Giada's Chest Explodes Buttons Off Shirt In the Early Days

These days you can't turn on Food Network without getting a little cleavage action, be it from Giada De Laurentiis, Anne Burrell, or Mario Batali.

An although Giada seemed pretty comfortable displaying it on her original Food network show Everyday Italian, apparently an early-on wardrobe malfunction embarrassed her enough to stop wearing button-up shirts and switch to the more comfy tees you see above.

"This was awhile ago, I think during the second season of 'Everyday Italian,' and we were trying to figure out the wardrobe for the show. I was wearing this pretty tight button-down shirt and I bent down -- in those days the oven was down low, below the stove -- to grab my roast out of the oven and all the buttons on my shirt just popped open. Everything opened up. I was so incredibly humiliated that I went running to the bathroom."

Yikes! Better to just have it out there in the first place than deal with those pesky button-popping incidences!

Whatever, G. I think you look great in what-ever. And I'm with you on comfort. I'm wearing a V-neck right now, too. Now let me go confidently bend down in front of my oven...

Review: Next Food Network Star, Season 6

I'll spare you my thoughts on how referring to a 6-episode deal as the "biggest prize on television" is a bit hyperbolic... or about Food Network's dilemma with finding a new star with this reality show that needs suspense and drama... or even how the producers now "get it" when it comes to crafting and editing a suspenseful show (but not much more). So let's just get down to what's new this season:

Season 6 is the first to take place primarily in Los Angeles. The Hollywood Hills home the contestants live in is gorgeous and looks like it provides a lot more space than the NYC carriage homes of previous seasons. Perhaps this cavernous home will showcase a NFNS first: some downtime love connections between contestants? Between Bobby Flay and a contestant? Who knows.

Since L.A. is a world away from the Chelsea Market desks of Bob Tuschman and Susie Fogelson, you'd think Tuschelson's role might be amped up this season, right? Well, even though they're stars in some minds, two Food Network execs can't compete with the star power of Giada De Laurentiis, who this year takes on a more permanent role as the contestant's mentor.

Think of Giada as the Tim Gunn of The Next Food Network Star, minus the snappy catchphrases.


And even though Giada can't muster up nary a memorable phrase, the show itself has certainly imposed some upon us. Like the "STAR KITCHEN" that the contestants compete in, replacing the NYC Food Network kitchens that formerly served as a major setting and the "STAR CHALLENGE" that the contestants are tasked with (both of which are highlighted with a giant, floating graphic after they're announced.

As for the contestants, you can read more about them on Food Network's site. They seem like a good mix of talented, clueless, different from the standard Food Network style, and obnoxious. The perfect reality show mix.

In the first episode, one really stands out... and not necessarily in a good way. Dzintra.

Sometimes a reality show contestant is so weird and so over the top that's it's almost unfathomable that they're 45 and have never been on a reality show before. Like, did they check out The Real World - New York back in 1992, think Eric Nies was kind of hot, and then decide that the genre wasn't for them? Have they been ignoring everything else that has happened w/ reality TV over the last 18 years, and missing out on all the audition opportunities?

Quickly, it all makes sense. This was Dzintra's third time auditioning for the show (which means she could have been cast WITH Lisa Garza, which would have probably broke the TV) and she finally made it. Guess she's not too oblivious to what's going on.

Dzintra, who introduces herself for the first time to her fellow contestants as "Dzintra, from the planet Zintron," has a bit of an eye problem in the first episode that leads to a harrowing decision to either leave the show and go to the emergency room or continue on, wounded eye and all. Fearing the wackiest character might leave the show during the FIRST episode, I sincerely hope Dzintra makes it back to the show... for both eye-health and entertainment reasons.

Quickly-- The first ep has the contestants putting themselves on a plate, so to speak. They are given the blank canvas of chicken and a potato to make their masterpiece (luckily no one seemed to have a vegetarian/vegan cooking style and no crying ensued). Then they have to present to camera, where the awkwardness always shines.

Later--the contestants have to write and shoot a 15-second promo for their Food Network show, with director Andy Fickman helping direct. I'm not sure the director of Race to Witch Mountain and She's the Man is necessarily the best fit to direct a Food Network promo, but what do I know? Maybe that's the next type of show Food Net's looking for?

