout that process?Anita: Well I think they all took place while I was in these very intense little trips when I was there.I had two kind of business trips and I spent an extra day working on the book while I was there.

Or do you not, I mean - does it...Anita: No I do have a life.female: does it flow over?

female: does it flow over?Anita: No it's-- I don't think I was a lot of fun to live with in the last couple of years.And, it was challenging.

But it's work. It's like I would work and it would spill over.Anita: I didn't realize that, that that was my process.

But it's work. It's like I would work and it would spill over.Anita: How did I move from non-fiction to fiction?

But it's work. It's like I would work and it would spill over.Anita: Yes. All those things, all those things.

But it's work. It's like I would work and it would spill over.Anita: Well in large measures because I didn't know and I knew that nobody else knew it certainly in my world.

But it's work. It's like I would work and it would spill over.Anita: There were a lot of days I didn't want to do it.

But it's work. It's like I would work and it would spill over.Anita: No, no. I have gotten a contract for every book that I've ever written, except for 'The Red Tent'.

But it's work. It's like I would work and it would spill over.Anita: No no I failed a lot, I failed a lot, but the books, it's like it's the job right?

But it's work. It's like I would work and it would spill over.Anita: Well I have to, no I don't just walk in, I have to write something and my agent walks in and says. 'Do you want this?'.

But it's work. It's like I would work and it would spill over.Anita: They're all in Kindle, they're all in Kindle.

But it's work. It's like I would work and it would spill over.Anita: I generally, I have a good working relationships with my editor.