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Out of respect for Rachael Ray at least as a human, if not as an influential person, please spell her name correctly in your article. You have the title right, but thats it. It's R-a-c-h-a-e-l.

Rachael Ray is the domestic version of Gidget, all grown up. She has a bubbly personality that many seek in the drab void that is television. She is not a prude trying hip or a prude trying to be more of a prude; there is no pretense with Rachael, which is refreshing. Her meals are simple, and good, but it is her personality that gets you.

Becky,
Thanks for the tip - you must caught us in our first few minutes and not refreshed - it's all fixed.

I don't know about others, but as one who has been inspired by her accessibility and sheer love of real food [not fancy-pants food that I can't spell], I can understand her influence. Sure, she's sometimes a tad TOO perky, but the fact that she's unpretentious and acknowledges our lack of time makes her a hero in my book. Although I DO hold it against her that I can never make her stuff in under 30 mins...

ATL,

Amen - we totally agree that anyone or anything that makes people cook more deserves noting. We just think there is a bit of marketing magic behind the scenes that is worth noting as well!

Just because TIME calls her influential doesn't make it so.

Did they ever herald Julia Child???

I don't know that Ray is getting Americans to cook more at home. I think she is getting a certain type of American to consider making a bowl of pasta or a sandwich for dinner rather than going to the frozen food aisle or the drive-thru. She aims to dress down the perceived complications of home cooking. Her style is to be an alternate to fast or convenience food -- that's why so much of what she makes resembles fast food. (And probably has the same nutritional composition -- meaning, not that healthy.)

I think it's a crazy comparison to think about her in the same category of Child or Smith or even Martha from a TV experience. Those shows (and I include early Martha shows) were about learning and technique and execution. They weren't about speed or convenience. It's a sad reality, but I doubt that Child or Smith could survive at Food Network today.

And as far as marketing is concerned... Rachael does not have a cohesive marketing team a'la Martha for her books, magazine, gadgets and shows. She is a licensing expert, not an omnimedia.

Personally what do I think? I do think her cookbooks and magazine are better than the TV show. But, I'm not a fan and I won't be eating cowboy spaghetti or a sammie for dinner. Ever. If I want a 15 minute meal I'll turn to Gourmet's quick kitchen section. Or better yet, think on my own.

I have always felt that Rachael is not an asset to the food tv world. Her recipes are nothing that we couldn't all come up with on our own. And if you can't, then all you have to do is walk down an aisle in the grocery store and pick up a packaged casserole mix. It is pretty much the same thing that she offers her audience. Are the people who watch food tv really the type of people with no cooking skills? If you want simple, but still fabulous go for Giada, at least fresh ingredients are a staple of her show.

Rachel Ray is probably great for a complete novice who is just learning how to cook, but she certainly does not deserve the tag of most influential. She is no Alice Waters or Julia Child, both of whom changed the face of American cooking. (Or even Jaimie Oliver, who is trying to revamp food in schools in the UK and USA) And that's fine, but let's not pretend she's something she's not. She's a step up from Sandra Lee.

Interesting that Batali's essay talks about Ray's *success* and her personality, and not her skill as a cook or the quality of her recipes, or even her skill as a teacher. I'm guessing he admires her populist appeal.

It isn't Rachael Ray alone getting America to cook more, though. It's the entire Food Network, and Whole Foods, and Trader Joe's, and even (still) Martha Stewart. Ray is just at the very head of the trend.

Now, can someone please make Sandra Lee go away?

And doesn't RR now benefit from the Oprah juggernaut? (To address the no-marketing comment above) Oprah's way too smart to back someone financially and not make sure they have resources.

Which again, is fine. Can't fault someone for marketing themselves.

I think that there is more "behind the scenes magic" for most (all?) of the people on that list. I think that is a given. The point, however, is that these people have still gotten to a point where they are successful in driving their messages home. If it's because they positioned themselves in front of an expert marketing staff, more power to them for finding that staff and making sure they are the star client for said staff.

Like others who have already posted, I think Rachael Ray is a bit too energetic but the fact is she is watchable (doesn't make me fall asleep) and she knows that I don't have time. I think she's great!

Her Q ratings are through the roof. She is probably the most trusted and loved tv personality....not kidding. And unlike Jeff Smith (who I always hated, he always f'd up every Italian dish he tried), Ray hasn't been sued for groping at under-age youth. That's the formula for success.

