Rachael Ray is a loud, perky woman. Occasionally, she’s downright grating. Like when she flogs the themes of each episode of 30 Minute Meals — "THIS IS A MEAL FOR YOUR IN-LAWS!" — as if Beef Tenderloin Bites on a Bed of Arugula could, under no circumstances, be served to, say, cousins or coworkers or college pals visiting from out of town. I’ll also admit I get chills (and not the good kind) every time she follows the abbreviation EVOO by declaring it stands for "Extra Virgin Olive Oil." (Then why use the abbreviation at all, Rachael? Why?!)
But all that aside, you know what: I kinda like Rachael Ray, in all her dorky, overexpressive glory. And when I read profiles or articles about her (like this one) that mention the Rachael Ray Sucks Community at LiveJournal, I always feel the need to speak out on her behalf. There’s something oddly appealing about watching Rachael sit alone in a diner and say things like, "tasty omelet!" on $40 a Day. And you try making her Not-sagna Pasta Toss in 30 minutes, then tell me the woman isn’t a little bit genius. Come to the dark side PopWatchers, and admit it. You secretly dig Rachael (just a little), too, don’t you?
Comments (1-30) of 156
I will proudly admit I love $40-a-Day and I’ve been inspired to make many a 30 min. creation. I like Rachael…I think we’d be friends. I mean maybe, like my super loud co-worker, she just has a hearing problem?
Manhands!
NO!
Holy EYEBROW LIFT batman!
The anti- RACHAAAEEEEL site is hysterical. Everyone should check it out!
She is more annoying than anyone I can think of.
I love her on 30 Minute Meals and $40 a Day. Leave her alone!
I had no clue who she was or what she did when her TV show premiered – so I was off from work and flipped her on. After that show I decided I could not watch her again and her voice was grating and annoying. Then recently I was home ill and gave it a second shot and it wasn;t all that bad (ended up watching the 30 minute meals later on that day). Then over Thanksgiving while flipping thru the channels ended up watching her do her 60 minute thanksgiving meal. No idea what it is with her, but once you get past the grating, annoying voice – the meals she creates aint half bad. So just like you MS, I am beginning to dig her as well
I think being jaded and ironic is in again. Really, wouldn’t we all prefer a bored, smug chef instead? Not me. I like Ray. She seems to be having fun and she is a little dorky. Love on, Slezak!
I too like Rachael. I’m still not sure why she was given a talk show but she’s a terrific cook. I’ve loved every recipe of hers that I’ve tried.
I’m okay with “EVOO” but “Yum-O” drives me up the wall. If she’d stop saying that I’d love her.
I don’t really care for her, my partner can’t stand her, one of my coworkers actively hates her, and another of my coworkers watches her talk show all the time. So one out of four isn’t bad, right?
Rachel annoyed me at first, but I watched 30 min. meals because I liked the set. After a while, she grew on me, and I can honestly say she’s inspired me in the kitchen. I wish she had more advice on cooking and storing for only one, but I like her travel shows too. I’m not sold on the talk show thing. I think that’s a bit out of her range, but as a television personality, I pretty much dig her. She can get annoying, but nobody’s perfect. And she is a smart and savvy chef/cook. I’ve known far more grinding personalities in person, so I don’t complain too much.
I am a convert. I’ve always been a Giada girl, but more and more I love that Rachael is not afraid of her inner dorkiness. Sometimes she goes to restaurants on $40 a day that no decent foodie would ever go to, but you have to do that when you’re on a budget! No other Food Network chef is that much of a realist. And come on, you got to love the garbage bowl on 30 Minute Meals. She’s cut down my cleaning time by 10 minutes.
I LOVE rachael ray!!!! her recipes are amazing. i stick up for her!! love ur show!!!!!
I have a like/dislike relationship with Rachael Ray. Dislike how loud and dorky she can be (my pet peeve with her is how often she uses the word “heat” when describing spice in her food), but on the other hand I think she’s wholesome and totally harmless. She could afford to take it down a notch, but how could anyone actively hate someone who is so obviously a nice person. And a good cook.
I really used to like her when her show first came on food network. But now its like she is EVERYWHERE..on my crackers on every station, in the stores on the TV. Uggh totally overexposed. I also liked her more when she had a little meat on her bones, she is too thin in some of the newer episodes.
Um…no.