I'm interested to see how L.A. changes the show and the challenges and how Giada's role develops. In previous years' appearances she's come off as harsh and somewhat contradictory to the contestants, so I'll be looking to see if her "mentoring" shows us a softer, more constructively criticizing Giada.

But I won't be holding my prosciutto-laced breath.

Tune-in to the two-hour premiere of The Next Food Network Star this Sunday, June 6 at 9pm ET.

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P.S.- after thinking about this, I'm seriously depressed Dzintra wasn't in the same cast as Lisa Garza. That'd be some Joe Esposito Karate Kid "You're the Best Around" awesome kind of team casting. (Not sure where that reference came from, but I'm NOT at all thrilled about the nepotism at its best Jaden Smith/Will Smith Karate Kid remake. Ugh.)

Next Food Network Star (Season 6) Returns... from LA LA Land

It's baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaack!



Almost! Season 6 of The Next Food Network Star kicks off with a two hour premiere on Sun., June 6 at 9pm ET.

Some big changes are in store for the contestants this year. For the first time in the series' history, the majority of taping took place in Los Angeles—far, far away from the New York City Chelsea Market comforts of Food Network's home base, where every other season taped.

In a nod to West coast fashion, I'm guessing Bob Tuschman leaves an extra button unbuttoned on his blue shirt every week. Just watch and see!

Also, ice princess supreme established Food Network star Giada De Laurentiis will have what appears to be an increased presence this season as the Tim Gunn-like mentor of the bunch. Should be interesting, for sure.

The cast includes: Dzintra Dzenis (Austin, Texas), Doreen Fang (Los Angeles, Calif.), Alexis Hernandez (Clarksville, Ind.), Brianna Jenkins (Atlanta, Ga.), Aria Kagan (Hollywood, Fla.), Herb Mesa (Atlanta, Ga.), Serena Palumbo (New York, N.Y.), Tom Pizzica (San Francisco, Calif.), Aarti Sequeira (Los Angeles, Calif.), Darrell “DAS” Smith (Los Angeles, Calif.), Brad Sorenson (Austin, Texas) and Paul Young (Chicago, Ill.).

For their bios and more info, check out foodnetwork.com/star.

Absent this year will apparently be Ina Garten, who made her first appearance on the show in an episode last year. Those contestants have got to come to HER! Ina's not traveling to L.A. unless she catches wind of a good vanilla tree that only grows in Burbank.

Instead, we will be treated to appearances by Colbie Caillat, Eva Longoria Parker, and others.

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Soooo.... are you are excited for what will likely be a Hollywood-themed season?

Giada and Rachael Can Rest Easy - There' s a New Name to Misspell at Food Network

I've been watching Mexican Made Easy and all the nonstop promos for the show and I still can't quite figure out how to say host Marcela Valladolid's last name correctly.

Right now I'm thinking vie-ah-do-leed.



I started learning Spanish when I was five years old, but I still second guess myself when it comes to double LLs. Is "ll" still a letter like "ch" or did that get rid of that? Hmmm...

Americans have a hard enough time remembering the double-i in Giada's last name. Can't imagine what kind of (mis)treatment Marcela's gonna start getting.

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The snow is just ridiculous here in D.C. The nation's capital is really only prepared to deal with a few inches of snow each winter, so the 50-something inches we got really threw the whole place into a tizzy.

In previous winters, when the weatherman forecasted flurries with no chance of accumulation, DCers still flocked to the supermarkets to pick up milk, bread, and toilet paper (since apparently we all plan on having sandwiches and milk while sitting on the toilet, snowed in). So nowwwwwww when we really were snowed in, the stores were totally empty.

On Thursday, the day after our all-day blizzard warning, I saw someone scream out in joy over snagging the last carton of eggs. It's wild out there! It kind of started melting and the streets have been somewhat cleared, so there's hope. Spring can't come soon enough!

Monday Links: Angelina Jolie Hearts Sandra Lee Edition

Lots of Food Network things going on lately... I can hardly keep up!

