ED & LH

Chef Ivan Pugh, who owns Alligator Café in Casa Linda Plaza, always has loved cooking. “I’ve been cooking since I was a little kid,” he says. His passion led him to cook for several big-name Dallas Cowboys, including Emmitt Smith and Troy Aikman. He has always enjoyed soul food, he says. These days, he cooks a lot of Italian food at home with his wife, Caterina Costante. He also likes to experiment with flavors and spices.

Which reality TV cooking show do you hate the most?

‘Hell’s Kitchen’ — I hate it. He’s just an abusive jerk.

Are there any that you like?

I like ‘Top Chef.’ That’s probably the one I watch the most. ‘Anne Burrell: Secrets of a

Restaurant Chef.’ I get forced to watch some of the cooking shows, just for being married.

What’s the worst food trend in Dallas right now?

The worst food trend — not just in Dallas but in the nation — is the on-the-go food. Every once in a while, sit down and enjoy your food.

What’s the most essential tool in your kitchen?

My Scanpan. I cook probably 80 percent of my food on it.

What’s the best piece of wisdom or advice you’ve received about food/ cooking?

‘Cook what you love to eat.’ If I didn’t enjoy the cuisines that I make, there wouldn’t be a passion there.

What is the least-used thing in your home kitchen?

The hamburger patty maker. I think I used it the first day I got it and then realized it was taking way too long. It’s the stupidest thing I’ve ever seen in my life.