I posted some of this over at the main site, but I'll just say it here too:

I can't say that I think RR deserves to be on that list or whatever, but I don't get all the hate, especially on the internet. Especially from food bloggers.

Is it that her dishes aren't vertically arranged, or that they don't contain 17 ingredients in the title, or that the everywoman can make them and still have time to do Tae-Bo later that night or what?

I love RR, I cook exactly like she does (simple, healthy, unpretentious and delicious), and I think she would be a blast to hang out with. Just sayin.

Also to note, I have never copied down one of her recipes and followed it to the letter. I have gotten ideas from her though (I made the portabello mushroom burgers, but used ground turkey instead of beef, etc).

I think maybe her influential status might be that she gets non-cooking, non-kitchen-dwelling people to consider making their own meals. I would imagine it's a big step to make, especially if you didn't grow up with home-cooked food.

Whether you like or don't like Rachael Ray, her recipes are not healthy. Are they as bad as Sandra Lee's? No, but they are by no means healthy. Maybe compared to fast food or frozen food.

I doubt people doing tae-bo are cooking Rachael Ray's meals. I know I'm not.

I am twentysomething, single, and work 60 hours a week. Yet Rachael has weaned me off takeout menus in a way that Julia, Martha, even Giana never could. I think it's because Rachael's show(s) feel relevant to my lifstyle in a way that the others' never did. I do not have time or space to entertain with food, I am merely trying to improve my weekday dinners-- which is exactly the theme of "30 Minute Meals."

For this reason, my working friends and I are all fans. I'd venture that Rachael appeals particularly to those of us with little energy for elaborate meal prep. Julia she may not be, but you have to admit: even Stoup & Sammies top Lean Cuisine every time.

ps. No automatically denigrating us busyfolk as novices, please. On the weekends, I pull out my Ming Tsai, Charlie Trotter, etc and go to town. But Rachael's still my girl when I come home hungry after a long day at work.

Amber: it's not hate, but RR does get on my nerves, more with her language than anything---stoup, EVOO, spoonula, easy peasy, yum-o---ugh. I hate someone talking to me like I have a stunted vocabulary.

Her cooking is 90% okay by me, but that other 10% really slips, like when she uses ketchup, and turkey cold cuts, and whipped topping. Please. I don't watch food tv to learn how to put preservatives and trans fats and extra sugar in my meals.

Without Rachael Ray, I'd have never found a delicious brussels sprouts recipe -- gently braising the vegetables, then simmering them in broth and tossing in some sauteed shallots. So delicious!

Yeah, some of her stuff is a little prefab, but for people like me who came to cooking late in life, the accessibility and the enthusiasm have been like a gateway drug; I have a much wider interest in food now and am now hooked on Good Eats and Cook's Illustrated thanks to her.

Sara Kate I see your point (and by the way, I love your food blog, you're the best!). In fact, I've wondered how how some rise to the top myself because it seems like the criteria isn't based on your actual skill, but who you know and how well you can pitch. It seems like nowadays, it's all about personality. If you have what it takes to reach people and you can hike up ratings, then you have what it takes to be the next big television personality. Money. PR. Contacts. Right place. Right time. Right location. Success.

When it comes to Ray, I like her because I've followed her for a long time, wayyyy before she was America's darling. I enjoyed her $40 a day show where she was hopping around from city to city finding the best eats and chatting it up with the locals. I'm big on travel, so if you combine food AND travel, I'll most likely be interested.

I think Ray is getting America to cook because she approaches cooking very nonchalantly, like 'big deal, just throw these penne in a pan with some EVOO and spinach and you have dinner faster than some delivery guy can cycle over with your udon noodles'... Cooking doesn't seem as scary with Ray driving. Food aisles aren't so long and narrow and stocked with unknowns with her navigating by our sides. If cooking is easy, we're interested. If it involves multiple gadgets simultaneously, most of us wimp out.

