Rachel Ray explains why she’s angry at Congress over aid to Ukraine
Rachael Ray reflected on her work with Ukrainian chef Jose Andrés on World Central Kitchen while promoting her new TV show.
Rachael Ray is making a rare return to daytime television.
The former Food Network staple will appear on “The Drew Barrymore Show” on Friday, Oct. 17, to cook and share recipes with Barrymore, according to the show’s website.
Ray, 57, rose to fame with her 30-minute recipes, which have welcomed viewers into her kitchen for more than a decade, making MasterChef dishes look “quick and easy”. But in recent years, her eponymous show has evolved, ending its long-running syndication and moving under a new production company co-owned by Ray. Her newest show, “Meals in Minutes,” is now on FYI.
Her appearance on “Barrymore” will put her at the center of the format that made her famous, following concerns from fans last year over clips in which she appeared slurred. The segment will air ahead of Ray’s co-hosted performance later Friday at the New York Wine & Food Festival, where he will co-host Blue Moon Burger Bash 2.0 with Brooklyn Beckham.
In an interview with Us Weekly ahead of the festival, Rae told the magazine that while she’s happy to spend time in the Big Apple, she much prefers living in Italy.
“When I have work, I come to New York or upstate New York,” said Ray, whose New York home was destroyed in a fire in 2020. “I prefer Italy. It’s quieter. The dogs are much happier. I hate New York City.” The following year, the Food Network star’s New York apartment was flooded by Hurricane Ida.
“I spend as much time as I can (in Italy),” she said. “Everything is very quiet, the air is very fresh, there are huge gardens and vineyards and olive trees. I really like that life.”
While her life in Italy may sound luxurious, at least her cooking style is no-frills.
“I don’t think you should take food of any kind too seriously. So enjoy it,” she told Us Weekly of her philosophy. “Have a sense of humor. I don’t think there should be any rules, especially when it comes to fun food or food eaten with your hands.”
“You should take seriously the evaluation of your life and work, but you should never take yourself too seriously,” she continued. “Food shouldn’t be taken seriously.”
