Aubrie Pick / Clarkson Potter Publishers via The New York Times
Giada De Laurentiis, a Food Network host and cookbook author, is shown in Rome. She recommends visitors to Italy enjoy pizza bianca in Rome, gelato in Florence and pasta near Naples, and she likes to stay at the Monteverdi hotel inTuscany.
By Kathryn O’shea Evans, New York Times News Service
Monday, May 7, 2018 | 2 a.m.
Both food and fame are in Giada De Laurentiis’ family history.
Long before Giada De Laurentiis became a star on the Food Network, beginning in 2002 — she has had nine shows, including “Giada in Italy” — her grandfather, Dino De Laurentiis, produced Federico Fellini’s 1954 drama “La Strada,” the 1973 film “Serpico” and also owned an early Eataly progenitor called DDL Foodshow in New York City and Beverly Hills, California.
After graduating from the University of California, Los Angeles, with a degree in anthropology, Giada De Laurentiis perfected her cooking at Le Cordon Bleu in Paris and ran her own catering business. The celebrity chef has two restaurants in Las Vegas — Giada at the Cromwell and Pronto by Giada at Caesars Palace.
De Laurentiis, who was born in Rome, has written nine cookbooks. Her latest, “Giada’s Italy: My Recipes for La Dolce Vita,” is a deep dive into some of the country’s best dishes, adapted for American home cooks.
Following are edited excerpts from a conversation with De Laurentiis.
Q: How does your dream trip to Italy begin?
A: I usually start in Rome, because that’s where my family lives. When I land, the first thing I have is warm pizza bianca with fresh mozzarella inside. My mom usually gets it for me, but a lot of places have it, like Antico Forno Roscioli — which means “old oven” in Italian.
What’s your go-to gelato stop (and your order)?
Gelateria De Neri, in Florence, is a good one. I love espresso, pistachio, and fig and rum, something I started having when I lived in France.
Which region of Italy is underrated?
Sicily is the undiscovered part of Italy that people don’t go to very often, and then the outskirts of Naples. The government doesn’t spend as much money in tourism there, but it honestly has some of the best food, the best farmers markets. For instance — I’m going into a tangent — but my grandfather’s family had a pasta factory right outside of Naples. His parents made pasta and sauces, and he and his siblings would go door to door to sell it when he was a child. That whole area was all pasta factories, but when I say that, you can’t think of the factory the way you think of a factory in Detroit. Think of a building, and part of the building they make pasta all day. They hang it on the roof, OK? Like on clothes lines. And then they live in that same building. There’s blocks and blocks of that. Setaro is one of those companies that’s still family run and still in that same exact building. It’s phenomenal. They don’t have modern machines — it’s cut with bronze cutters — so they can’t make as much; the texture, the flavor, the size, the shapes, they’re all unique. It’s sold online.
Do you have a favorite Italian hotel?
The great thing about Italy is it’s so small. You can take a train or drive to this place up in the hills of Tuscany: Monteverdi. It’s just beautiful up there and very serene. It’s a place to recharge. They have a great spa to relax in, culinary classes where you can learn how to make pastas with them in-house, an art gallery, trails to go hiking — a little bit of everything people enjoy. I really like it because it’s away from everything. For me, a very peaceful thing is to walk through the vineyard, through the vines.
What souvenirs do you try to bring back with you?
I like going to fun antique shops on this really cute street in Rome called Via dei Coronari. I’m a huge lover of baby spoons and forks. These are family heirlooms from all over. I have a whole set of gold ones and a whole set of silver ones, but they’re not all the same. There’s also this man with the shop La Bottega del Marmoraro on Rome’s Via Margutta, right by the Spanish Steps, where my mother lives. He writes Italian sayings on little pieces of white marble. I take them home all the time. One I have is “Sorridi e la vita ti sorride” — “If you smile, life will smile back.”
FAQs
According to Giada De Laurentiis' Giadzy blog, it's Positano, Italy that she flees to when she wants to unwind. The culinary whiz shares that Positano's "beauty is unparalleled," and has an insider tip to skip the crowds at the main beaches and go to Fornillo instead.
Where did Bobby and Giada go in Tuscany? ›
Bobby and Giada stayed in a beautiful villa overlooking a medieval town called Montalcino. Vineyards to your left, castles to your right, what's not to love? Montalcino is about 30 miles south of Siena, and it's famous for its incredible wine.
