Who is Rachael Ray? Everything You Need to Know

Quick Facts

Also Known As: Rachael Domenica Ray

Age: 54 Years, 54 Year Old Females

Family:

Spouse/Ex-: John M. Cusimano

father: James Ray

mother: Elsa Scuderi

siblings: Emmanuel Ray, Maria Ray

Born Country: United States

Chefs TV Presenters

Height: 5'3" (160 cm), 5'3" Females

Ancestry: French American, Italian American

U.S. State: New Yorkers

Founder/Co-Founder: The Yum-O! Organization

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Childhood & Early Life

Rachael Ray was born in Glen Falls, New York on 25th August 1968. However, she spent her childhood in Lake Gorge, New York.

Her family was in restaurant business. As a child she was exposed to various cooking techniques, styles of cooking and cuisines. Hence love for food came naturally to Rachael.

In 1995, she moved to New York City and started working at Macy’s on the candy counter. She moved on to manage fresh foods department at Macy’s. She worked there for around two years.

After Macy's, she helped open a gourmet market place in New York, ‘Agata & Valentina’. She worked on the project as a store manager and a buyer.

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Career

After starting her career at Macy’s, Rachael moved back to New York upstate to manage pubs & restaurants at Sagamore resorts on Lake George. Thereafter, she was recruited by Cowan & Lobel in Albany to be their food buyer & later a ‘chef’.

In 2005, she launched new life style magazine ‘Every Day with Rachael Ray’. She works as the ‘editor in chief’ of this magazine. Though focused on great food, this magazine covers more than food, food destinations and entertainment.

During 2006, she became the spokesperson for Nabisco products. Her recipes were printed on the boxes of these products.

In 2007, she launched a one hour, syndicated television show ‘Rachael Ray’. It was one of the top ranked daytime TV show. During her shows, she has coined catchy phrases such as ‘EVOO – Extra Virgin Olive Oil’, which went viral.

The same year, ‘WestPoint Home’ launched sheets, blankets and kitchen apparels designed by Rachael. Later, she added bed and bath line to these products. She also rolled out kitchen utensils and cutlery brand.

She also endorsed ‘Dunkin Donuts’ coffee brand in 2007. The same year, she signed a deal with AT&T to provide ‘Recipes on the Run’ to wireless subscribers.

In 2008, her television series ‘Rachael’s Vacation’ aired on Foods Network. This show was about five part food travelogue shot in various European countries.

In 2008, she became executive producer of a Latin cooking show ‘Viva Daisy’. However, this program was short lived

The praise which her show received made her go for a syndication sequel. In 2010 she launched this sequel.

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In 2012, she participated in a celebrity cook off reality show ‘Rachael vs Guy’.

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Major Works

As a way to increase grocery sale during holidays, Rachael started a series of cooking classes ’30 minutes Mediterranean Meal’. This show really got lot of popularity & The CBS station in Albany-Schenectady; WRGB-TV signed her on to do a weekly "30-Minute Meals" segment for the evening news. This show was a huge hit & was nominated for two regional Emmy in its first year. Rachael never looked back after this show

Rachael turned this ’30 minutes meal’ concept in to a best-selling series of cookbook including 30-Minute Meals, Comfort Foods, Veggie Meals, The Open House Cookbook, Cooking Round The Clock, Cooking Rocks!, 30-Minute Meals for Kids, Rachael Ray, Rachael Ray 365: No Repeats A Year of Deliciously Different Dinners, Express Lane Meals, 2-4-6-8: Great Meals for Couples or Crowds, Just in Time: All-New 30-Minute Meal, plus Super-Fast 15-Minute Meals and Slow It Down 60-Minute Meals. Rachael’s cookbooks have appeared in New York Times bestsellers list in the first month of their sale.

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Awards & Achievements

In 2006, Rachael’s ‘30 minutes meal’ show received Emmy award for ‘Outstanding Service Show’. Her television shows have won three ‘Daytime Emmy Awards’.

In 2007, ‘Every Day with Rachael Ray’ was named ‘Launch of the year’ by Advertising Age & by Advertising Week.

In 2008, ‘Rachael Ray’ won Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Talk Show Entertainment.

She received ‘Favorite TV Chef’ People’s choice award in 2011.

Personal Life & Legacy

In 2005, Rachael got married to a lawyer, John Cusimano, in Italy. He is a lead singer of rock band ‘The Cringe’. She owns homes in Lake Luzerne, New York, and Manhattan's Greenwich Village.

She spends most of her free time at her cabin in the Adirondacks with her husband & her beloved pit bull Isaboo.

Humanitarian Work

In 2007, she has launched a nonprofit organization, Yum-o!. This organisation empowers kids and their families to develop healthy relationships with food and cooking. Yum-o! works in three areas - educating kids and their families about cooking, feeding hungry American kids and funding cooking education and scholarships.

She also has rolled out a line of dog food ‘Nutrish’. The money raised out of this is given to charity to rescue at-risk animals.

Trivia

Though she has created a food empire, she considers her life as a total accident since she never planned her course of new projects.

Rachael Ray Biography