Aside from the plunging necklines, about the time she got engaged she appeared to have gotten a makeover. Her hair got much lighter, she lost some weight, and she began dressing trendier. Maybe it was a coincidence.

Gail: LOL and I'm SURE the EVOO would be Extra Virgin!!! :D

Well of course...EVOO IS extra virgin..well, then it's the first press.

Entertainment lawyer? Not what I heard. I heard he plays in a band in NYC.

I hate to apprear obsessed but I don't really think that mmmmmm good is very indepth food critiquing. Give me Alan Richman.

Happy eating every one!

JennyMary - I found a little more information for you re: Rachel's wedding. It took her 28 minutes to pick out a Vera Wang dress which was the cheapest in the store. Also everyone who was invited to the wedding was told they could dress casually, even jeans if they wanted to.

I caught the tail end of her Paris show rerun this weekend and had to giggle when she sampled a dish and did the "mmmmm" bit - I had just read this thread a few hours prior and it was fresh in my mind.

I haven't watched too many of her shows, and never the full 30 minutes. At first glance I found her rather refreshing - but I can see if I watched a little longer her perkiness might start to grate - probably the same way Emeril's "BAM!!!" gets on my last nerve.

Rachael Ray's husband and sweetie, John, is an entertainment lawyer AND plays in a rock band.

I thought I was the only person who cannot take another "bam" from that man.

I am sorry to say I can't take another giggle from Ms. Ray either.

Now, Chairman Kaga is one sexy dude in my own humble opinion.

Actually, this is what I love about these threads...how they digress -and reading people's lively & varied opinions. I think Rachael is OK in small doses although she sure doesn't tip much on the $40 show. I hope she tips more in real life. And I agree with everyone's comments on Sandra Lee. Yuck. But I am fascinated by her very skinny arms.

Oh and one more thing: who uses more butter, sour cream, mayo, whipping cream and eggs? Barefoot Contessa or the southern lady? ("from my kitchen to yerrrrrrs")

Can someone answer something that puzzles me about Semi Homemade show, which I have never seen-if it is supposed to be for people who don't have time to cook, how do they find time to watch the show?

I have grown tired of Racheal Ray and Emerill. I do enjoy watching every day Italian with Giadda De lorentis. Her recipes usually come out good and she doesn`t seem phoney.

"I don't know where you get YOUR water, but where I come from, it DON'T come seasoned!!! Yea baby. Bam!!!!!" Oh please!!! Love the Barefoot Contessa, she is so sweet and I love her husband Jeffery. HER line is something like: "add a half pound butter, so how bad can THAT be?" Or: "add a cup of rum, so how good is THAT?" She and Jeffery were so cute having a picnic by the Seine. I have a little TV in the kitchen and I watch a lot of the programs while I'm fixing, or as Paula would say "fixin' " dinner or doing the dishes.

SAB - Saturday mornings while doing my housework I have the Food Channel on, so I am not sitting there just watching Sandra Lee put together those
"inventive" semi homemade recipes. One more Hmmm Hmmm Hmmm from her and I will scream.

ClaireDune - I think it is Paula Deen who has one over on The Barefoot Contessa when it comes to butter, mayonnaise, etc. The other day she made a Bacon, Lettuce and Tomato soup. On top of all the bacon grease she kept in the pot she added butter and flour to the bacon, added shredded lettuce, chicken broth, cream and tomatoes. She poured herself a serving of the soup and topped it with a mixture of sour cream and mayonnaise. I thought I would die. But I think she is the greatest and can do no wrong. However I won't be cooking any of her recipes any time soon.

In fact The Barefoot Contessa and Paula Deen are my favorites.

Madison: I know what you mean. Both ladies seem very warm. I like how Paula has her old dog lying on the kitchen floor & she steps over him to get to the oven. Btw, if I were a man I would like Giadda the everyday italian gal because she wears low cut tops & has such a toothy smile (my son thinks she's cute)

It took awhile for Giadda to grow on me, but I like her as well. She's a great cook and it shows that she has gone to culinary school. She knows what she is doing. Her mother dresses in the same style as she does.

Paula's accent drives me crazy but she's fun. Love Barefoot Contessa and envy her house. Rachael makes me crazy I cannot stand that giggle!!! Gag me, mmmmmmmmmmm

Barefoot Contessa (Ina Garten) is the best! Definitely into the butter. Did anyone see the lunch she made for her "working guy" pals (who had quite clean and spiffy outfits on for contractors/carpenters on a work day)? Huge stick of butter just plopped right into those Yukon gold mashed potatoes. And the brownie pie w/ a chocolate & cream glaze for dessert...good grief, how will they ever pound nails after that? What I love about her is that she, of all those TV food people, seems the most sincere and she has been in the business long enough to have earned her recognition. Paula is fun, too, but I don't find her recipes that appealing.

Now if Alice Waters had a show...

For those of you that don't like Rachel Ray....get over it....change the chanel and don't torture yourselves. That's why they make a remote control.