• Notice that Angelina hasn't confirmed this! Sandra Lee tells People mag that Angelina Jolie "made" her no-bake cake recipe for son Maddox's birthday.
• Duff Goldman and other Charm City Cakes staffers will autograph their new book tomorrow at Atomic Books.
• Ellie Krieger makes "good for you" meatloaf and potatoes on the Today show.
• Rachael Ray now a lunchlady AND petitioner for Hall & Oates. She is a saint!
• Giada De Laurentiis visits Peru to mark World Food Day.
• Not sure why, but Tyler Florence presented the National Design Museum's "People’s Design Award" to the Trek Lime bicycle this past Thursday. Since it has "Lime" in the title does that make it food-related?
  
• "If you eat, you're a foodie" says Sandra Lee--and then goes off on the haters. (Eat Me Daily)

Giada Doesn't Dig Airplane Food

TMZ sent this video around a while ago, but I'm just getting around to checking it out. Per usual, it's another video of a paparazzo trying to chat up a celebrity while walking through the airport.

Giada does her best to keep her cool, but does seem to be a bit annoyed.



All alone, G?! Where's that darling baby?

I'm really only posting this 'cause I'm getting excited for the New York City Wine & Food Festival that kicks off tomorrow. I met Giada last year at the event, and she and her husband Todd were really nice and didn't seem to mind the blog's coverage of Giada over the years.

As I mentioned last year, I really like the New York version of this festival and love that more events are ticketed separately. Unfortunately, Ina Gaten's "Times Talk" is sold out!

Let me know if you any of you are coming to NYC this weekend... should be fun.

Bid on a Chance to Lunch with Giada De Laurentiis

As you may remember, Giada De Laurentiis joined Oxfam last year as an ambassador for the hungry. It was just announced that she'll be auctioning off the chance to meet her in Los Angeles, visit the set of Giada at Home, and get some autographed memorabilia.

Her auction begins Oct. 1. Click on the photo below for more info.


Other celebs participating are Scarlett Johansson and Colin Firth.

Oxfam America is an international relief and development organization that creates lasting solutions to poverty, hunger and injustice. Together with individuals and local groups in more than 120 countries, Oxfam saves lives, helps people overcome poverty, and fights for social justice.

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One of the questions I get asked the most is: "Does Giada film her show in her real home?" or "Is that really Giada's house?" WELL... as I've mentioned, Giada at Home is shot inside a studio in L.A., unlike Everyday Italian, which was shot in rented homes in L.A. I HOPE a FNA reader wins the auction, goes to the set, and reports back to everyone that yes, indeed, it is a SET! ;-)

Giada & Todd Hit Up the Julie & Julia Premiere in L.A.

No silly, kissy-face shots for these two!


When Giada De Laurentiis & husband Todd Thompson hit the red carpet they keep their distance, as demonstrated at last night's L.A. premiere of Julie & Julia.

Unlike, say, showing up at the premiere of some Hollywood dud like Mad Money, it makes sense that Giada strutted her purple self down the red carpet at this premiere.

Why didn't Giada dress that cute little, curly-headed child of hers up as Julia Child and bring her along?!

[Photos]

Is Giada Moving to Europe?

In a recent interview with Redbook, Giada De Laurentiis said she'd love to live abroad with her family, adding "Todd and I have talked about Paris or Rome. I didn't plan on having this career, I just rode the wave. And now I'm contemplating where it leads."

Hmmm...but will you still come back to do your guest judging stints on The Next Food Network Star, G?!?


Maybe she'll just be sort of like Madonna circa the still-married-to-Guy-Ritchie years and claim to live abroad, but still be back in the U.S. all the time.

This is the same interview that Giada addresses the non-rumor that there was a rivalry between her and Rachael Ray, and even though she says there is none, G didn't pick RayRay as the Food Network personality she'd like to cook her last meal:

Instead she said:
"Ina Garten, the Barefoot Contessa. She makes this chocolate espresso cake with this special sea salt, and there's caramel in it too. Espresso, caramel, and chocolate. It has that perfect combination of sweet-salt smooth, sticky but rich, fudgy kind of flavor. That would be my last meal. That's all I would want."

You mean you don't want a crusty bread sammie stoup MYOTO for your last meal, G?!

Giada Says There's No Feud With Rachael, to which I say "Did Anyone Think There Was?"

Giada De Laurentiis is on the June cover of Redbook magazine, and while the cover's tagline is about her sharing some easy entertaining secrets, the story that's floating around the net (p.s. "Internets" is done) is all about Giada "dishing on Rachael Ray Feud."

