A game I like to play with my family is to see how far we can get into the day before I see her annoying mug. If I avoid the TV, magazines, grocery stores, book stores, or driving on interstates with signage, I can usually make it a while. I think my record was making it till 6:40pm when I was doing some primitive camping in Big Bend.
I can explain to you why someone might gaze at a Subaru rather than a Ferrari. Because we can afford a Subaru. We cannot afford a Ferrari.
Rachel Ray, whether this is true or not, exudes a certain amount of “real girl” that makes many guys think, “Hey, she might actually go out with me!” So the fantasy becomes much more real. She doesn’t act as if the world revolves around her like many celebrities do. She does not act as if her job is soooooo important. So many actors and actresses behave as if they are doing such serious “work.” Rachel never seems to behave in that fashion. She seems much more down to earth. Whether that is actually true or not, I do not know. But if she is faking, she has the act down cold.
Plus, I think Rachel Ray is more attractive than either of the women you mentioned. Maybe it is because she is not pencil thin.
I know Anthony Bourdain is maybe not the best reference when talking shit about Rachael Ray, but I saw a “No Reservations” episode of his where they just happened to go to a restaurant that Ray’s “$40 a Day” show had been at not too long ago. He questioned their waitress for details, and she looked like she was working hard to attempt to be polite (and avoid getting sued or something) while still expressing her distaste for the woman’s behavior.
As for Bourdain, I’ll give him a pass on being boorish on his shows/in his writing because at least he’s coming out in the open with it, not acting nice-nice for the camera and then being a jerk elsewhere. Plus he’s just really damned funny and intelligent, and I can’t see Ray keeping up with him intellectually at all. She’s a very average skill home cook, which she admits, who happens to have a “big” personality and a lot of energy, and those would be fine except I can’t fucking stand the overexposure she’s getting lately. Stupid little nicknames for things, stupid catchphrases, and the way she practically yells to project her voice, ugh. If she’d stick to her “30 Minute” show I’d be able to handle her much better, but I can’t get away from her these days.
Gotta love a woman who can work “ravishing” into a cooking show. And “solitary pleasures”. And…oh, hell, I lost count of the innuendos!
My husband is crazy insane hot for Nigella. I can’t say I blame him.
Nigella is great with her little sly asides that she doesn’t dumb down for the audience (as most Food Network hosts seem encouraged to do). I was particularly amused by her describing something as “Particularly pleasing to the soul – if I were to believe in such a thing, that is.” Imagine Rachel or Paula working in an atheism crack? Me neither.
? I can’t remember a show where Sara didn’t mess up at least one recipie somehow, shrug, and tell the viewers “eh, that happens.” Hardly anal retentive – that sort of thing would drive me nuts, and I’m just an “okay” cook.
I suspect her spice cabinet is organized the same way Rachel’s is – organized by her production staff so she can find what she needs for the show, quickly. And since Sara often didn’t know what she’d be making beforehand (e.g., on her shows where they dumped bags of fresh produce and random meats on her counter to cook), she probably had to be a bit more organized than “everything stacked right up front” 40MM.
My mom loved Sara’s recipies, but I’ve never made 'em – too much for living-single me.
Feh. Nigella has that older Kelly LaBrock sexiness going on, I grant you, but I’d choose Rachel Ray over her any day. In my fantasies RR appreciates, wants to please, and will do “stuff”. Nigella, on the other hand, steps on your foot, doesn’t apologize, and curses you for scuffing her heel.
I guess it really is food porn… and here I thought people watched the shows to get recipes and cooking tips. I had no idea men were essentially jacking off to a woman making pot roast. Gives new meaning to the phrase, “dinner’s ready!”
I love Nigella. The food generally looks pretty good too. I notice my father is transfixed when she’s on the TV. The only other time I’ve noticed this is when that British bird…whatsherface…Titanic lady everyone calls fat but she has the enormous jubilees…he seems to have a soft spot for her too. Kate something or the other.
Rachael Ray…I don’t know if she’s a nice person or not. But my family and I watch that show to sh*ttalk the recipes. It’s seriously all Ethnic Lite…kind of Cheesecake Factory style cooking where everything is “[insert ethnicity of choice] inspired” and all tastes alike.
me too. But I have to give the edge to paula, that fat cow. I know she’s southern, but I’m positive she exagerates her accent. Phony… At least RR’s good to look at…
I think so too. I’ve know people from Savannah before, and none of them made oil and milk into two-syllable words. :mad:
I am way late, but just wanted to chime in that she sounds like a ‘Lucky Strike’ smoker.
Yeah, not a fan either.
The last two days I’ve had dinner at my boyfriend’s apartment. During dinner we watched Rachel Ray on the Food Network. I actually kind of like her. She’s energetic but seems sincere and like she’s really having fun. Also I think she’s pretty. My boyfriend can’t stand her but I was like, hey, I’m way hyper like that too and I also have one of those husky smoker’s voices. He’s like, well, I could only take one of you at a time and I don’t actually hang out with her so it’s okay.
Also, I like her recipes because they look easy and festive and I like to watch food things in general.
Too funny! 
Dude, but she’s the whole deal. Call me a crazy motherfucker if you want, but Rachael Ray gives me more spank material than a whole rack full of porn… 
Eugh. Next time RayRay makes something with white sauce on 40MM there’s just no way this thread won’t come to mind, is there?
Or a pie. There’s something about Rachael…
I may become anorexic due to this thread!
I wouldn’t go quite that far, but I’d be lying if I said other, equally salacious thoughts didn’t come to mind while watching her shows. RR does it for me. As you said, she’s the package. She’s cute, perky, cutesy, has a real-girl attitude and a body to match…and she can cook. What’s not to love?
I actually look forward to the Rayisms. When she says “delish” I actually believe the dish in question is good, but when she says “duh-LISH” (accent on the “lish”) as her eyes roll up and her head lols back a little, I want to run right out and buy all the ingredients and make that freaking dish…and then have some sex.
After reading this thread I see now that the boss of me is not the only woman with an inexplicable hatred of Rachel Ray.
Speaking of Paula Dean, her accent may very will be put on, but I recently saw her on and old episode of “Follow That Food.” Her hair was steel gray instead of white, and she was definitely not the star of the show. She spoke the same way that she does today.
I get tired of Ray-Ray (as we like to call her) sometimes, but I’ve made plenty of her recipes. Most of them are pretty good!
I want Paula Dean to be my grandma. Where can I put in the necessary paperwork?
You can have her. She is possibly the most annoying person on television. I hate the way she plays the “dumb ol’ girl” card all the time. I remember watching the one where she was making peach taffy with a man who does it for a living. She dumped nearly the entire bottle of peach flavoring into it, and the man was visibly upset, telling her it was really strong and cost a fortune. Did it matter? Nope, she just kept pouring it in. What a chef!
She also doesn’t really cook. Often, her dishes are half put together when she starts, and she just puts it in and takes it out of the oven. I can no longer stand to watch her. Not to mention that exaggerated accent is like nails on a chalkboard.
Used to like Rachael Ray, but her little quirks get annoying after awhile. Also, do her tits look really far apart to anyone else? It’s weirdly distracting, not in a good way. My husband says she looks like she’d have ugly tits, like mosquito bites on opposite sides of her torso with big nipples. Upon examination, I can see where he’s getting that from. She also should lay off the Marlboros-- she sounds like a laryngectomy waiting to happen.
That above paragraph sounded meaner than it is… I don’t hate RR. I like some of her recipes, but her schtick is a bit cartoonish and overexposed now. And I am trying to stop looking at her scary tits. 