Giada De Laurentiis is opening up about how she got her start on the Food Network.
The popular chef shared her story while she shucked corn in a Tuesday, July 15, video she posted to Instagram.
“I get this question a lot, about how I got on Food Network,” she began.
De Laurentiis said roughly 24 years ago, she was working as a private chef and was also at the popular Beverly Hills restaurant Spago.
She noted that she was also assisting some friends with food styling.
“I was asked to do an issue for Food & Wine magazine that was like ‘the family issue’ or something,” she recalled.
De Laurentiis said that she got her family together and they came up with numerous simple recipes for a feature in the magazine.
She recalled being thrilled after the photo shoot as she thought she would transition into food styling.
Giada De Laurentiis Was Contacted by Food Network
De Laurentiis said that after the issue came out, she soon received a call from Food Network executive Bob Tuschman, and he asked her to send in a tape. However, De Laurentiis revealed it took her six months before she finally decided to do it.
“I was working a lot and I didn’t know much about Food Network,” she said. “I was nervous. So my brother shot me and we put a little demo reel together of me making a bechamel.”
The video was a success, as she added, “And they loved it. And so that’s how we started ‘Everyday Italian.’ And I did that for seven years.”
While De Laurentiis has become known for her ever popular shows on the Food Network, she recalled how she thought her first season was bad.
“The first season was terrible,” she told fans. “Terrible, terrible. I was so shy, I was so uncomfortable. I think I lost 10 pounds. I was scared out of my mind.”
However, after she got the first season under her belt, she said she became a lot better being on camera.
“And then the rest is history. So there you have it,” she said as she concluded her story.
Giada De Laurentiis Was a Staple on the Food Network
Throughout her time at the Food Network, she appeared in numerous shows. It included “Giada Entertains,” “Giada’s Holiday Handbook,” “Giada in Italy,” and “Food Network Star.”
De Laurentiis ended up parting ways with Food Network in February 2023 and made the move over to Amazon Studios.
A Food Network representative told PEOPLE she will always be welcomed back on the network.
“Giada De Laurentiis is culinary royalty, someone who has taught audiences how to properly pronounce every cut of pasta imaginable for nearly two decades,” the spokesperson said. “Food Network will always be proud of the beautiful content we have created together, and our table will always have an open seat for Giada.”
Comments
Giada De Laurentiis on What She Overcame When She Joined Food Network