Janrod, I just saw an episode of "Ciao Italia" this morning on my PBS station. It said it was from 2003. I don't know if there are any newer episodes, but here is Mary Ann's web site: http://www.ciaoitalia.com/

I loved reading this thread!
Here's my "inside dish" on Rachael Ray. I went to a book signing of hers in Southern California. (I had to see what she is really like.) Not only was she over an hour late, but she has a time limit for her book signings: 30 minutes (what else?). After 30 minutes, she informed the store that the lines were too long and they would have to get the people out of the store. She wouldn't sign any more books. RR is not the nice person she appears to be on television. I was shocked by her rudeness.

I also went to see Giada DiLaurentiis sign her new book at the same store. She did a cooking demo and was extremely nice. She signed every single person's book. The two couldn't be more opposite.

I hated RR even before this experience. There are a few people on food network whom I don't really like, but I can at least see why other people might like them. For example, Emeril isn't my favorite, but I can see how others might find him entertaining and charming. However, after pondering this to great lengths, I cannot see how any single person could possibly enjoy watching RR. It blows my mind.

And no, I'm not jealous of her money (which she already has loads of--all of her books are on the NY Times' best seller list and she has a lot of cookware endorsements--Anolon and Furi knives). Besides, all the money in the world couldn't buy her any of the following: a waistline, a brain transplant, or talent.

MCC Very interesting observation about RR and not very surprised hearing it.

In my opinion Giada is the type that starts off slowly but eventually grows on a person. I like her and respect her talent and she shows a lot of class. Thank you for sharing with us.

Madison... Take another look at that website www.rachael-ray.org Toward the bottom, on the right side there are some little thumbnail pics. The wedding picture is among those. I nearly missed them as well, since the "cheesecake shots" are so huge

TravelwithSue - Thanks. I finally saw it. Can you imagine Julia Childs, Martha Stewart, Ina Garten or Paula Deen posing for those type of photos in their 30's? Times sure have changed.

i have watched foodnetwork for a long time now and i am always amazed by Sandra Lee's big ole (expensive) bustline. Only recipe worth anything so far? Bread Pudding - great. Read her husband is a very rich much older man and they are on the verge of divorce cause she wants children. As for RR, her fame as gone to her big ole head, i believe. on 30 minutes, she constantly talks about how she lives in the middle of nowhere and on $40/Day, she talked about how she and her sweetie live in manhattan????? then on 30 minutes, one day she made fondue and chatted about how fondue was so popular and she had heard about a restaurant in ny that was supposed to be great...but on $40 she had already shown months earlier that she and her man ate there "2-3 times a week". also. i saw her man's band website before she got engaged and he was grungy band member, now the wedding pics say he is an entertainment rep...hmmm. maybe grunge band member didn't look so good on her resume:) paula dean rocks (her cooking: how to kill your husband without going to prison - death by butter), ina (cute, cuddly and way too breathy), giada (her husband is not nearly cute enound for her. pretty and down to earth) bordain (falls off his 12-step program on every show), SandraL (not sure if she talks so slow because they have coached her or cause she tries out the endless cocktails before her show) but obviously, every sat morning, i am there taking them all in lol

Heather, Rachael Ray has a place in the middle of nowhere and a place in Manhattan. For perhaps more than you wanted to know about her, see this New York Times article:

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/10/19/dining/19rach.html

I saw a screening of Elizabethtown over the weekend, Paula Deen played The Auntie in the kitchen Cooking Up Southern Cooking. I thought played her part very well.

Why are a bunch of European travellers so interested in this woman?? She has a couple of OK food shows, but my teenage daughters find her extremely annoying! I can't believe this thread has gone on this long!

Well, then, why post on a thread about someone that you, who is obviously in the minority, find so annoying (or actually your teenage daughters do)?

mcc2468,

>>Not only was she over an hour late, but she has a time limit for her book signings: 30 minutes (what else?). After 30 minutes, she informed the store that the lines were too long and they would have to get the people out of the store<<

I don't know the circumstances, as YOU don't, but did you ever think that maybe, she was so late because at a previous book signing that day she kept on signing books beyond the time that she should have and that made her late?

As a result, she knew not to make the same mistake again?

If you've ever been involved/responsible for the scheduling of any celebrities, you would know that sometimes some tough decisions have to be made and an event has to be cut off even when it looks to the audience that it should go on. It's a domino effect if you let something go on to long that screws up the rest of the day.

I applaud whoever made the tough decision for her to stop the signing as dissapointed as I would have been if I were in line to get a book signed by an author I like.

Phew! I thought I was the only person around that didn't like watching Rachael Ray's 30 minutes.

My question is, has anyone ever attempted, or even had the desire to try one of Sandra Lee's recipes?

