What's Wrong with Rachel Ray??

[Holly]

In a nutshell, food snobs look down on her, and resent her big-time success.

You hit the nail on the head, Jimbo.

I like Rachel Ray. She gives great ideas to those of us that don't have tons of time to cook (or don't want to). Her lime- mango salsa is one of my favorite party recipes. She is adorable, full of energy, and a nice break from other stodgy and snobby cooks.

 

[DVCLiz]

Hey, now, back off Martha!!!!!! I love her!!!!

But I like Rachael Ray and Paula Deen, too. As a matter of fact, I had just flipped channels and landed on The Food Network when I was reading this thread yesterday. She was making some veal cutlet kind of thing, and I thouhgt, "Hmm, wonder if I could do that with chicken?" So I went to the grocery store and bought some thin chicken breasts (the kind already pounded for you, because I was in a hurry and didn't want to defrost and pound chicken myself!!) I dredged them in flour, then an egg, then a combination of breadcrumbs and cheese, and sauteed in olive oil (yes, it was EVOO, but really, that doesn't annoy me very much!) We had a home-cooked meal, with steamed broccoli and rice (OK, I cheated and the rice was Uncle Ben's 90 seconds in the microwave stuff), but we had a meal at home for less money than I would have spent on our normal fast food dinner, and it look only a few minutes to make. I think I'm sold!!!

 

[PA DISNEYLOVER]

If you read her book, in it she says that after the show is done she goes back and tips everybody who had even a small part in the show very well. She goes on to say that she got her start working for tips and she doesn't forget that.
It also said that they ( the crew) order different foods and she chooses what to eat from that and that at times she does have to fake an uuuummmm because the food is a hour or 2 old and is usually cold.

 

[DisneyMomx7]

It's funny - my 6 year old dd loves Rachel Ray. Paula Deen is a close second by Rachel Ray is on the top of her chart! I think she's cute and funny and we watch her all the time.

 

[RadioNate]

I should add, I actually have no problem with Rachael Ray's cooking. I DO think she has some great ideas. While I agree with the food snobs who say she isn't a chef, she didn't go to cooking school blah blah blah, I will conceed that she is a good cook. I'm sure her cookbooks are quite helpful. It's the little catch phrases that annoy me. Emeril's BAM annoys me just as much.

There is also a deeper reason that the EVOO really bothers me. I used to work for a conglomorite of Eurpoean olive oil producers. While I may not be an food snob, I AM an olive oil snob! lol It is an unnecessary abbriviation that as others have mentioned, she explaines each time she uses it.

Bottom line is I just don't do 'cutsey' and Rachael Ray is too cute for me. I just don't want people to think I'm a RRS webmaster. I really don't give that much thought to the woman.

Martha annoys me too, but she's better since prison!

Guess I'm easily annoyed!

 

[Maleficent13]

If you read her book, in it she says that after the show is done she goes back and tips everybody who had even a small part in the show very well. She goes on to say that she got her start working for tips and she doesn't forget that.
It also said that they ( the crew) order different foods and she chooses what to eat from that and that at times she does have to fake an uuuummmm because the food is a hour or 2 old and is usually cold.

This is what I was going to say too. Also, in regards to what someone said about the snarkiness, I saw her live last year. She was at a food expo, and she was COMPLETELY hung over. I mean, couldn't stand up straight at the counter and had to have kids from the audience come up and fetch her ingredients and stir and stuff. She admitted what was wrong with her, laughed about it, said it was all my town's fault for having such great nightlife, and was completely gracious even though you could tell she was miserable. She was funny too, and answered all the audience's questions, even the obnoxious ones.

Suffice to say, I like her. She doesn't bother me (although i can see how EVOO and yummo, etc could annoy some people...I usually just and move on).

 

[joestv]

I watch 30 Minute Meals everyday when I get home from work. Yes, she can be overly perky, but what's wrong with that?

As far as tipping on 40.00 a Day, if you actually stop and do the math, she tips 15% percent, which is the acceptable standard today. Yes, I always tip more than that, but it's a TELEVISION SHOW. You don't know what she actually tips the servers. I've seen so many threads on different boards about her tipping. They complained that the early shows didn't include tax and tip, and they complain that she only tips 15%. Sometime you can't win either way.

 

[AllyandJack]

Have you seen what she can do with a lemon?? I think Seinfeld's "Man Hands" episode was based on her.

She's OK. I'm not particularly fond of her, but I can watch her when nothing else is on.

 

[tiff211]

I haven't seen her show but I plan to watch it now after all the hype!!!

 

[Rhonda922]

Do you think that any restaurant where she shows up and gives them all of that FREE ADVERTIZING cares if she tips 5%.

Exactly!!

 

[RickinNYC]

Frankly, anyone that can inspire my partner to whip up a dinner and have it waiting for me when I get home from work is OK in my book.