Once you read the stories, Giada basically reveals there is no feud. So am I missing something? Did anyone ever think they were feuding?


"Do we hang out all the time? No. Are we best friends? No," says De Laurentiis. "But if you're not best friends, people assume you hate each other."

Do people think that Food Network is like a high school, with all the stars roaming the hallways every day, gossiping, catching up, and swapping stories? Giada has always been based in Los Angeles and Rachael's always been in New York. They tape their shows on opposite coasts. Why would they be best friends?

Giada also opens up about her revealing outfits:
"I think it's okay to cook and be sexy. Why not? I do get a lot of emails from women, saying to me, 'You don't have to show cleavage to get the male audience.' I don't [need to], [but] that's just how my body type is, and I'm very comfortable with what I have."

Food Network Nominated for 10 Daytime Emmys, Rachael Ray Gets Noms for Talkshow & Food Network Show

The 2009 Daytime Emmy nominations were announced today, and in what I think is a first for the awards show, Rachael Ray is nominated for both Outstanding Talk Show Host and Outstanding Lifestyle/Culinary Host in the same year.

The celebricook's daytime talk show, Rachael Ray, is also nominated again for Outstanding Talk Show (Entertainment). She won the Outstanding Talk Show category last year. Congrats Rach!

Also nominated for Outstanding Lifestyle/Culinary host is Ina Garten. This might be your year, Ina!


(My longstanding offer to be Ina's date to the Emmys still stands. You know Jeffrey has some speaking engagements/book writings/tent pitching he'll need to be doing that night, anyhow.)

Bobby Flay, PBS's Ming Tsai, and Style Network's Peter Ishkhans are the other nominees in the category.

Giada at Home & Guy's Big Bite were the Food Network nominees in the Outstanding Directing in a Lifestyle/Culinary Program, Giada's show, Grill It! with Bobby Flay & Barefoot Contessa also received nods for Outstanding Culinary Program.

And even though she lost last year, Sandra Lee is nominated again...










Yes, Aunt Sandy got nominated in the Outstanding Achievement in Hairstyling category again this year, plus in a new category: Outstanding Achievement in Makeup!

We're rooting for you, Aunt Sandy! You rock that hair and makeup! ;-)

Congrats to the nominees!

Giada De Laurentiis Shows off Baby Jade on TODAY

I feel like Giada De Laurentiis has kind of been laying low for a while. Sure, she does her show Giada at Home on Food Network and she contributes to the Today show pretty regularly, but it still seems like being on TV and promoting herself hasn't been her #1 priority lately.

But I get it know, after watching this video of Giada's appearance on Today this morning. Her little daughter Jade must be taking up all her time.


Love that she's finally sportin' some hair. She's so cute in this video.

Also good: the part at 3:19 where the camera zooms right into Giada's cleavage. Caught yah, cameramen!

Only 3 Shows In & Claire Robinson Already has $$$ In Her Eyes

"I wear aprons on every show. I could see that being a future product. Also I am really into knives, culinary knives. So I’d love to have my own brand of knives." -- 5 Ingredient Fix host Claire Robinson to The New York Times


Dang, girl. You only been on Food Network for three weeks and you're already talking about apron lines? Let's just see if you get renewed first, mmkay?

After reading the full article about Jon Rosen, the William Morris agent who claims Rachael Ray, Giada De Laurentiis, Bobby Flay, Katie Lee Joel, Daisy Martinez, Al Roker, and many other food people as clients, I'm not that surprised by Claire's financial aspirations.

After all, Rosen comes right out and says it: "I don’t view these people as chefs. I view them as lifestyle personalities who we can build great businesses for."

Which is true, most of them are not chefs. I don't have a problem with that. I don't even have a problem with someone trying to make money. Go on and sell those aprons, Claire! How's that going for crazypants Lisa Garza these days, by the way?

It just seems a bit presumptuous to me to be talking about product lines when you're barely out of the gate. At least pretend that you're on Food Network to, ya know, host a cooking show for a bit and that you don't have some ulterior motives.

You don't hear Sunny Anderson, who's seen far greater success so far on Food Network, yapping about wanting a line of cutting boards & hoodies, do you?

