I think Rachael is the real deal... I also think Emeril is the real deal too. I love people who are truly passionate about what they do... I just wish Paul Prudhomme had received the hype that Emeril has received. Every one of his cook books kicks ass.... I own 2 of Rachael's books and they are perfect for weekday cooking with the family.. Now if I can only find a woman like Rachael for my very own....

There is a great article on slate.com about her today. Somebody must have read you're blog http://www.scrantiques.com/rachael/

Previously I did not enjoy her show, but I don't know what happened, she is realy cute to watch now, and her show proved to be useful, although I use more than 30 mins to cook. The one I haven't changed my mind about disliking her and the show is that overweight Southern lady who eats her desserts and sauces always leaving a leftover in her teeth and outside her lips, plus her food looks disgustingly fattening.

Watch out for the Philadelphia episode of $40-a-day: she goes a dollar-some over.

Also, Awayken, we seem to be complete opposites when it comes to cooking shows: I can't STAND Everyday Italian. :) I think it is the camera work, though I don't mind the similar style on Nigella's show or The Naked Chef. It might, then, be her narration in between dishes, when she sits on the couch. Or the way she pronounces "spaghetti" (I've never heard anyone, not even an Italian person, pronounce it that way, though maybe it is a regional thing).

I love 30 Minute Meals, and I do have a bit of a crush on Rachael Ray. The thing is that I have no use for any show that requires ingredients that I can't get on a standard trip to the local grocery store that I frequent, and I don't like cooking shows that call for items that I am sure I'd only ever use for that dish. In Canada, there is a guy on TV called Rob Feenie. I tuned in tonight and he was putting truffles in some food he was making. "Great! I am sure I can pick up truffles down at the corner store in a pinch!" says I sarcastically. Luckily Mr. Feenie had a solution: you can just get TRUFFLE OIL which I am sure is a lot easier to find. Bleh. Rachael Ray's meals are great, because they are easy to make, and quick, which is a lot more important to me than impressing people with my cooking. The other guy I like (on Food Network Canada, not sure if he is in the US too) is Rob Rainford on License to Grill, and also, of course, Bob Blumer, who is just fun.

The more I see of Rachael Ray, the more I'm convinced that what we see on screen isn't "fake" or "put on." She is just a cheery person who is passionate about here job(s). and, she is damn prolific.

yeah, Lawson that's what I said... I have to agree that Inside Dish is just awful and I would love to see Rachael going over her 40$ one day maybe she could do the dishes or something... Sandra is really bad but that guy Batali or something like that (the one with the Italian cooking show on the mornings) he is the worst of them all. Emeril is getting me sick with all his repetitions "BAM BAM" "I don't know about you guys but where I get my meat it doesn't get come seasoned" and why the hell do people have to applaud every single time he adds something to the dish(especially when it is garlic)??? Alton Brown's the best of them all, Bobby Flay used to be great. The guy from Low carb and lovin it(somethin like that) is another horror of food network it is actually painful to watch that show but the recipes are great. Best shows on food network: good eats, food finds, 30 minutes meals

Just personally, I find her really annoying and fake. I like the show, and the concept, but I really have to watch it on mute. But, if it makes you feel better, I have no idea why she annoys me so much. I really enjoy "Everyday Italian", though...

*cough* Nigella Lawson. I quite like 30 Minute Meals, as long as I'm in the mood for Rachael Ray's intense perkiness. But $40 A Day is very repetitive, and she doesn't usually say anything interesting about the food ("yum", "yummy" etc isn't good enough). And Inside Dish is just cringeworthingly bad: 30 minutes of inane C-list suck-up blather, interspersed with Rachael's giggles. (I don't know how they got Morgan Freeman on -- presumably because he wanted to plug his restaurants -- but even he looked slightly embarrassed to be there.) If you're looking for "Food Network hosts we love to hate", try Sandra "Semi-Homemade" Lee. (Or Emeril, for that matter: I'm sure he can cook, but he just grates on me.) Alton Brown, however, rocks.