"martha stewart" 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.

World, meet Martha.

The queen of refined living is taking a few of her most recognizable brands and extending them into the U.K. and the Middle East this fall. As reported by the Independent, Stewart has a television show and four magazines in the works for the United Kingdom, including her flagship publication Martha Stewart Living.

Also scheduled for sometime later this year, is the launch of Everyday Food and Martha Stewart Weddings in Dubai, with distribution slated for several other Middle Eastern countries. "By October, we will have a total of eight international editions of our magazines in circulation in more than a dozen countries," said Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia's chairman Charles Koppelman in a conference call (via Seeking Alpha). "These developments are not in an [and] of themselves game changing, but they signal our commitment to the international market place and the opportunity we see here for our company. As we often say, media lease and merchandising follows."

Emeril Lagasse, who became one of the first stars on the fledgling Food Network and introduced "Bam!" to the popular lexicon, nearly went broke a few years ago. His unlikely knight-in-shining-armor was none other than domestic diva, Martha Stewart.

Hurricane Katrina was the culprit. Lagasse has three New Orleans restaurants and lost at least one million dollars, with profits dropping by a third. Also, his 17-year run on Food Network was over. Adding insult to injury: his Mississippi home was destroyed. It was precipitous times for the celebrity chef who opened his first restaurant over twenty years ago. But in 2008 Martha swept off her white horse (with a perfectly braided mane) and purchased the rights to Lagasse's empire of cookbooks, televisions shows and kitchen products for $45 million in cash and $5 million in stock.

"Mad Hungry: Feeding Men & Boys"
By Lucinda Scala Quinn
Artisan - 2009
Buy it on Amazon

Many cookbooks rely on a theme. Sometimes, it's an over-arching concept, like all of French cuisine. Other times, it's a little more niche, like, say, cupcakes or bacon. But Lucinda Scala Quinn went a totally new direction for her latest cookbook, "Mad Hungry: Feeding Men & Boys." More than just a theme, she introduces us to a way of life, one where feeding a ravenous family -- without picking up the phone for takeout -- can be quick, fun and delicious.

As the Executive Director of Food for Martha Stewart, Quinn knows how to deliver impressive meals. But her recipes here come across completely differently than the fussy pages of "Martha Stewart Living." Steps are stripped down; flavors are dialed up. This approach makes for a revolutionary and yet straightforward approach to not just getting dinner on the table, but truly serving something that meets the demands of big appetites with more than just hefty portions.

There's no doubt Rachael Ray made headlines more than once this year and who could forget about Paula Deen getting hit in the face with a ham? You clicked and we tallied -- here are this years most viewed Slashfood stories.

10. Martha Stewart Weighs In on Rachael Ray

9. Paula Deen Hit in the Face with a Ham

8. Fuggedaboudit: Carl's Jr. Stops Mob Ad Campaign

7. Woman Finds Frog in Bag of Lettuce

6. Grilled Chicken Lawsuit Accuses McDonald's of Serving Cancer-Causing Meat