What do you think of Claire's eagerness? Should she have to prove herself first or just move right into the Claire-brand aprons and knives?

Giada's New Website Already Down?

Barely five months after Giada De Laurentiis launched her new website, it's already down, with just a message indicating a "brand new site" is on the way.


I am praying it's not the dinner plate theme again!

Who Wears It Best: Aretha's Hat

Aretha Franklin's inauguration hat is quickly becoming so last season, so I have to be quick and get this up before the week is up and Obama's into his first vacation.

So who wears Aretha's hat best? I tried to give a good sample of choices, even giving the Neelys a very special double-wide hat -- because those lovebirds can't let giant bows keep them apart!

Also, I'm fond of Bob Tuschman's little pillbox mini version.







Cute, huh?

Giada De Laurentiis Cooks With SJP and Letterman

I'm not sure how long ago this segment aired, but it was just put up on YouTube. It's kind of funny watching two size 0 celebrities cook up some veal for Dave. Well, Sarah Jessica Parker doesn't really "cook" per se... more like look at the food with confusion and bewilderment, almost like she knows what food is, but can't recall what one would do with it. (Describe this whole "eating" thing again, I imagine her asking.)


I love how surprised she is by Giada adding cream. "WOW! That's nice to see real fat!"

SJP is skilled with the lemon, though. Someone's been putting that in her water to make a healthy meal, I think! ;-) Get Tracy Gold on the line; we need an intervention.

Food Network Stars Helped FBI Agent Sound "Italian"

All the haters telling Giada to quit with the spagheeetee and proshootoh better think about stopping. Turns out retired FBI Agent Jack Garcia, while working undercover with the mafia,
turned to Giada De Laurentiis and Mario Batali (among others) to get his Italian pronunciations just right, according to the NY Post.

Giada gets the most grief for the pronunciations, which we know she's been teaching her baby Jade since she was in utero:



Ha! I'm not surprised, but I feel like if I was undercover I'd try a few more advanced language programs than Food Network.

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Okay, so the big thing I got to do today was attend the Oprah Winfrey Show taping at the Kennedy Center. No Food Network stars in the house, although I did see Top Chef's Spike Mendelsohn (soon to have a show on Food Network's new website) on GMA this morning. That's. about. it. Where's Sandra Lee when you need her?

Food Network Addict - 2008 Year In Review, Part II

And now... the exciting conclusion to my 2008 Year in Review

In July, I reclaimed my love for Mary Alice, the first Food Network star I ever interviewed...


...and subsequently started a fan club in her honor... I caught the MAJOR screwup on Food Network's website when it accidentally revealed the winner of The Next Food Network Star four days before it was to be announced...


... we learned of Aaron McCargo Jr's win (although many of us knew beforehand)... I interviewed the great Ted Allen... and I found the WORST article about Food Network ever.

In August, I interviewed Ask Aida herself, Aida Mollenkamp... we learned that Adam Gertler was getting his own show too... I was the first to post about Tyler Florence's new baby being born at 8:08 a.m. on 8/8/08...


... Rachael Ray was named the top-earning celebrity chef ($18 million last year)... the Duff Goldman minimate action figure was released, while I wondered when the Giada PEZ head would be coming out...

... and we saw Sunny Anderson eat a bite of the world's hottest pepper...


In September, I posted one of my most commented-on posts when I questioned Gordon Elliott's motives with his shows...


... we learned about Food Network partnering with Hearst to release a magazine... we saw Isaac Mizrahi be a big douche on Bruce Seidel's first episode of the FN Dish... Rachael Ray turned 40 and got a strange birthday message from her owner friend and business partner, Oprah Winfrey...


... we saw that Alex Guarnaschelli's The Cooking Loft was a great show... I revealed a big secret... and I had a chat with Giada De Laurentiis.


In October, we learned that Hillary Clinton turned down a request to appear on Paula Deen's show Paula's Party... I attended a very fun party at the New York City Wine & Food Festival and got to meet Anne Burrell, Giada, Susie Fogelson, and even got to see Bobby Flay bust some dance moves (by himself) on the dancefloor...



... I had an amazing birthday dinner at Alex Guarnachelli's Butter restaurant... I found Giada's new show to be very "nice"... and we saw Sandra Lee doing what she does best: dressing up in crazy costumes.


