Apparently, being Rachael Ray is VERY cool. The article is in today's NY Times:
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/10/19/di...rach.html?8dpc

Ain't America wonderful?

I happened to read the article because it was at #3 of the most e-mailed list. Who is she anyway? I get an idea from the article.

Another nice rags to riches story, I must say. What is she like? Do people like her? I guess so!

Rags to riches...with quite a lot of work involved, is my take on the article.
I know one thing - she does inspire quite a bit of rancor...jealousy? Envy?
And evidently, not too many are ambivalent...either her perkiness gets on one's nerves or one enjoys that sort of upbeat nature.
As for me, I have watched her shows. I enjoy her entertainment in small doses.

NYCTravelSnob, ya coming to the GTG on Saturday? You could come as Rachael Ray. -- just kidding, but if you're free, you'll have a great time.

Sure, she works hard -- but the thing about hard work is that there're many people who work hard but who never make it.

Sometimes one must admit that luck plays a role (and obviously she had her big break -- otherwise she wouldn't be where she is today).

Anyway, as I said, I've not seen her shows, but I'm certainly curious.

It's an interesting article.

NYCTravelSnob - Thanks for passing on the RR article. Very interesting read.

111op - I agree with you there are many people out there who are very talented and extremely hard workers yet never make it even close to Rachael's celebrity status. Luck played a big part in it. More power to her.

I am trying to be kind but I just don't care for her recipes. I like her $40 a Day show because it enables us to see the country and the world via TV.

My question is how can one person come up with so many recipes for the many books she has written and is writting? Is she inspired by other people's recipes then gives her take on it? That's not hard to do at all.

Maybe I should publish a cookbook. I have a wonderful porfolio of my mother's and my recipes mostly my mother's who could have put any of these chefs to shame.

Interesting article - and I was exhausted just reading about how busy she is.

I do like the concept of her target audience being people who would normally do inexpensive takeout or fast food for dinner, though.

But since I haven't read any of her recipes I'm not sure how great the alternative she's pushing is.

The food snobs that smirk at Rachael Rays success story, are akin to the travel snobs that begrudge Rick Steves.

LoveJoy - I don't know if you include me in your food snob category or not. I am not a food snob in the least. I am just being honest when I say I don't like her recipes.

I like Rick Steves and those that envy his job and think it's all glamour is mistaken. He said in an interview when he's traveling all over the world, he's working, it's not a vacation.

I'll agree w/Madison, I prefer the $40 a day over the straight cooking show. Although I sometimes get some good ideas from her, mostly her meals are pretty simple & straight-forward. I'd rather watch Emeril. I don't dislike her but she is a little 'too happy' for me. As far as Rick Steves' goes. I don't mind him, but everywhere he goes & puts in his books, turns into an over-crowded tourist mess. I'll continue to seek out of the way places on my own.

Hi, Madison--Interesting point re:Rick Steeves, whose work I do not know, just never picked up his books, so I have no opinion...What makes the comment you cite so interesting, is that he has to keep in mind, that what is work for him, is something that other people want to access for recreation which makes it seem to be a bit of a paradox. How does he comment on and rate something that is work for him, but is supposed to be fun for others?? I guess all critics--food, entertainment, travel--have the same situation, but it just struck me w/your reference.

Well, I am a food snob and I think Rachel Ray is the Pia Zadora of the cooking world. As my Uncle Arthur used to say, "You can't shine shite," though Rachel tries to put a parsley sprig in it and serve it up for dinner.

Pia Zadora was better looking.

Except for today's thread and a previous thread here I think about her getting married (I think that was the same person), I had never heard of her before seeing the headline of the article in today's Times. I will read it later so that I can know who she is, but I'm not encouraged so far by Fodorite's comments.

Emeril drives me crazy, and not in a good way.

Madison... publish it. I'd buy yours before RR's any day of the week, and two if you have a book signing.

I am already sorry I said something unkind about Rachael Ray's appearance. Especially when it's so easy to criticize her cooking.

I don't know what it is about her that brings out the devil in me. Sorry to
RR fans.

I was catching up with reading other people's blogs, and I found out about this article in Forbes on celebrity chefs:

http://www.forbes.com/lifestyle/2005...4chefs_ls.html

Interesting that elaine mentioned Emeril.

It turns out that Emeril Lagasse made 9 million and beat people like Mario Batali, Alain Ducasse and Thomas Keller and Jean Georges.

I was mildly curious to see that Wylie Dufresne made less than 100K. But then I thought that the only time I ate at WD-50 was disappointing. I thought Clinton Fresh Food was better.

once its mentioned in the NYT, it's OVAH (not EVOO) but OVER

Tiff - you are so kind. Seriously, I have been thinking about writing a cookbook for a long time, honoring my mother more than anything else.

Elaine - If Emeril drives you crazy then I can guarantee you Rachael Ray will drive you over the edge. Favorite expressions YUMMO, EVOO (extra virgin olive oil) When tasting food she goes MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM while rolling her eyes, those are for starters.