Name: Rachael Domenica Ray Birthdate: August 25, 1968 Place of birth: Glens Falls, N.Y Where she grew up: Lake George, N.Y. Background: Her Italian-American family originally came from Sicily, Italy Website: RachaelRay.com
How her culinary career started: At Macy's Marketplace in New York, first at the candy counter and then as the manager of the fresh foods department. After Macy's, Rachael helped to open Agata & Valentina, the prestigious New York gourmet marketplace, where she was the store manager and buyer.
Her first book: In 1998, she met with an independent Manhattan publisher about turning her bundle of recipes into a book. 30 Minute Meals ended up being produced that same year and sold 10,000 copies locally.
The birth of the 30 Minute Meals concept: While working at a food equipment store in Albany as a buyer and cook, Rachael began a series of cooking classes to increase grocery sales during the holidays. The 30 Minute Meals classes became so popular that the local media sent a feature reporter to cover the phenomenon, and the following week, an Albany TV station asked Rachael to do a weekly 30 Minute Meals segment for the evening news.
How she arrived at Food Network: The same day a Today show producer saw her book and had her come on the show, a Food Network executive heard her on an upstate public radio show. 30 Minute Meals premiered on Food Network, November 17, 2001 at 11:30am. $40 A Day premiered April 24, 2002, followed by Inside Dish November 5, 2004 and Tasty Travels on August 26, 2005.
Her wedding day: In September, 2005, Rachael flew about 100 friends to Tuscany to celebrate her marriage to John Cusimano.
Her magazine: On October 19, 2005, her food and lifestyle magazine, Every Day With Rachael Ray, hit store shelves, followed a week later by her 11th book, 365: No Repeats, which offers a different dish for every day of the year.
Her dog's name: Isaboo
Rachael Rayisms: E.V.O.O. (extra-virgin olive oil), stoup (a cross between a stew and soup), yum-o, sammies (instead of sandwiches)
