Susannah Locketti

Where are you living/working now?

I still reside in Plymouth, MA with my sweet husband Chip, my two loving sons Evan, 9 and Aidan, 5 and our two favorite dogs Jackson and Diva. I currently teach adults with developmental disabilities and their caregivers how to cook and live healthier and more active lifestyles. I also serve as a TV Chef for Publix grocery stores in the South endorsing their Aprons Simple Meals program through 90-second cooking spots running on the noon news. I love their goal which is to bring families back to the dinner table again. I am still writing my food column for the Kingston Observer. "The Adventures of Suzy Suburb" is a monthly column that features where food takes a suburban wife and mother of two from day to day in middle class America. Check out my recent columns under the living section of their online version at www.kingstonobserver.com.

What have you been up to since NFNS?

Since NFNS, I've been enjoying life with my family and friends. I finally bought a new stove, converted to gas and invested in a great set of knives. I haven't had one nick, slice or finger mishap since I appeared on the show. I was inundated with personal chef and catering requests after the show, which was unexpected, but welcome. I've set off many fire alarms in people's homes, damaged many plates and stained many countertops, but luckily they keep asking me to come back! I also teach a ton of demo-style cooking classes, which is a load of fun. It's basically a fantastic bunch of crazy suburban women getting together on a Friday night for food, fun and wine without any hubbies or kids.

What did you enjoy most about being on NFNS?

I enjoyed getting the inside track on life inside Food Network, learning the art of food television and watching everyone at work perfecting food. I take cooking much more seriously now after learning from the best of the best at FN. I learned so much from all the behind-the-scenes FN chefs I shared my time with. Working with Marc, Bob, Susie and Gordon was great too. Their honesty and input was invaluable. The challenges (including a spot cooking with Harry Smith) were a highlight, as was meeting the Editor in Chief of Food and Wine for Media Night. Dana Cowin was bright, had a great entrepreneurial spirit, yet was so down to earth and warm.

Do you still keep in touch with other contestants?

Dan and Steve send me the funniest Christmas cards every year with their son Nate. I still have mine up, guys!! Hans and I keep up as often as two parents can. He recently mailed me copies of his cable cooking show for the classes I teach for adults with developmental disabilities. They loved watching him and it was great to see his face again. The entire class sent him thank you notes. I have watched Hans online through his blog bravely fight and beat cancer. He is such an inspiration. Michael keeps me on his mailing list for his crazy adventures which I love. I visited Michael in LA the summer after the show aired. Great times! Brook and I keep in touch by phone. He called me from a Florida Publix and said "Hey, I'm watching you on TV right now". It was so funny! Shout out to Harmony...where have you been hiding? We need to catch up!

Any behind-the-scene happenings from NFNS you can tell us?

I spent all of my per diem at the MAC counter on an outing with Deborah.

How did being on NFNS affect your culinary career?

I am so grateful for the opportunities Food Network provided me and my family. I was a small town suburban housewife with a little local cable show before NFNS. The show definitely provided my culinary career with so much positive television, print, web and radio exposure and opportunities. I was fortunate enough to meet David Tenzer, a former agent at Creative Artists Agency, who steered me in the right direction and found projects that represented my abilities. Working with Publix grocery stores encouraging families to get back to the table together is sheer joy and had it not been for NFNS, they would never have known who I was. I was also able to do my first nationally syndicated daytime appearance with The Tony Danza Show. Tony was such a thoughtful guy, a real pro and the best looking grandpa I have ever laid eyes on! I'd love to be on Ellen next...imagine the chance to cook it up with that woman! Ellen is my comedy idol! Plus, Rachael and I need to cook side-by-side just to freak viewers out. The NFNS experience was a blast! My only question is "When do I get to play Simon as a judge?"

What advice would you offer the next round of contestants?

My best advice is to take risks, do your homework and show off your personality more than your food. Be yourself, however quirky you may be. I was so reserved on Season One. I took the competition too seriously and should have just relaxed and been able to show America who I really was.

When you look back, would you have done anything differently?

I would have been more myself. I'm an off-the-wall quirky mother, wife, friend and cook. I wish I had lightened up my personality instead of my food to let FN and America see the real side of me rather than the serious, "all business" competitor that I was. I represent the average middle class cook with kids, yet I want my food to look and taste expensive (a white collar palette on a blue collar budget). That is how I would describe my food philosophy if asked right now.

Are you recognized from your time on NFNS?

I was recognized as "myself" in airports a lot right after the show aired and once in Georgia at an eatery by a couple pointing to my hand mouthing the words "How's your finger?".

I am mistaken for Rachael Ray 24/7 more than I am for me. Whenever I fly or travel and have my FN hat on, people ask for autographs or say "Hi Rachael!" It is the craziest thing. My son asked me why I was on the cracker boxes in the grocery stores the other day. The worst part is we really do look so much alike. I think people thought I tried to be like her on the show, but it just turns out we are two very similar people, with similar personalities and both happen to have a career in food television. I must get on the phone with Rachael soon to coordinate our hair for 07/08 to avoid the constant remarks.

I did a cooking demonstration at the local high school recently and a rumor went around the school that it was Rachael Ray coming. When I got there, if the kids had a question they would start it with the name Rachael. I finally said "Is this a joke?" They really thought I was Rachael Ray visiting their school. I was also in the dentist's office and heard the receptionists talking about Rachael Ray being at the elementary school the day before (it was my son's elementary school which I was at the day before). We also had a new neighbor that moved in who invited me to her cookie swap. The women there were telling me how they saw me on the cover of TV Guide and I'm thinking, "Huh?"

What was the greatest lesson you learned from your time on NFNS?

Definitely to be myself in front of the camera and not be afraid to let my true personality shine through. I also learned a ton about proper food preparation while respecting food and the art of cooking. Cooking is no longer a hobby for me, it is my life and I love sharing that life and skill with others in a positive, real-life and comical way.