Advertisement |
I think the brand and the shows are successful because they're very accessible
Ray says accessibility key to her success Jan 13, 2008
Our viewers relate to Valerie's life, from raising a child, to divorce, to weight issues. We're going to let Valerie be Valerie
Bertinelli joins 'Rachael Ray' Oct 19, 2007
Valerie is the girlfriend and neighbor you wish you had. She lives her life with the same passion that our viewers do
Bertinelli joins 'Rachael Ray' Oct 19, 2007
We've created Yum-o! to introduce more kids to cooking, which can have such a meaningful impact on their lives and health
Rachael Ray founds food-centric non-profit Apr 26, 2007
I'm thrilled that I will be able to keep working with all the talented people who make the show such a success
'Rachael Ray' renewed through 2009-2010 Jan 16, 2007
Rachael Domenica Ray (born August 25, 1968) is an American television personality, chef and author. She hosts the syndicated talk and lifestyle program Rachael Ray and three Food Network series, 30 Minute Meals, Rachael Ray's Tasty Travels and $40 a Day. Ray wrote cookbooks based on the 30 Minute Meals concept, and launched a magazine, Every Day with Rachael Ray, in 2006.
She was born in Glens Falls, New York, to Elsa Scuderi, an Italian (Sicilian) American and James Ray, who is of French, Scottish and Welsh descent. Ray grew up in Lake George, New York. Her family owned a restaurant on Cape Cod, Massachusetts, called the Carvery, and her mother managed restaurants in upstate New York.
Her first job was at the candy counter at Macy's in New York City, where she eventually managed the fresh foods department. She later helped open a New York City market. Moving back to upstate New York, Ray managed Mister Brown's Pub at The Sagamore, a hotel on Lake George. From there, she became a buyer at Cowan & Lobel, a gourmet market in Albany. Ray credits the concept of 30 Minute Meals to her experience working at the store, where she met people who were reluctant to cook. She taught a course in which she showed how to make meals in less than thirty minutes. With the success of her "30 Minute Meals" classes, WRGB (the local CBS TV affiliate) asked her to appear in a weekly segment on their newscasts. This, along with a public radio appearance and the publication of her first book, led to a Today show spot and her first Food Network contract in 2001.