Giada De Laurentiis facts for kids
De Laurentiis in 2010
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| Born | Giada Pamela De Benedetti August 22, 1970 Rome, Italy |
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| Cooking style | Italian |
| Education | University of California, Los Angeles Le Cordon Bleu |
| Spouse |
Todd Thompson
(m. 2003; div. 2015) |
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Television show(s)
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Award(s) won
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Giada Pamela De Laurentiis (born Giada Pamela De Benedetti, August 22, 1970) is a famous Italian-born American chef. She is also an entrepreneur, writer, and television personality. Giada hosted the popular Food Network show Giada at Home. She often appears on NBC's Today show. Giada also started her own catering business called GDL Foods. She has won several awards, including the Daytime Emmy Award for best lifestyle host.
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Giada's Early Life
Giada De Laurentiis was born in Rome, Italy, on August 22, 1970. She was the oldest child of actress Veronica De Laurentiis and actor-producer Alex De Benedetti. Her grandfather, Dino De Laurentiis, was a famous film producer. As a child, Giada spent a lot of time in her family's kitchen. She also visited her grandfather's restaurant, DDL Foodshow, very often.
After her parents divorced, Giada and her siblings moved to Southern California. There, they started using their mother's last name. Giada finished high school at Marymount High School in Los Angeles. She then went to the University of California, Los Angeles. In 1996, she earned her bachelor's degree in social anthropology.
Giada's Cooking Career
Giada wanted to become a pastry chef, so she studied at Le Cordon Bleu in Paris. After her studies, she came back to the United States. She worked as a professional chef in several restaurants in Los Angeles. One of these was Wolfgang Puck's famous restaurant, Spago.
Starting on Food Network
Giada later became a food stylist. The Food Network noticed her work after she styled a piece for Food & Wine magazine in 2002. Her first cooking show on Food Network, Everyday Italian, started on April 5, 2003. At first, Giada felt shy in front of the camera. Some viewers even thought she was an actress pretending to cook! But she quickly became a favorite.
More TV Shows and Appearances
In October 2005, Giada began hosting Behind the Bash. This show looked at how big events, like the Grammy Awards, are catered. In January 2007, her third show, Giada's Weekend Getaways, premiered. On this show, Giada traveled to different places to find her favorite local foods. She visited cities like Seattle, San Francisco, and Napa.
Giada also appeared on Iron Chef America in November 2006. She and Bobby Flay competed against Rachael Ray and Mario Batali. In June 2007, she hosted a two-part special called Giada in Paradise. This show featured beautiful places like Santorini, Greece, and Capri, Italy. She also judged on The Next Food Network Star. In 2008, she won a Daytime Emmy Award for being an outstanding lifestyle host.
Giada at Home and Other Projects
In 2008, Giada's show Giada at Home began. This show featured Giada cooking meals and planning parties for her family and friends. The show's set looks a lot like her real home. She also became a judge and team leader on Food Network Star.
In 2009, Giada voiced a character named "Paulette" in the children's animated show Handy Manny. In 2010, she launched a line of kitchen products sold only at Target. She also became a regular mentor on The Next Food Network Star.
Restaurants and Recent Work
In July 2014, Giada opened her first restaurant, called GIADA, in The Cromwell hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada. The restaurant serves Italian food with a California twist. Some popular dishes include lemon spaghetti and chicken cacciatore. Guests can even watch the chefs cook in the open kitchen.
In 2017, she launched an online platform called Giadzy.com. This website shares new recipes, travel tips, and sells high-quality Italian food products. In 2018, Giada voiced herself in the movie Scooby-Doo! and the Gourmet Ghost.
On June 26, 2020, Giada's Food Network series Giada Entertains won a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Culinary Series. A month later, on July 26, 2020, Giada won another Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Culinary Host. In February 2023, Giada signed a deal with Amazon Studios to create new shows. She was also named the godmother for the new Oceania Cruises ship, Vista.
Giada's Products
Giada De Laurentiis created a line of products sold exclusively at Target. In 2013, some ceramic lasagna pans from her brand were recalled because they cracked and caused minor injuries. As of 2022, Target mainly sells her cookbooks, including a special edition of Eat Better, Feel Better.
Giada's Restaurants
Giada De Laurentiis has two restaurants on the famous Las Vegas Strip. Her first restaurant, "Giada", opened in May 2014 at The Cromwell. In early 2018, she opened a second restaurant called "Pronto by Giada" at Caesars Palace. This is a fast-casual restaurant, meaning you can get delicious food quickly. In July 2017, she announced another restaurant, GDL Italian by Giada, which opened in May 2018 in Baltimore, Maryland.
Giada's Personal Life
On May 25, 2003, Giada De Laurentiis married fashion designer Todd Thompson. They had one daughter in 2008. Giada has said that having a child was very special. She decided not to have more children to focus on her career and family. Giada and Todd separated in July 2014, and their marriage ended in September 2015. Since November 2015, she has been in a relationship with TV producer Shane Farley.
Awards and Nominations
| Year | Association | Category | Work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Daytime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Lifestyle Host | Everyday Italian | Won |
| 2010 | Outstanding Lifestyle Host | Giada at Home | Nominated | |
| 2012 | Outstanding Lifestyle Host | Giada at Home | Nominated | |
| Gracie Awards | Outstanding Host | Giada at Home | Won | |
| 2020 | Daytime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Culinary Host | Giada Entertains | Won |
See also
In Spanish: Giada De Laurentiis para niños