It’s no secret; I really do love her. She may be loud, but at least she’s genuine, and she isn’t stiff and stuck up like Martha (no matter how much prison softened her, she’s still not in touch with the everyday woman). Plus, Rachel believes in making life easier, not bogging women down with more responsibility. Whenever I watch Martha, I feel guilty for not turning all my milk cartons into birdhouses or baking from-scratch apple pies every night. Her show really sets women back, while Rachel’s brings them forward.
I love to watch 30-Minute Meals, but I do wish someone would strap her arms to her body when she introduces what she’s going to prepare. Bring it down a little, Rach. And a conclusion that didn’t end in “Yuuuum” would also be okay — one time, I wish she would buy something on $40 a day that just plain ol’ sucked.
I feel like she is going to unhinge her jaw and swallow her TV audience. I wouldn’t be surprised if I found out she sprinkled speed into her meals…
I liked Rachel until I met her. I work in the entertainment industry, and have met celebrities from all walks of entertainment, from new artists to superstars. Hands down, the least friendly and most disingenuous person I’ve ever met was Rachel Ray. I am a Food Network nut but will not watch any RR show.
Is it just me or does RR not have a neck? It’s like her head just sits on top of her shoulders and she’s neckless. Anyone else find this distracting?
As for her personality…grating. I find it bad that I find someone’s obvious enthusiasm and upbeat energy annoying…but I do.
If you want really crazy Rachael Ray bashing, check out the Television Without Pity thread for her Thirty Minute Meals show. There are some bitter and jealous women over there:
http://forums.televisionwithoutpity.com/index.php?showtopic=3113212&st=13005
I would like her more is she wasn’t so darn fake.
How in the World can you eat at all the thousands of places she’s been to on $40 a Day AND NOT HAVE ONE BAD MEAL??? Why even watch that show.
SPOLIER ALERT FOR THE NEXT 1000 EPSIODES of $40 A DAY
All the food is “awesome” and “dee-lish!” GASP
I love me some Rachael Ray too! There is something very accessable about her personality, I think it comes from the fact that she owns her own flaws. She’s amusing, laughs at her own jokes and tells stories that almost anyone could have taken part it, it’s all part of the charm of who she is. It would be nice if more people were unabashedly themselves, with no fear of being who they are. I think Ray is like that and that’s what I like about her. And if you haven’t tried a 30 minute meal, do so soon! You may not get it done in 30 exactly, but the end result will always be worth the time!
Maybe it’s just a gay man thing, because I totally agree. She’s kind of a genius at what she does, and if she ever crosses the line, the other side of the line is always entertaining as hell. I agree about the EVOO thing, but I’ll also throw out that I love that she usually goes over budget on $40 a Day, totally defeating the purpose of the show, usually in the name of a cocktail.
Rachael Ray is the world’s most perfect woman. Cute, cheerful, a little bit silly, brilliantly naive, she can cook, and she’s rich. How can it get better than that?
I was a very early fan of 30 Minute Meals–I’ve owned a Santoku knife for four or five years! But I agree Rachael is way overexposed, and that’s almost never good. I do like the recipes and techniques, though, and I agree the garbage bowl is an idea worth her entire career. I have a friend with a dorky, loud personality just like Rachael’s and my friend is 100% genuine, so I guess that makes me tolerate RR more. But she was SO much cuter when she started, with her chin-length hair and her peachy face! What happened to her–too much Botox, too young, maybe?
She’s definitely overexposed. 30 Minute Meals I like, but I didn’t need to see her get three more Food Network shows and a talk show. (Does everyone want a talk show? I read Emmitt Smith is getting a talk show. Really?)
But as a chef I will say many of her recipes are quite good, and what I do find refreshing is she’s not pompous about her cooking skills–she doesn’t measure, she doesn’t bake, she doesn’t pretend to be anything she isn’t.
I always wondered if on $40/day those are the real tips? Because if they are, she tips like crap. I understand the need to stay under the budget, but just make it about the food: $40 a day plus tip.
I like her okay, however it bothered me when I looked into going to her show when I was in NY and she had a dress code. That really annoyed me. A nice top and jeans aren’t good enough to sit in her audience? PUH-LEESE!! I’ll stick with Paula Deen thank you very much. BTW…EVOO irritates me too.
I’m not ashamed to admit that I like Rachael Ray – I wouldn’t necessarily have made the same choices when she was here in Boston for $40 a Day (breakfast at Fanueil Hall???), but she shows energy and enthusiasm for what she does every day – how many people can say THAT about their job?
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