right back with eric ripert. folks, applebee's 2 for 20 is better than ever this season. [ whistle blows, crowd cheers ] that's right, boomer. applebee's 2 for 20 is stuffed with more flavor like florentine ravioli with chicken. one appetizer, two entrees -- twenty bucks. [ whistle blows ] [ berman ] there's no place like the neighborhood. open until midnight or later. >> jimmy: hi, we're back. our next guest has been the recipient of many names. tonight, he's going to cook an octopus for us. from "top chef" on bravo, please welcome chef eric ripert. so first of all, "top chef" do you enjoy that job? >> yeah. i mean, for me, it's like a vacation. >> jimmy: is it? >> yes. because i cook in my kitchen. peeling onions, carrots. however, "top chef," i eat, i say what i think. >> jimmy: do you insult people? >> no, i'm polite. >> jimmy: do you feel comfortable with that? >> i think i am very fair. i try to use vocabulary that is not insulting. >> jimmy: and -- >> sometimes it's hard because sometimes the food is very

sanjay gupta gets some tips from famed french chef, eric ripert. >> reporter: with the economy in a slump, families are struggling to make ends meet, but you don't have to sacrifice good nutrition. where better to look for tips on healthy living on the cheap than a five-star french chef? >> it is easy to find ways to eat for a budget, which is not too expensive good food. >> reporter: world-renowned chef eric ripert says it is all about doing what works for you. >> you can buy a chicken, which is very inexpensive. instead of buying the chicken already cut or cooked, you can buy it whole and therefore, you save a lot of money. if you want something healthy and something inexpensive, you have to think seasonal. if you want to eat tomatoes -- if in january you eat root vegetables, make a soup with a squash it is going to be very inexpensive. >> reporter: how does this french chef extrordinaire stay healthy himself surrounded by top-notch cuisine all day long? >> just before i leave the house, i have a little bit of dark chocolate, very good quality. i leave my house around 10:00. and i walk

. >> tonight, david hasselhoff, eric ripert cooks for us, and music from green day. barbara boxer. she fought to get our veterans the first full combat care center in california. her after school law's keeping a million kids off the street and out of gangs. and she's fighting every day to create new jobs. boxer: i'm working to make california the leader in clean energy, to jump-start our small businesses with tax credits and loans, to create thousands more california jobs. i'm barbara boxer and i approve this message because i want to see the words "made in america" again.

. >> reporter: world renowned chef eric ripert says it's all about going what's best for you. >> chicken is very inexpensive. instead of buying the chicken already cut or cooked, you buy it whole. and therefore you save a lot of money. if you want something healthy and something inexpensive, you have to think seasonal. if you want to eat tomatoes in january, it's very expensive. if in january you eat root vegetables, make soup with squash, it's going to be very inexpensive. >> reporter: how does this french chef stay healthy himself surrounded by topnotch cuisine all day long? >> before i leave the house, i have a little bit of dark chocolate of good quality. i love my house around 10:00, and i walk through the streets of new york, takes about 40 to 45 minutes. i think it keeps me in a certain good health and in shape. >> reporter: the bottom line says ripert -- >> i'm a strong believer that you can do a lot of things in terms of eating, which is you can eat better. you can eat chocolate, you can have a little dessert here and there, but again, it has to be in the quantity that is contro