Ray may also be contributing to Americans cooking more because she is a healthy role model for women. She loves food and doesn't beat on the diet drum constantly. Sure, we have Nigella too, but she's from another country and so we figure, of course she loves food and appreciates life and the art of eating meals around a huge farmhouse table with pitchers of sangria and 15 of her closest friends. Everyone over there does THAT, we reason. "We're Americans, we don't have the time". Ray shows us that we actually can make the time, 30 minutes to be exact, to throw together something easy, healthy, and inexpensive. It may not be around a farmhouse table with fresh peonies and platefuls of baked this and stuffed that, but it's quick and easy and many of us don't have time during the work week for much more. Ray doesn't beat on us about calories or the latest diet trend, either (at least not yet). We don't have to feel guilt associated with food when Ray is in the house.

To elaborate on the whole food fear, I REALLY appreciate her food-friendly style because my pals are absolutely obsessed with caloric intake. Some count tic-tacs (Yes, I still love them but they also scare me). The obsession with weight has driven many young woman to a point of fear of eating anything outside of sushi and a salad. Or, they do eat, but secretly harboring negative thoughts about the bread they are eating, considering the results dinner will have on their thighs so much that the food goes down accompanied with much stress. I like Ray because, although young and in the spotlight, she is still big on food and has no problem talking about her love of it, no food guilt attached. I have friends that don't eat on dates, won't fess up that they often have ben + jerry over on the weekends, and never order what they REALLY want on the menu. Ray is different. She's the first to cram whatever it is she's cooking straight into her mouth with a big smile followed by many words of praise such as, "yum-o!". Sure, some people may not dig her vocab, but you have to agree, at least she isn't some uber-thin fashionista in stovepipe jeans and pointy toe shoes praising the benefits of eating raw. She isn't some carbs-are-the-antichrist fanatic. She's real.

Holly

I didn't say she was the role model for healthy eating, and I also said I don't cook her meals verbatim (and I DO do Tae-Bo), but she DOES transition people from non-cooks (eating out ALL THE TIME) to cooks, and in that way, it is more of a healthy lifestyle. I do wish she'd emphasize fresh ingredients more than she does, but I think her show is geared towards people who are too busy to run back out to the store, it's either what's in the fridge, or order takeout, so whatever.

I still enjoy watching her show, despite the baby talk.

It is about the personality, not about the cooking for the Food Network. The show producers admit as much in their Next Food Network Star show.

RR seems to have a personality that many people like. Me? I find her very grating.

I think the pholisophy of 30 minute meals is great though. I love cooking, but after a long night of work, I can't tackle anything complex.

Martha is doing "quick easy" meals on her show right now. The one I saw required small clams. Not something I'd tend to have on hand if I was stuck at work late and looking for an easy dinner.

Personality. She seems like a really nice warm person. Her 30 minute meals show is ok, but since we mostly eat-out we like her $40 a day food/travel program.

fiona
yes, she is benefiting from the oprah juggernaut
my boyfriend did a paper on it
her new book deal is through the same as oprahs, her show is distributed by king world and she appears on oprah just before each book comes out
timing, and marketing, is everything

and whomever suggested getting rid of sandra lee, HEAR HEAR!

You're right, Anne. Everyone who doesn't love RR must be sitting home alone, lonely, with nothing social to do. The rest of us somehow manage to be busy without using RR.

I'm so glad I no longer have a television... I gave that up around the time Food Network started playing less and less of Sarah Moulton, who I thought was amazing.

on ething had nothing to do with the other, but I still loved Sarah.

I'm indifferent towards Rachael Ray, but I do think she is quite good at marketing herself.

I remember seeing this column linked from a blog a couple months ago and thought it was funny because she's so well-known for being bubbly - http://www.wweek.com/editorial/3217/7286/

What is it with people and their dislike of RR? I mean, the girl knows food, she is super nice, and she worked hard to get to where she is. With the mix of some great luck she's become a staple food history. Yeah, of course it's marketing propoganda surrounding ALL the people on that list (can anyone say Daddy Yankee? Please)but at least RR is great to watch. More people should be as perky as RR with their heart in the right place. Get off her back, it's annoying and uncalled for.

Really interesting stuff - so happy to have found your blog today, Sara Kate! The thing that strikes me most about all the postings is that everyone is *agreeing* that personality matters more for tv food land. That's a big, fat bummer in my book whether or not you like RR. My personal preferences for quick & easy stuff are from Deborah Madison's "Vegetarian Cooking for Everyone" and more recently from Mark Bittman's "How to Cook Everything". Doesn't matter what kind of food you like to eat, there are some great, simple ideas - all about the fresh stuff and not making it harder than it has to be if that's not the route you choose to take. Thank goodness I can start making dinner soon - this is making me hungry!

