Giada De Laurentiis is an Italian-American celebrity chef, television personality, and cookbook author. Born on August 22, 1970, in Rome, Italy, she is the granddaughter of film producer Dino De Laurentiis and actress Silvana Mangano. Giada’s parents, Veronica De Laurentiis and Alex De Benedetti, were also involved in the film industry. Her parents divorced when she was young, and she moved to the United States with her mother and siblings.
Giada grew up in Los Angeles, California, where she attended Marymount High School. She then went on to study at the University of California, Los Angeles, where she earned a degree in social anthropology. After college, Giada decided to pursue a career in food and enrolled in Le Cordon Bleu in Paris, France. She later returned to Los Angeles and began working as a chef at several restaurants, including Wolfgang Puck’s Spago.
In 2002, Giada published her first cookbook, “Everyday Italian: 125 Simple and Delicious Recipes,” which became a bestseller. The book featured recipes inspired by her Italian heritage and her experiences cooking in restaurants. The success of the book led to a television show of the same name, which premiered on Food Network in 2003. The show was a hit with audiences and helped establish Giada as a household name.
Since then, Giada has gone on to host several more cooking shows on Food Network, including “Giada’s Weekend Getaways,” “Giada at Home,” and “Giada in Italy.” She has also authored several more cookbooks, including “Giada’s Family Dinners,” “Giada’s Kitchen,” and “Giada’s Italy.” In addition to her television and cookbook work, Giada has also opened several restaurants, including Giada in Las Vegas and GDL Italian by Giada in Baltimore.
Giada’s cooking style is characterized by her use of fresh, simple ingredients and her emphasis on Italian cuisine. She often uses her own family recipes as inspiration for her dishes and likes to incorporate her personal experiences and travels into her cooking. Her on-screen personality is warm and engaging, and she is known for her easy-to-follow cooking demonstrations and her infectious enthusiasm for food.
Giada has been the recipient of several awards and accolades throughout her career. In 2008, she won a Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Lifestyle Host for her work on “Everyday Italian.” She has also been nominated for several other Daytime Emmy Awards, including Outstanding Culinary Host and Outstanding Lifestyle Program. In 2012, she was inducted into the Culinary Hall of Fame.
Off-screen, Giada is actively involved in several philanthropic endeavors. She is a member of the board of directors for the global hunger relief organization, Oxfam America, and is an ambassador for the global nonprofit, Mercy Corps. She has also worked with the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank and the Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles.
Despite her success, Giada has faced some criticism and controversy throughout her career. In 2015, she was involved in a feud with fellow Food Network personality, Bobby Flay, after he reportedly failed to show up to a planned appearance at one of her restaurants. She has also faced criticism for her thin frame, with some accusing her of promoting unhealthy body standards. Giada has addressed these concerns in interviews, stating that she maintains a healthy lifestyle through exercise and a balanced diet.
Giada has been married once, to fashion designer Todd Thompson. The couple wed in 2003 and had one child together, a daughter named Jade. They divorced in 2015.
