Valerie Bertinelli Criticizes Food Network: “Not About Cooking and Learning Any Longer”

Zoe G Phillips
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Valerie Bertinelli weighed in on Food Network’s move toward reality competition formats Tuesday, lamenting the fact that the home of her former show “is not about cooking and learning any longer.”

The former Valerie’s Home Kitchen host wrote on Threads that she “fell in love with Food Network two decades ago” because of the educational “in the kitchen shows.” She named several examples: Rachael Ray’s 30 Minute Meals, Ina Garten’s Barefoot Conetessa and Giada De Laurentiis’ Giada at Home.

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“The list goes on,” Bertinelli continued, saying, “I learned so much. It’s sad it’s not about cooking and learning any longer. Oh well, that’s just business, folks.”

Bertinelli’s post was a response to a thread from cookbook author Marlynn Schotland, who wrote that she missed “actual shows” on Food Network. “Remember those?” she wrote. “Do you know what this world does NOT need? Yet another cooking competition show.”

Bertinelli’s show ran for 14 seasons beginning in 2015 before she announced in 2022 that the series was canceled. In a video on Instagram, the chef said that she had “no idea why” the show was canceled.

“I have loved making this show. It was such a dream come true,” she continued at the time. “Every single part of it brought me so much joy. I loved the crew. I loved everybody in production. They loved making this show for you.”

Food Network did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Bertinelli’s comments.

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