And another big ditto to getting rid of Sandra Lee! Semi-homemade my ass!

alyssa mentioned mark bittman which made me think about his cookbook 'the minimalist cooks dinner' the recipes in the book are quick and easy but you don't see him being the named most influential or sara moulton..she's unpretentious and nice. i think it would be great to hang out with her. there are plenty of chefs that make
easy quick and good recipes that are not as popular.
let's face it...it's all in the way she markets herself. her cooking has nothing to do with it. please the woman was in FHM magazine. (RR is also #71 on their 100 Sexist Women list).
i love to cook and loved foodtv but i no longer watch it (except for good eats). the shows are less and less about cooking and more about personality.(just like mtv is not about the music) giada is not much better either and let's agree not to even mention sandra lee.
the only think that RR (if she's the one that even came up with it) is the name of her show '30 min meals'...it's appeals to the busy americans who doesn't really want to cook but feel guilty for going out all the time.

I absolutely loathe Rachael Ray.

I'm with you. Has she had an original thought in the kitchen? please, ... has she? If so, please post it for our collective benefit.

uhm, uhm
wow, lost my train of thought after that one!

ok, but if she starts giggling uncontrollably, I'm just walking away from that bathroom. Alright, I'll turn the thermostat up for her first.

I had no idea who Sandra Lee was. I just googled her, and I still don't think I've ever seen her face. Which is no big loss, apparently.

Wow! Now I understand why no one in America has any time to cook ... they are apparently very busy watching TV! I've never heard of any of these TV chefs. If I did have cable, I admit, I would probably be glued to the Food Network, but I don't, so I'm not. I'm a good cook. I can make just about anything, and Gourmet Magazine doesn't frighten me in the least. The biggest challenge I face in the kitchen (other than keeping costs low) is cooking without sugar (and this means no ketchup and no bread crumbs, which I'm guessing are oft-used ingredients in RR's kitchen!) My secret weapon for new, fun, and healthy meals? Google, and my imagination. I just type in what I feel like eating, such as "Gyros" or "Curry," or "Flan." It takes less time than a 30 minute TV show, and if I can't find a sugar-free version, I can substitute certain foods from the Sugar Busters Book. (I'll be trying lasagne-less lasagne tonight: using thin strips of zucchini instead of the pasta...wish me luck.)

I'm glad RR is helping people to learn how to cook at home, if she is in fact doing that. And I'm glad she's not adding to the food-phobia that plagues too many young women. But people, now that you know how to chop an onion, go out on your own and google a little! Buy the Sugar Busters book! Too many people in this country are overweight and at risk for diabetes. And practically everything in the supermarket contains some form of sugar.

Bon Appetit!

I think those of you so against Rachael for her "simplistic" style are forgetting the fact that most people that visit this site are probably a bit more interested in food and cooking than the average person out there ... while her recipes may seem simplstic and obvious to you, she demystifies cooking for those not really into it and I think that's important.

And while I agree that most of her recipes aren't healthy enough for me, she has a cookbook dedicated to that end and she does make an effort and discusses portion-control fairly frequently. I can understand the attraction ... and I think she's definitely a good starting place for many.

julia and alice are my heroes but if rachael ray could make a large portion of the american population go to their kitchens and cook instead of ordering pizza or chinese, who are we to judge. okay, the people mag is a marketing thing but that does not minimize in any way her contribution to american culture. i am a culinary grad and has been in the industry for years so i naturally have a preference for people in the industry over ray. but what about mainstream america? ray is succesful in tapping that niche and should be commended for it.

for all of RR's many faults, i have develped a larger repertoire of good, affordable meals thanks to her.

having no kids and working from home, i have more time to cook than most, but i don't have the budget to support real chef-y recipes or exotic ingredients. also, RR's recipes seem to adapt very easily for one or two people, and are pretty easy to lighten up.

i may love ina, mario, and giada more, but most of their recipes have to wait for special occasions, or until i marry a rich man.

with tighter budgets and lack of time, middle america unofortunately cannot be discpiples of alice's organic, regional, seasonal cuisine nor julia's technique-filled recipes. hooray for rachael!