Where did Bobby and Giada eat in Italy? ›
Giada loves this dish so much, she created a recipe that pays homage to the beloved dish. Bobby's got a different favorite thing to get as soon as he touches down in Rome: Gelato! His go-to spot is Otaleg in Trastevere (Gelato backwards!), which focuses on innovative and bold flavors.
Where does Giada De Laurentiis love? ›
Giada De Laurentiis has been a Food Network star for more than a decade, so it's no surprise she's the owner of a stunning home in Los Angeles.
Where did Top chef go in Italy? ›
Press play to listen to this article! Got it! Tuscany, even if you've never been there, is one of those places that conjures up images of sweeping valleys and sun drenched countrysides so beautiful they can't help but take your breath away.
Who is the famous female chef in Italy? ›
Lidia Matticchio Bastianich is an Emmy award-winning public television host, best‐selling cookbook author, successful restaurateur, and owner of a flourishing food and entertainment business.
Did Giada close her restaurants? ›
The post goes on to say that De Laurentiis felt that it was best for her and her restaurants to follow the guidelines set for the restaurant industry by the CDC and that "we hope and pray that we can open again soon." With that, all three of De Laurentiis' restaurants closed, much to the dismay of many customers.
Did Bobby and Giada go to Rome? ›
They filmed Season 1 of Bobby and Giada in Italy in September 2019. It's understood that the shooting took about one month, allowing the hosts and the crew to absorb the scenic views and learn more about the vibrant cultural life of Rome and Tuscany.
How much does Giada De Laurentiis make? ›
What is Giada De Laurentiis's net worth? She is an Italian-American chef, writer, and TV personality with an estimated net worth of $30 million dollars.
How much is Giada's tasting menu? ›
Prices may vary for the tasting menus at Giada, but you should plan on spending $120-$150 per person, depending on which drinks or co*cktails you enjoy with your meal.
In addition to green veggies, Giada allows herself to eat animal protein, a small portion of carbs, and a serving of healthy fat at one of her daily meals.
Does Giada really speak Italian? ›
As a young Italian girl, Giada De Laurentiis initially struggled to acclimatize to life in America. As she told Insider, her family continued to speak Italian at home, so it took her a while to understand and speak English.
Where is Giada right now? ›
Along with her cookbooks and restaurant in Las Vegas, De Laurentiis founded her own lifestyle brand, Giadzy, and, most recently, Giada Catering, a catering company in Southern California, where she lives with her daughter, Jade and boyfriend, Shane Farley.
Where did Bobby Flay move to? ›
In the latest move of renowned chefs heading to Upstate New York, Food Network's Bobby Flay has purchased a seasonal home right in Saratoga Springs. This may come as no surprise as the celebrity chef is an investor in several Thoroughbred race horses.
Does Giada have a new house? ›
Home, sweet home — at last! This October, after two years of renovations, Giada De Laurentiis and her 13-year-old daughter, Jade, finally moved into the luxe Los Angeles property the Food Network star purchased in the summer of 2019.
Where does Gordon Ramsay go? ›
You can find out more about the Gordon and Tana Ramsay Foundation here. Now, Ramsay splits his time between Los Angeles and South London, where he resides with his wife, Tana and four children, along with their dogs, cats and tortoise.
Where did Gordon Ramsay go? ›
After earning a vocational diploma in hotel management from North Oxon Technical College in 1987, he moved to London and began honing his culinary skills under chef Marco Pierre White at the restaurant Harvey's and under chef Albert Roux at La Gavroche.
Who did Bobby Flay go to Italy? ›
After spending six weeks falling in love with Rome's culture and food, Bobby Flay calls on Giada De Laurentiis to be his guide to Italy. They embark on the trip of a lifetime around Rome and Tuscany to get inspired by Italian history and traditions.
Who is the number one female chef in the world? ›
Elena Reygadas, named world's best female chef, cooks in rhythm with nature. Mexico's biodiversity and bounty of vegetables and ingredients is what makes for the "exceptional flavors," says the acclaimed chef, author and manager of four restaurants.
Where does Giada eat in NYC? ›
13 Giada De Laurentiis' Go-To NYC Restaurants College Students Can Actually Afford
- Zabar's ($$) $11-30. snowpea&bokchoi on Flickr. ...
- Brodo ($) Under $11. ...
- Roberta's ($$) $11-30. ...
- Eataly ($$)
- RedFarm ($$) $17-39. ...
