Growing up in a family steeped in culinary tradition, Rachael Ray was exposed to a wide range of cooking techniques, from her maternal grandfather who grew and cooked everything his family of 12 ate, to her dad’s family, which embraced the food-rich traditions of Louisiana.
After moving to New York City, Ray made the rounds working at Macy’s in the Fresh Food Department learning of gourmet foods, to Agata & Valentina where she put her knowledge of gourmet foods to work. Then it was on to managing pubs and restaurants at the famed Sagamore Resort on Lake George where she was then recruited by Cowan & Lobel, a large gourmet market in Albany, to be their food buyer and eventually their chef.
Ray then began a series of cooking classes, including a course promising to teach “30-Minute Mediterranean Meals,” which exploded in popularity. The CBS station in Albany-Schenectady, WRGB-TV, discovered Ray and signed her on to do a weekly “30-Minute Meals” segment for the evening news. Nominated for two regional Emmys in its first year, the segment was a major success; a companion cookbook sold 10,000 copies locally during the holidays. With that, a franchise was born!
Ray's television work grew to include a series of lifestyle and travel segments as well as a long-term relationship with the Food Network, hosting shows such as “Tasty Travels,” “$40 A Day,” “Inside Dish” and “30-Minute Meals,” the latter of which earned Ray a 2006 Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Service Show and a nomination for Outstanding Service Show Host.
In addition to her television endeavors, Rachael has turned her “30-Minute Meals” concept into a bestselling series of cookbooks, including “30-Minute Meals,” “30-Minute Meals 2,” “30-Minute Meals: Get Togethers,” “Comfort Foods,” “Veggie Meals,” “The Open House Cookbook,” “Cooking ‘Round The Clock Rachael Ray 30-Minute Meals,” “Cooking Rocks! Rachael Ray 30-Minute Meals for Kids,” “Rachael Ray Best Eats In Town On $40 A Day,” “Rachael Ray 30-Minute Get Real Meals,” “Rachael Ray 365: No Repeats A Year of Deliciously Different Dinners” and the newly released “Express Lane Meals,” which teaches readers how to whiz through the grocery store and prepare wholesome and delicious dinners with just 10 items or less.
Taking the can-do spirit of her television shows and books, Ray recently launched a new lifestyle magazine bearing her vision called “Every Day With Rachael Ray”. With great food at its heart, the new full-size glossy magazine, for which Ray serves as Editor In Chief, covers much more than food. The magazine offers smart and easy recipes for an array of delicious foods, as well as practical advice on food destinations and entertaining. Through the magazine, Ray takes readers around the country to meet people who love food - from top celebrities to authentic artisans to great home cooks.
