When I came into office people said 'Billionaire? How do they live? What do they eat? How do they sleep?' Today they see me on the subway coming uptown. A couple of people say hi some people smile and nod. Some people just sleep. It's not an issue.

I had this temp receptionist job in New York and I kind of hated it and in the morning I would come out of the subway and just walk along the New York streets with all these people around me and kind of sing to myself. Like 'She's gonna make it!'

Learning operatic roles is ongoing and I find that I can learn on the train or subway during a manicure getting my hair done and even while driving if I only look at the score at red lights.

Yes. I did more research than I ever wanted to and saw some things I wish I didn't. I went on ride-alongs spent time with Homicide Cold Case and SVU detectives hung out in subways learning how to spot pervs and pick-pockets viewed an autopsy went to a police firing range and witnessed court cases and I read read read.

New York City is home to so many people from so many places and the uniqueness of it is that you never feel a foreigner. English is almost hardly ever heard in the subway. In fact it's weird.

It's funny I never considered that people are going to see me on the show and maybe stop me on the subway.

'The Food Network' was just starting in New York and I was getting lots of attention from Mesa Grill. They had no money so if you couldn't get there by subway you couldn't be on. It wasn't like TV was something I really wanted to do - but I knew it would be great publicity for my restaurants.

I was raised by a single mother who made a way for me. She used to scrub floors as a domestic worker put a cleaning rag in her pocketbook and ride the subways in Brooklyn so I would have food on the table. But she taught me as I walked her to the subway that life is about not where you start but where you're going. That's family values.

My dad has always been very proud of me but I think I have exceeded his expectations. When I told him I wanted to be an actor and moved to New York City I think he assumed I would be playing the guitar on the subway and collecting spare change in my guitar case. The fact that I'm not doing that means that I'm a huge success.

I'm not a car guy. The subway gets me where I need to go efficiently and cheaply and I don't worry about traffic.