- Antonucci Cafe ($$)
- Basta Pasta ($$) $16-30. ...
- Hill Country BBQ Market ($$) $11-30.
It's judged by a panel of three all-stars, like De Laurentiis, Guarnaschelli, and Crenn, who became the first woman to receive three Michelin stars for her restaurant Atelier Crenn.
Why isn t Giada De Laurentiis on Food Network anymore? ›
The TV host and chef, known for such shows as Everyday Italian and Giada in Italy, has signed a new multiyear deal for unscripted series production with Amazon Studios, EW has confirmed. Under the pact, De Laurentiis will develop and executive-produce original programs with an eye toward starring as well.
Do Bobby Flay and Giada get along? ›
While Giada does acknowledge there's chemistry between her and Bobby, it's strictly platonic. In response to Andy's pleas, Giada said, "Well, we're very good friends. We've worked for many years together, but I don't think that's ever going to happen because I'm smarter than that."
Did Giada lose her brother? ›
As People reports, De Laurentiis lost her brother, Dino Alexander De Laurentiis, in 2003 to melanoma, and it changed the way that she lives her life.
Where did Giada get her money? ›
In February 2023, Giada announced she inked a deal with Amazon Studios and was leaving Food Network after 21 years. “Big week! Super excited for what's to come!” she wrote on Instagram at the time. Though her time at Food Network has come to an end, reruns of her popular shows will still be broadcast on the network.
How many restaurants does Giada De Laurentiis own? ›
Besides Giada, the chef has only one other restaurant: Pronto by Giada, a fast-casual place in Caesars Palace.
How much is Giada's ex husband worth? ›
American clothes designer Todd Thompson has an $8 million fortune. The former spouse of renowned chef Giada De Laurentiis is Todd Thompson. The two started dating in the 1990s. He is situated in southern California and creates apparel for Anthropologie as well as other businesses.
What is the most expensive menu restaurant in the world? ›
Each year, Sublimotion ranks as the most expensive restaurant in the world. Sublimotion only allows 12 diners to partake in gourmet cuisine prepared by a team of 10 Michelin star chefs each night. The concept pairs cuisine with technology and staging to turn the table into a stage and its diner into a star.
What kind of food does Giada cook? ›
Giada de Laurentiis, Everyday Italian Chef. Giada de Laurentiis, of the Food Network's Everyday Italian fame, is well known for her presenting her simple Italian dishes in a way that speaks to home cooks. Her modern food point of view tweaks recipes appropriately for today's health-conscious and serious home cooks.
Is Giada a professional chef? ›
De Laurentiis studied at Le Cordon Bleu in Paris, with aspirations of becoming a pastry chef. After returning to the United States, she became a professional chef working in several Los Angeles restaurants, notably the Wolfgang Puck-owned Spago.
And one of Giada De Laurentiis' favorite go-to coffee beverages to treat herself with while she's working at home is an iced coffee made with espresso. And her super-simple recipe is made that much sweeter thanks to a very special ingredient that chocolate lovers will adore.
What does Giada eat everyday? ›
"She focuses on fruits, vegetables, whole grains and nutritious proteins to keep it well rounded, while still enjoying foods like pasta, wine and desserts in moderation."
How does Giada De Laurentiis stay so small? ›
The chef also told Delish how she eats mindfully, focusing on eating many small meals throughout the day, not just huge plates of pasta. It sure seems that a healthy dose of fresh food, mindful exercise, and passion are at the center of De Laurentiis' great shape!
Who is Giada's lover? ›
Food Network alum Giada De Laurentiis has been pretty open about her love life after her divorce from her husband of 11 years, Todd Thompson. The chef began dating television producer Shane Farley shortly after her marriage came to an end.
Is Giada married to Shane Farley? ›
While Giada and Shane do not post pictures together on their social media accounts very often, they are still happily dating.
Is Bobby Flay the richest chef? ›
Bobby Flay
Bobby ties with Garten at number 9 on the list with a net worth of $US60 million.
Did Bobby Flay quit? ›
'" Despite the unexpected on-air moment, Bobby and Food Network are still on good terms. Although he tried to leave the channel after a 27-year run in October 2021, he eventually came back and is handling the hosting duties once more.
Who is the new man in Giada's life? ›
Giada De Laurentiis and Boyfriend Shane Farley 'Turn Up the Heat' in Miami — See Her 'Hot' Look. Giada De Laurentiis traded in her apron for something spicier in Miami.
