Time and locations:
- 12/15/08 5:00 PM at Barnes & Noble – SE Maynard. Cary, NC.
- 12/18/08 5:00 PM at Barnes & Noble – West 69th. Edina, MN.
- 12/19/08 5:00 PM at Barnes & Noble – Old Orchard Center. Skokie, IL.
Rachael Domenica Ray (born August 25, 1968 in Glens Falls, New York) is a television personality and author. She hosts the syndicated talk/lifestyle program Rachael Ray and two Food Network series, 30 Minute Meals and Rachael Ray’s Tasty Travels. Ray has also written a series of cookbooks based on the 30 Minute Meals concept, and launched a magazine, Every Day with Rachael Ray, in 2006.
Prior to the launch of her talk show, Ray hosted two other Food Network shows, $40 a Day and Inside Dish.
Cooking
Ray teaches simple recipes that she claims can be prepared in 30 minutes or less, although critics claim that her thirty minute concept does not fully account for preparation times and many featured meals cannot be completed within half an hour.
Ray says her Sicilian maternal grandfather, Emmanuel Scuderi, and her Cajun ancestry serve as a strong influence on her cooking. She uses ingredients such as garlic and chicken stock as simple ways to boost flavors and uses fresh herbs whenever possible. She believes that measuring “takes away from the creative, hands-on process of cooking” and instead favors approximations such as “half a palmful,” thereby following in the footsteps of other famous food writers such as Auguste Escoffier and Elizabeth David.
To critics of her shortcut techniques, Ray responds, “I have no formal anything. I’m completely unqualified for any job I’ve ever had.”[8] She also acknowledges that she cannot bake (because you have to measure ingredients), she cannot make coffee, and is notorious for burning bread under the broiler.
On her television programs she has coined catch phrases such as “EVOO” (extra-virgin olive oil), “yum-o”, “so delish”, “G.B.” (garbage bowl), “Oh my gravy!”, “entréetizer” (entrée-sized appetizer), “stoup” (cross between a soup and stew) and “How bad is that”‘?”[9] In 2007, The Oxford American College Dictionary announced the addition of the term EVOO (short for extra virgin olive oil), which Ray has helped popularize.
The set of 30 Minute Meals features a yellow Model 61C Chambers stove from the 1950s, notable for its top-opening broiler, super-insulated oven, and unique Thermowell. The stove is noticed by viewers to such an extent that people selling them often refer to Chambers ranges as “the Rachael Ray stove”. This has led to an increased interest in saving and restoring these stoves, inspiring two online discussion forums and fan websites, as well as numerous references to them in the media.
On November 12, 2006, Ray and Mario Batali defeated the team of Bobby Flay and Giada De Laurentiis on an episode of the program Iron Chef America during which cranberries were the secret ingredient. On March 18, 2007, Food Network debuted a Rachael Ray episode of its special Chefography series, on which she stated that “the worst day of (her) life” was “Iron Chef America,” admitting to being anxious about it weeks before she was set to appear.
Television
In late 2005 Ray signed a deal with Oprah Winfrey and King World Productions to host a syndicated daytime TV talk show.[13] The show, Rachael Ray, premiered on September 18, 2006. Recurrent appearances on The Oprah Winfrey Show were used to fuel the launch, much as Dr. Phil’s show was spun off based on his own frequent visits to Oprah. The show tapes in New York City. In coordination with the syndication announcement, Ray said, “People know me for my love of food, but I have so much more I want to share.”
In addition to Oprah, Ray has appeared on The View, The Today Show, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, The Late Show with David Letterman, Late Night with Conan O’Brien, and Larry King Live.
For Sesame Street’s 38th season, Ray appeared in an episode to present “pumpernickel” as the word of the day.
On January 12, 2008, Ray’s latest series, Rachael’s Vacation, premiered on the Food Network. The show is a five-part food travelogue shot in various European countries.
Awards and recognition
* 2004, ranked #92 on “FHM-U.S.’s 100 Sexiest Women 2004”
* 2006, ranked #71 on “FHM-U.S.’s 100 Sexiest Women 2006”
* 2006, 30 Minute Meals received a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Service Show. Ray was also nominated for Outstanding Service Show Host.
* 2006, named one of Time magazine’s 100 most influential people. She was nominated by fellow Food Network star Mario Batali.
* 2006, according to Forbes magazine, Ray earned about $6 million June 2005-June 2006[27] from her books and television shows (excluding her new series, Rachael Ray).
* February 21, 2007, Ray announced on her show that a wax creation was made of her and that this wax figure will be on display at Madame Tussaud’s Wax Museum in New York City.
* 2007, nominated for Daytime Emmy Award, Outstanding Talk Show Host
* April 2007, Ray launched a charity, “The Yum-O! Organization”, with help from Bill Clinton, to help children eat healthier.
* June 2008, The Rachael Ray Show received a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Talk Show/Entertainment
Thank you to Lee, who runs the CELEBRITY BOOK SIGNINGS & EVENTS Yahoo page.
I would like to know when Rachael Ray will be in the Silver Spring MD. area, for the year 2010.
Thanks for your time whiever you are.