Chef profile: Giada de Laurentiis

By admin October 7, 2012 17:17

Giada de Laurentiis is the charming host of the Food Network’s Everyday Italian, Weekend Getaways, and Giada at Home. A private chef and caterer in Los Angeles, Giada (pronounced Jah-dah) had no intention of getting into the family business of entertaining (she is the granddaughter of the famous producer Dino de Laurentiis).

Growing Up:

Giada was born in Rome, Italy in 1970. At the age of seven, her family moved to southern California. She attended UCLA where she attained a degree in social anthropology.

Culinary Career:

Giada started her culinary career by attending Le Cordon Bleu in Paris. She returned to Los Angeles to work in a number of restaurants including Wolfgang Puck’s Spago. Later, Giada started her own catering company, GDL Foods.

After a piece in Food & Wine magazine, Giada was noticed by Food Network executives. She was given her own show in 2003, Everyday Italian. In 2004, Giada teamed up with Mario Batali to host the TV special, An Italian Christmas with Mario and Giada. Giada recently published her first cookbook, Everyday Italian: 125 Simple and Delicious Recipes (2005)

The Food Network’s Giada’s Weekend Getaways debuted in January 2007 and Giada at Home in October 2008. Giada can also be seen as a judge on the Next Food Network Star and as a spokesperson for Barilla pasta (Giada has four product baring her name: Extra-virgin Olive Oil, Balsamic Vinegar, Tuscan Herb Mix, and Sea Salt with Fresh Lemon Zest).

Family: Three is a Magic Number:

In 2003, Giada married Todd Thompson, a fashion designer for Anthropologie. Their first child, a girl, was born March 29, 2008, Jade Marie De Laurentiis Thompson.