"chefs and champagne" news and stories

Martha Stewart has been out of jail and thriving since 2005, following her insider trading criminal case. But as part of a 2006 settlement of the related civil case brought against her by the U.S. Securities and Exchange commission, she agreed to a five year bar from serving as a director of a public company, and a prohibition from participating in financial reporting, financial disclosure, and other activities.

Slashfood caught up with Martha backstage at the James Beard Foundation's "Chefs and Champagne" event in Sagaponack, New York, and she talked to us about food matters – how impressed she was with the array of chefs at the event, her new TV cooking show "Martha Bakes," and her dogs' blog – and she did answer a question about whether she will assume a directorship at Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia once the five year ban expires next year.

According to Yahoo! Finance, she controls about 50% of MSLO's stock and about 90% of voting stock. Before being convicted of four counts of obstructing justice and lying to investigators about a stock sale, Martha was CEO and Chairwoman of MSLO. A return to those roles would write a triumphant end to a dark chapter of her life.