In November, the election was the big story, so I posted about which Food Network stars donated to campaigns... we learned that Kelsey Nixon is getting a Food Network show, too... when confronted by the paps, Guy Fieri said he "just does commercials for Friday's"...


... Ina Garten's Thanksgiving Special (I was a special guest) aired...


... we learned that Robert Irvine is coming back to Dinner: Impossible... we got a peek inside Giada's new home... and I found Rachael to be looking pretty good lately.


And finally, in December, we learned that Nigella is over being called the "domestic goddess"... I hoped I was NOT that "Guy" back in the day... Food Network offered tours of its studios... and I wished you all Happy Holidays!

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What a fun year 2008 turned out to be. It's hard to believe some of the things I had the chance to do this past year (party at the Versace mansion in Miami, talking to Sunny and Giada in New York, flying to Ina's house and getting a helicopter tour of the Hamptons, etc.), and can't really imagine how 2009 could be much better. We shall see, though.

I hope everyone has a great New Year's and awesome 2009. I really appreciate all the comments, emails, suggestions, and alerts (a lot of posts come about thanks to very perceptive readers). I hope to have manymore interviews, giveaways, and other fun stuff to keep you entertained throughout the entire coming year. Be safe tonight!

Food Network Addict - 2008 Year In Review, Part I

What a year it's been here at Food Network Addict!

In January, we finally got a look at Ina Garten's new barn & kitchen that's seen in her new episodes. Although I kinda miss the old kitchen (with the mysteriously empty room behind it) at times, this new one is so beautiful to just sit and gaze at, wishing I had two hidden Sub Zero fridges, three ovens, and an 18-foot kitchen island.


Giada De Laurentiis was barely showing her pregnancy back in January, as seen here in her appearance at the Mad Money premiere.


February was a BIG month at FNA.

We wondered who Paula Deen was hiding in the blurry photo behind her...


... we shared our opinions on the just-premiered show Down Home with the Neelys... I gave my review of Ultimate Recipe Showdown... we learned about Robert Irvine's resume embellishments... and I hit up a million fun events at the 2008 Food Network South Beach Wine & Food Festival.




In March, I posted an awesome interview I was able to do with Ace of Cakes' Duff Goldman, Mary Alice Yeskey, and Geof Manthorne and another with Tyler Florence.




...my girl Sandra Lee gave a great interview filled with fancy PowerPoint transitions...


March closed on a happy note with Giada giving birth to her first child, a girl named Jade.


I got in a good April Fool's joke this year with my announcement that Dave Lieberman would be taking over Emeril Live.


...I also did my first interview with Sunny Anderson... we learned of Paula Deen's intention to start a daytime talk show... Cindy McCain's "family recipes" were discovered to be stolen verbatim from Food Network's Rachael Ray and Giada De Laurentiis...


...when asked what she liked best about attending charity events, Sandra Lee told OK! Magazine "Open bar... am I allowed to say that?"


...Michael Symon was announced as Robert Irvine's replacement on Dinner: Impossible... and Food Network nabbed 8 Emmy nominations, including one for "Outstanding Achievement in Hairstyling" for Semi-Homemade with Sandra Lee (she lost).

In May, I posted about Amy Finley not coming back for a 2nd season of The Gourmet Next Door... I asked many times "Who Bobs It Better?"...


...Emeril made a quiet exit from Food Network (save for repeats and some eps of Essence of Emeril)... I scored an interview with Bob Tuschman... Rachael Ray drew some fire for sporting a scarf in a Dunkin Donuts ad that somehow deemed her a "terrorist sympathizer"... and I gave my review of the first episode of The Next Food Network Star, season 4.

In June, Lisa Garza (remember her?) reached out to this blog and tried to explain those illusive "three Cs"... we saw a Rachael Ray fan taking her love a bit too far...


...I scarfed down a cupcake with Sunny Anderson while in NYC... Rachael Ray closed on her home in the Hamptons, effectively locking Ina Garten up even tighter in her own Hamptons home...


...I railed on the trainwreck that was Mary Nolan... I gave Anne Burrell's new show an A+ rating... and we learned that Ellie Krieger is just like us...



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Stay tuned for Part II of my year in review. It's been fun looking back on all of the exciting happenings of 2008. What was your favorite memory?