HER ENTIRE SCHTICK ABOUT BEING unPRETENTIOUS IS A PRETENSE!!! She's pretentious about being salt of the earth blue collar one of the people. If she was so laid back and SOLID she and Martha Stewart would not have to declare their perception of their social value in each and every episode. ROCK ON, SARAH MOULTON, ROCK ON!

and as for introducing EXOTIC ingredients to the other plebes - the same ingredients that the other cooking shows are introducing at the SAME time - that's a pretention! God forbid Americans should appear "fancy" if they don't have the "background" to back it up - it's a product, you buy it, you use it just like other people on the planet who have already come across it.

I think RR is bad for people who need to be wheedled away from cooking because she reinforces the wrongheaded thinking that got them to cook badly in the first place even though she is ostensibly showing them something new. Ugh. UGH!!!!!

She reinforces a stereotype and that kind of person gets uncomfortable when someone from a similar socioeconomic background listens to opera (because its widely available) and reads a decent book that OPRAH has yet to know about and yes, there are working class Americans out there who aren't inhibited about having nonTV interests and no one until this generation of trends and compartmentalizing would think that was strange. Now you'd have to go to Australia or India to have "European" tastes just as an ordinary person and be articulate enought to brush off the kinds of things that RR has to say about being "fancy schmancy." She's DANGEROUS.

huh?

wow, jj. now tell us how you -really- feel.

Pierre has a good point about Ray being Gidget.

Ask Anthony Bourdain what he thinks.

I can see that she appeals to some people, but personally, Sara Kate, I'm sure you're a better cook. I know I am. She is pleasant, but I haven't seen anything she's done that is innovative or interesting.

I can't imagine caring one fig what Anthony Bourdain thinks about anything or anybody. What a jack#$% that man is.

The only show of RR's that I've seen is $40/day and it's pretty interesting, especially when she's been in my hometown. That said, I have to agree with previous posters that she certainly is a product of great marketing, but that goes for almost any TV personality.

Just a note that the "Anne" that posted is not me. I have and always will use lower case letters. Please, Anne, continue to use caps so we can be differentiated as 2 separate entities on this site.

Thanks!

i hear she smokes and drinks like a frat boy. gidget, huh? i doubt it.

She's perky & sweet on her many shows, but a friend of mine worked with her on a shoot in my hometown recently and as soon as the camera switches off she's pure evil.

For all of you who believe that
"I can do that myself" why the hell havent you. All this anger that I have read is brought about by the large amount of jealousy that each of you have for her. RR is not trying to reshape the cooking world. She is providing quick recipes for those who are not food snobs.

And I thought I just watched her because she was so darn cute;)!

I was at a restaurant in Seattle where she was taping a segment for $40/day. She's extremely nice, but she does smoke. Also, she let loose belches and farts left and right and her crew thought it was hilarious. The other folks in the restaurant were appalled by her gassy-ness, but at least the farts smelled like garlic and onions.

I have known Rachael Ray since she worked the candy department in her earlier days and there is NO WAY Rachael would pass gas in front of other colleagues. Why are you, sillysam, making up such rubbish? Must be something you would do!

has anyone got any more news on gears of war? i cant wait to chainsaw some people!
oh sorry, wrong forum.

What is up with some of you guys what do you all have agaisn't rachealrat she rocks DO all of u hate Sandra shedoes seem so fake in her show and though her foods are " semi homemade" still have twice the much fat then if you cook it full out and her catch line is so lame. "keep it simple, blah blahh blahh blah blah, and remember keep it semi homemade " Wait a min you guys are right she sucks when is somebody gonna kick her ass of the air i mean common and that " niece" of her is being forced to be on that show agasin't her will i wonder why she doesn't have a kid of her own and stop stealing her sister's kid. Maybe because every man on earth think she's a gay , dum cook show hostes , crack head Semi homemade my a double snakes got to h , e, ,l ,l sandra lee why did i spellit out you ask because she's a retard too so if she reads this she nows what i mean GO RACHAEL RAY YOU ROCK KEEP IT GOING SISTER Kick Sandra Lee's ASS OFF THE AIR

P.S
though i love racheal rays shows ther ain't nothing better then good eats and unwraped

Rachael Ray is great! Just because she appeals to the masses and "dumbs" down cooking doesn't mean she isn't iconic or influential. I am willing to bet she has gotten more people like me (mid-20s, cooking for 1-2 on a really, really tight budget, but enjoys a good meal with flavor) to cook at home more often instead of eating out. I don't know who Julie Child is or any of the other folks...but I watch Food Network just for Rachael Ray's shows and buy only her cook books.