I've been doing about 95% of the cooking in our 15 year relationship, until my other half decreed that Rachel Ray was his new girlfriend. Then POOF! Food on the table.

Heck, I'd marry her just for that.

 

[Missy1961]

Frankly, anyone that can inspire my partner to whip up a dinner and have it waiting for me when I get home from work is OK in my book.

I've been doing about 95% of the cooking in our 15 year relationship, until my other half decreed that Rachel Ray was his new girlfriend. Then POOF! Food on the table.

Heck, I'd marry her just for that.

Is the food yummers?

But that's a good point. She cooks good food in interesting ways. I haven't cooked any of her recipes yet, but I frequently go to the Food Network website & print out hers.

 

[goodeats]

I like quite a few of her recipes, but can't stand watching her show anymore. She's so frantic now. Sometimes Food Network will play one of her older shows at 6:00 and then one of her more recent shows at 6:30. The juxtaposition is really weird. Her voice is so gravelly, I can't tell if she's a smoker or just talks so much she loses her voice a lot.

Did anybody see the clip of her wedding on Entertainment Tonight? She acted the same way at the wedding as she did on her show. I just can't get into somebody like that. Hopefully it's genuine.

 

[PneumaticTransit]

I watch Rachel Ray, and I really enjoy 30 Minute Meals because I'm not a great cook and have a very short attention span when it comes to preparing a meal. I've tried several of her recipes and they were great. I agree that it's more down to earth cooking. HOWEVER, she is annoyingly perky. DH & I constantly make fun of her.

Now Emeril on the other hand... I can't stand that show. As if "BAM" isn't over used, I cringe every time he mentions he's using garlic, and then everyone cheers like idiots. Um... Emeril didn't INVENT it... he's just cooking with it like millions of other people do. Yes, garlic is good - but come on, do you really have to start shouting and clapping like a bunch of trained chimps?

 

[Fanci]

Now Emeril on the other hand... I can't stand that show. As if "BAM" isn't over used, I cringe every time he mentions he's using garlic, and then everyone cheers like idiots. Um... Emeril didn't INVENT it... he's just cooking with it like millions of other people do. Yes, garlic is good - but come on, do you really have to start shouting and clapping like a bunch of trained chimps?

That was funny~

As for R.R., I like her

 

[DawnCt1]

As far as the over exposure issue goes, she was very low on my radar screen. I had seen her on a couple of grocery store comercials but they were not stores in our area. My brother had mentioned her and I had seen her twice on the Food Channel because I wanted to see who she was. My biggest dose of Rachael Ray was on Oprah last week. I thought she was adorable. I loved her ideas, her simple approach to planning a party and her perpetual good mood. I understand that her life growing up was a bit difficult. I am glad that she is capitalizing on her strengths and skills now. Fame is often fleeting.

 

[Mom2be]

I love Rachel Ray's cookbooks - I'm asking for some for Christmas. I like them because they are EASY! Before hers my two favorite cookbooks were Campbell's soup cookbooks - now those are really easy! I made her herbed porkchops with cornbread stuffing one night for dinner - I tell ya it was one of the best meals EVER! It did take me longer then 30 minutes though because my grocery store doesn't sell already made cornbread muffins - so I had to buy muffin mix and bake that in advance. Otherwise it did not take long.

I tend to either do one of her entrees with my own side dish or her side dish with one of my easy entrees. I haven't done one of her planned meals together yet.

I also like the treats she makes that doesn't involve baking. I love to bake but it is great to whip something up real quick. I made her 5 minute fudge for a holiday party the other day - everyone loved it!

~Amanda

 

[suzannen]

I am getting so I can't watch her anymore - she's on the Food Channel CONSTANTLY. Between the "Delish", "Yummy/Yummo", "EVOO" "Mmmm-mmmm" and worse, her hands in constant over-exaggerated motions (watch them), she's become totally annoying. And, on her $40/a day, what a surprise when she says EVERY episode - "here's a tip, ask the locals." She did shows both in my hometown and where my summer home is and she picked some of the worst restaurants in both areas. DH and I coudn't believe it. I so prefer Ina Garten, Tyler Florence or Paula Deen.

PS DH works in the Chelsea Market where the Food Channel films (Emeril's studio is his old office) and he sees these TV chefs/cooks all the time. He says Tyler Florence and Gordon Elliott (Door Knock Dinner & producer of a lot of these shows) are the two nicest, thus far.

 

[FourFlans]

I'm a Food Network junkie....even though I can't cook worth a darn! I like to watch Rachel Ray for her tips and recipes and will often follow up online the next day to pull off a recipe. My DH and I both work full-time, and have two DDs that are very busy, so anytime I can put something decent on the table in 30-45 minutes my family is impressed!

But DD8 will tell you her heart is with Emeril. She's just crazy about his show. He was here recently on his book tour and I waited with her for over 4 hours so she could meet him and get him to sign her cookbook.

 

[roque]

Nothing is wrong w/ her.