Jennymary - just happened to see a hear a commercial spot...Monday (11/7) on either Access Hollywood or Extra - they have footage from Rachel Ray's wedding. Both those shows are on NBC in my location (No. Ca.). I searched to see which one it was on the internet - couldn't figure it out but your question DID come up on Yahoo (?!?) So, figured I would post a reply. Good luck! I will be Tivoing BOTH! :)

I'm in the L.A. area and heard that this segment would be on tonight's Entertainment Tonight, if that helps anyone.

It just aired on ET on the east coast.

Just saw Rachel's Wedding on E.T. I'd have to say Ina Garten and Paula Deen (aren't her two son's nice looking?) are my favorites to watch. If you haven't made it yet, try Paula's Mash Baked Potatoes. Follow the recipe to the letter- it is excellent! Back to Rachel, would someone please tell her to pull her hair back when cooking? Yuk! About Sandra, I could never cook like she does- can you imagine trying to doctor up some store bought item and one of your guests going- hey I just bought these yesterday too! Swell. Did you see her tear apart I think it was a pie or cheesecake last week and reassemble it? I thought I'd lose it! Eeks- gross!

Just saw the ET segment. When the Rabbi said "If anyone knows why these two shouldn't be joined together, let them speak now or forever hold their peace", she shook her head no and the groom put his fingers to his lips as if to zip and lock them. The wedding looked lovely (how could it not, taking place in Italy?). Tomorrow night ET is going to show where they spend their honeymoon.

This thread is bringing tears to my eyes!! I thought I was the only one who could not stand RR or SL!! Everytime I watch SL I think to myself "she cannot be serious w/this crap" My fave is Anthony Bourdain, at least you'll never hear him say "Yummo" He is definetly not fake or contrived. Did you see the episode where he made a jab at RR? He very sarcastically remarked what a talented chef RR was...hilarious!!

Hello Foodies!!

Well, I guess I shouldn't be surprised that so many Fodorites are also Foodies, since so many of the travel reports include restaurant recommendations, and as MARTHA would say..."that's a good thing".

I've read most of the postings. but not all, as I feared my head would explode and besides, I was getting hungry...

I LOVE to watch cooking shows, always have, and now there's SO many!

Graham Kerr: yes, still alive and healthy, now that he's quit drinking! If you ever watched his show, back in the old days, he was constantly saying, and some "wine for the pot, and then for the cook"...apparently quite alot for the cook and he developed a problem.

Julia: Loved her. It was like a cooking show and a comedy hour at the same time. That plummy accent and back in the days when they wouldn't edit, so many mistakes were left in and she just gamely carried on...."ooh....so when your Bouche Noel collapses, this is what you should do...".

Rachel Ray: I like her too, although she can be grating and some of her advice on $40 A Day is just common sense that comes off as pearls of wisdom "go find where the college kids are eating for cheap eats"...."get a free paper to find good restaurants".

However, one of the reasons she got her job was the fact that she can talk and cook at the same time! Someone mentioned the two gay guys who got their shot at their own show...to watch people going through the Next Food TV Star was eye opening...I'm a really good cook, but could I TALK and cook at the same time, know the camera angle and continue to keep going when things go wrong? Probably not. I realized it's alot harder than it looks.

Michael Chiarello: Loved his former show, don't like the new one. I have 2 of his cookbooks, one of them signed when I attended a demo he was doing locally (I'm in the Bay Area, CA). And, he's cute as a bug in person, btw.

Jamie Oliver: Love him! Find his shows interesting, love the accent, his little sayings "right, bash that together and Bob's your uncle".

Paula: I'm for anyone that's overcome a series of great obstacles to make something of themselves, and she's certainly one of them. Would I ever cook anything that she makes? Probably not, but I'd still watch her show! Same for Ina and Lydia, like them too.

Bobby Flay: Nice guy with a bit of an edge, so I like that too..has some good stuff.

Sandra Lee: geez Louise! I was intrigued by the title of her show and I think I watched about 4 episodes and took it off TIVO! Yikes.

Gaida: ok, I just hate her cuz she's skinny and yet seems to adore food! No, I really like her..and I love her new show "Behind the Bash".

Anthony Bourdain: adore him!
So un-PC. He's got my dream job...travelling and eating! :)

And lastly..Emeril...I can't take him anymore! Between the "BAM" and "gahlic....(huge response from audience)...and "I don't know where you buy YOUR (fill in the blank), but mine don't come seasoned", and "oh yeah, Babe" he's so annoying to watch.

Chef Melodie

I just reread all the posts and missed the one with the Oprah dig on here- I AGREE! (I know I'm getting WAY off the food subject- sorry!) But- why does she have a specialist on the show (say the Dr. who's been on often now talking to people who need guidance), then override what their expert advice is? If I were the Dr. I'd say bye see ya- if you think you can do my job better--she's probably going to make mincemeat outta R.R. -ok, maybe that would be interesting!! (I confess though, love the annual "my favorite things" Christmas show that's coming up this month.) I cry right along with the people cause it must be overwhelming to receive all those gifts from her. Sorry all that I got off the food subject.