That should speak volumes.

I dont know why so many people hate Rachael Ray. She is absolutely awesome. I love her personality, and the way she goes about making me want to stay away from fast food. I have a 1 year old son and Im practically a single mom. By the time I have any time to cook its 10 or 11pm and I dont want to have to take an hour to cook me a meal. Just watching her show makes me want to get up and cook something, Ive had a bad habit of keeping easy to fix, pop in the microwave or oven food in my house because I have a toddler running around. I cant exactly go into my kitchen and not come out for more than 2 minutes if that long. At least I know that when I do use her recipes Im not going to feel guilty later for eating it. She will flat out tell you shes not a chef, she cooks, its that simple. She appeals to those of us that dont have a: the time to cook, b: the elaborate ingredient that some cooking shows require for their meals, and c: she makes people like me feel that I can actually cook this and I wont have to worry that I'll ruin it because it was complicated. Shes not out there for those who have the time or even the money to spend on the expensive ingredients. Shes out there to show us what we can do with just the stuff we may have in the pantry and fridge already. At least I'll have a good tasting, non fast food, non previously frozen meal when Im done. Also I know that I can take anyone of her recipes and know that Im not about to cook enough food to feed an army that isnt there. The only people that eat my cooking on a regular basis are me and my son, and If he will eat her cooking then shes got something going on because hes a very picky eater. So stop ragging on Rachael and just stop watching her shows if you hate her that much.

Oh and by the way, I was recently in Pacific Grove, California which is one of the cities she has spotlighted on her $40 A Day show. I actually stopped into one of the restaurants that she went to called First Awakenings, not even knowing she had been there. Their food was awesome. The scenery outside was awesome too. And I didnt spend an arm and a leg to eat a very filling and very "yum-oh" meal. So if your ever in Pacific Grove, Ca. Make sure you go to the American Tin Cannery Premium Outlet mall and go eat at First Awakenings, you will truly not be sorry.

She is fun and GORGEOUS. THAT is why she is on TV (and FHM magazine for men). Trust me, if she were unattractive or even plain, she would not be at this level of poularity. It's sad but looks sell. Look at all the home improvement shows for example. All the designers are very attractive and even the carpenters are buff handsome men. You don't see the Norm Abrahms (Master Carpenter) hosting the mainstream TV shows anymore. Producers push the looks over skills because they know it sells.

Please remember that in the past Time has also voted Saddam Hussein, Hitler and G. W. Bush as the man of the year. At least Rachael is cute.

I think she is doing a great job. Keep it up! She is different and not affraid to show it like most people. Yes, it's probably that I can relate to her and maybe that's why I understand her so much.

Just curious Sgt, but how can you tell that other people are afraid to show that they're different?

Rachael ray is the sweetest girl I have ever seen on TV or off TV. She's the real deal and doesn't deserve to be categorized with all of the others.
Leave her alone or I will have to kick your a**.

Anthony, what are you talking about. Who on this forum is talking bad about her? Who on this forum is categorizing her? I guessing you need to go out more. With girls....... And, I doubt very seriously that Rachel Ray is going to read this forum and notice your chivalry and willingness to kick someones a** for her.

LOL

I don't care what any one saids rachael is an awesome cook her meals are simple but tasty and she has a bright and adorable personality it seems that she is a fun aesy going person that loves to cook and that is all that matters so if any one saids something bad about rachael they are going to meet me unbreakable headlock

I think Rachael Ray is a great chef. i think rauleer said it perfectly. "her meals are simple but tasty and she has a bright and adorable personality it seems that she is a fun aesy going person that loves to cook and that is all that matters" She shouldn't be criticised by people who are jealous. Just because you can't sook, doesn't mean you should take it out like that.

I don't mind her really, what I do mind is that the high ups at food network think that we want to see her every other half hour in the evening, whether it be her 30 min meals, tasty travels, or $40 a day, why not give the chefs who are on during the daytime programming a re-run at night for those of us who work so that we can see their shows...I'm getting a little tired of iron chef, rr, and emeril