"I mean, how many people out there call it "EVOO" now?"

Far too many.

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My hubby says "EVOO" but always with a snear and an evil laugh - does that count?

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100 most influential. Really? Ok. Racheal rubs me the wrong way, but she seems like a nice person and its hard to argue with success.

By the way, EVOO is a wonderful restaurant in Inman Square, near Boston.

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I love Rachel Ray and I know alot of people can't stand her, But everyone does know who she is and like it or not she has influenced the way millions cook instead of hitting the fast food places.

But I never say EVOO, I love her but I do draw the line.

I just want to know what kind of vitamins she takes.

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ICK!!! It makes me sick to think that Rachael Ray is influencing so many people. I don't like to think of everyone getting all perky and cutesy-poo like her. It gives me the willies. And if you're looking for someone to influence your work in the kitchen, I can think of many better role models. And I can't imagine any of them trying out the Ray-esque giggle.

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I think, as the snippet of the article said, she has had a big impact on how people cook at homes. Her 30 minute meals and making tasty food on a small budget are some of the things that I think set her apart. I know that my parents love her and that I've had more than a few people I know start cooking more, instead of eating fast food, b/c she has shown them they can make something in the same amount of time it would take them to go to McDonald's (providing your local McDonald's isn't around the corner).

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Though cutesy and giggly anything can get on my nerves, I can't argue with someone who gets Americans into the kitchen, less scared of cooking and away from only pre-packaged foods. As much as I love Mario Batali, his cookbooks don't help you whip up dinner on a Wednesday night after a long day of work, and many ingredients can't be found in your neighborhood grocery. I like that she encourages people to feel free not to measure everything and realize that they can eat better on a more regular basis.

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Hey, everyone is entitled to their personal feelings on Rachael Ray, but should give credit where credit is due. She has brought more people to the table with her 30 minute meals!!

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for americans who wants to be served everytime - rachel rays says not to be intimidated. americans - do not have the culture of cooking food at home. Many americans even poke fun of people cooking food at home. They say they are too stingy to go out and eat.

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She should be sued for fraud. Her "recipes" are far from healthful. She uses copious amounts of EVOOextravirginoliveoil in every dish she throws together. Then the vile concoctions are covered with mountains of cheese. She should be shunned for her baltant contributions to the country's lardassification problem. Her combinations of ingredients and "cooking" methods yield a finished product that so resembles vomit that it is completely unfit for human consumption, let alone house pets. No concepts of proper food handling and sanitation are ever used. She is the queen cross contamination. She's the patron saint of salmonella and ecoli.

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Rachel Ray completes the Food Network's transformation from "TV channel about actually cooking food" to "TV channel in which various pseudo-food-related-sort-of-celebrities do stuff you wouldn't find fascinating if your life depended on it." Even poor Alton Brown is being shunted off on the road, riding a motorcycle, to channel Jack Kerouac or something.

Rachel Ray has no talent. Her food is neither fast, nor healthful, nor tasty, nor inspiring, nor edible. And anyone who thinks she's cute should be sentenced to an 83-hour cross-country car-ride with Bobby Flay.

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I don't understand what is wrong with mean people. I love Rachael Ray!! Her shows and recipes are so fun! If you don't like her, why even watch or pay attention. I can't imagine having enough time on my hands to devote to something I didn't love, like on those horrid blogs in livejournal, etc. what are those people doing that is remotely productive?? life is too short to just be so mean!!

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Oh, you people are so mean, mean, mean! Give me a break and grow the hell up! This annoying, screeching, obnoxious, spastic wreck is one of the worst cooks I have ever seen. She got lucky by sucking people in with the fraudulent 30 minute meals idea. I truly feel sorry for today's American children if Rachel Ray's oil soaked garbage is what they are slapping on the table most nights. No wonder there is an obesity epidemic in this country, and particularly with young children. If she has had any influence whatsoever, that would be it, unfortunately!

It boggles my mind that so many people think Ray's horrible recipes are the only way to get dinner on the table in 30 minutes. My wife and I can get any decent meal on the table in 30 to 45 minutes, during the week. We save more elaborate recipes for weekends when we have the time and want to leisurely cook a nice meal together. There is no magic secret to what Ray does, she has just fooled millions of unintelligent people who don't know any better.

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Rachael's comment about having your pots waiting for you instead of you waiting for them has saved me loads of time.

Thank you...

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Just want to say that I dislike all critics, professional and those who are legends in their own minds.
Go Rachael

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Rachel Ray is a hard-working, smart, charismatic woman who has amazing accomplishments under her belt. If you don't enjoy watching her shows or reading her cookbooks, then don't do it! Let her fans benefit from her offerings. Go Rachel!

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RACHEL,

I AM RECOVERING AIDS VICTUM. 4 YEAR ACCOMA. I HAVE A GAY LOVER WHO I WOULD LIKE TO MARRY. I KNOW THIS TO MUCH TO ASK BUT I THOUGHT YOU COULD DO A PROGRAM AND COVER OUR MARRAGE. WE ARE BOTH VERY ATTRACKIVE. I AM WRITING A COOK BOOK WITH FAMILY PICTURES. I AM 100% ITALIAN DISIPITE THE LAST NAME.
I LOVE THE WAY YOU COOK. JUST LIKE MY MOTHER WHO USED TO COOK FOR HER FATHERS RESTERUANT. MY SISTER HAS 3 RESTERUANTS FT LAUDERDALE FLORIDA. (25 FLAVORS OF WINGS.
I AM CURENTLY GOING TO CULINARY ARTS SCHOOL AT AIF IN LOS ANGELES.CHEFS THAT I TALK TO SAY THAT I NEED COOKING EXPERIENCE MORE. I HAVE TRAVELED TO 22 COUNTRIES COLLECTING RECIPICES ALONG THE WAY.
I WOULD LOVE TO JUST HAVE A CHANCE TO TALK TO YOU FOR A SECOND. OR EVEN HAVE YOU OVER FOR DINNER.
ME AND MY LOVER ARE BUILODING A 1.2 MILLION $ HOUSE.
SORRY ABOUT RAMBLING. ALSO I AM A SPECIAL EVENT PRODUCER. IN 1986 I WAS VOTED BEST IN THE WORLD.

LOVE YOU TO DEATH,

DONALD

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Ok... I've been reading though all the comments. People are certainly entitled to their opinions of people and things that they do. However, I do find it ironic that those who criticize Rachael Ray as being a fraud for cooking "healthy" meals and insinuating the fact that her meals have the potential to lead to the obesity problem in this country are somewhat misinformed. Yes, her meals do have quite a bit of cheese in them. So use the low fat or no fat kind. And as for the olive oil part... olive oil is part of a healthy diet. It has been proven through science to increase your good cholesterol, which in turn decreases your low cholesterol. I cook with it all the time, and my "bad" cholesterol is at its lowest.

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