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FOOD & COOKING
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PERSONAL

Erica from Fort Mitchell, AL: What is your favorite meal and what is your favorite day of the week?
RACHAEL: My middle name is Domenica – which means Sunday, so I'm partial to Sunday. I don’t have a favorite meal, but if I had to live with just a couple of things they would be: bread, olive oil, tomatoes and cheese. If I had access to a stove, I am a pasta girl.

Fawn from Sonora, KY: I am fixing to turn 21 on April 16. What did you do on your 21st birthday? Anything exciting? Have any ideas for me to make it fun and exciting?
RACHAEL: I was working in a restaurant, and I went out for a beer after work at a local bar - just cause I could. That night I decided I didn’t like beer. It was very uneventful. I grew up in a house where we drank wine with supper. So I didn’t flip out being able to drink. Wine was given to us in moderation.

Carol from Granger, IN: My dad would like to know from what part of Sicily do your mom's family originate?
RACHAEL: Gela, Sicily.

Michelle from Easton, MD: Hi Rachael, I was just curious, how tall are you? And when is your birthday?
RACHAEL: I'm 5'3" and my birthday is August 25th.

Nikki from Galion, OH: Hey Rach! Just wondering, on your first date with your husband, did you go to a restaurant or did you cook for him? And what did you have?
RACHAEL: Our first date was a village date; John met me, my family and friends at a function at a restaurant. The first time we made dinner together we made balsamic brown butter ravioli and rosemary chicken with wilted greens.

Amanda from Ontario, Canada: Hi Rachael! I love your show, especially your cooking tips that you give. My question is what is your favorite place to relax after a long day?
RACHAEL: At home.

Tom from Roselle Park, NJ: What was your favorite meal growing up?
RACHAEL: Anything my mother made.

Ben from Wayland, MA: When I cook, I like to put on music. What do you do at home when you cook?
RACHAEL: I open a bottle of wine and put on music, or I watch Law and Order!

Heather from Menan, ID: Do you ever just not feel like cooking some days?
RACHAEL: YES! But I do anyway. Usually I make soup if I don’t feel like cooking.

Maggie from Wayzata, MN: I am a very superstitious person. Whenever I have an excuse to make a wish, I do it whether it’s holding my breathe when I'm going over a covered bridge or the clock hits 11:11. I loved it when I first saw you throw salt over your shoulder for luck. I want to know how superstitious are you?
RACHAEL: I am pretty superstitious! I do walk on the cracks in the sidewalk when I’m walking down the street in New York, but I don’t walk under ladders, I do get out on the 13th floor, and I like to throw salt over my shoulder!

Taylor from Glensale, AZ: Hi Rachael, I was wondering what’s your favorite thing to watch when you get home from work?
RACHAEL: Law & Order Criminal Intent reruns and Anderson Cooper on CNN.

Tammy from Northhampton, PA: When you have a day off, what do you like to do?
RACHAEL: Since I only get 10 to 12 days off a year, I like to stay in bed, eat, and watch TV with my dog!

Amy from Peoria, IL: I know you just recently got married in the past few years. What did your wedding guests give you as gifts since most people get cooking items?
RACHAEL: We didn’t receive gifts because we had a destination wedding in Italy. In lieu of gifts, our friends made donations to the ASPCA, Heifer International and Save the Pitbulls, all charities that mean a lot to John and me.

Mandy from Louisville, KY: I love your spirit, you have such a wonderful personality and are so outgoing. Have you always been that way or were you shy growing up? Do you have any tips for someone who wants to open up more and become more outgoing?
RACHAEL: HA! Shy, never! Set a small goal: Speak to 3 strangers a day; rent more funny movies; laugh more. Do things that make you feel childish -- go swing on a swing set!

Tracy from Fort Plain, NY: How do you take your 10 cups of coffee?
RACHAEL: Black if it is hot, with skim milk if it is iced.

Jennie from Midland, TX: Are your siblings good at cooking as well? Do they work in the food industry too?
RACHAEL: My sister Maria is a numbers driven executive and a fabulous baker, clearly the only thing we have in common is a sense of humor – I am bad. My brother Manny, a karate instructor, is very into all things Asian and meditation and much more serious than myself. He’s also into slow cooking. Manny also has way more friends than Maria and I did. He seems to know everyone under the planet. We’re three very different kids!

Jenny from Millbank, OH: My husband is a dairy farmer and he proposed to me by taking me in a little airplane and he had plowed in his field..."Jenny will you Marry me?" with a heart and everything!! He's the greatest guy ever! I was just wondering how your husband proposed to you? Thanks for your show -- I LOVE IT!
RACHAEL: We were supposed to be moving and the apartment wasn’t ready and I was crying because I thought we were going to be homeless, so he said presents make me happy and he threw the ring at my head to make me stop crying!

Trish from Lincoln, CA: Hey Rachael, I was wondering, does your mom, Elsa, bake? I know that you don't but you’ve mentioned that your sister bakes and I was wondering if your mom taught her how. Thanks!
RACHAEL: No, she can, but she doesn't bake much anymore.

Linda from Hixson, TN: Just wanted to know how you stay so upbeat all of the time? It can’t just be the coffee! What keeps you going every day?
RACHAEL: I love what I do for a living AND I drink a lot of coffee!

Rebecca from Encino, CA: Now that EVOO has made it into the dictionary, what made-up word of yours would be next on your list to have added?
RACHAEL: Yum-O, of course!

Chris from Queens, NY: Hey Rach, did you always want to be a cook when you were growing up? Or did you ever have another career goal in mind?
RACHAEL: I grew up in the restaurant business, I didn’t really think about it one way or another. I had another career as a food buyer.

Chloe from Piermont, NY: Do you have a favorite cookbook?
RACHAEL: My favorite cookbooks are those written by Marcella Hazan. She tells it like it is -- much like all the strong Italian women in my family.

Keke from Tarrytown, NY: Is there any food you flat out won’t try? Or do you try everything at least once?
RACHAEL: I am sure there have been things put in front of me that I say “oh no,” but I am pretty open. I have tried eating: Brains, glands, bugs, crickets and beetles!

Logan from Granite, OK: What’s a great in bed meal?
RACHAEL: Are there any bad meals when eaten in bed?

Suzanna from Rochester, NY: I am a NEW YORKER and I was very surprised that you are a BOSTON RED SOX FAN. How did that happen?
RACHAEL: When I was little I lived in Cape Cod and got really into rooting for the Red Sox. I am a huge Carlton Fiske fan!

David from San Diego, CA: I was wondering, what is you favorite board game?
RACHAEL: I was always very good at Boggle, but I don’t know if you classify that as a board game. As a kid, I liked Life and Careers. Monopoly is okay, but I’ve never been good at real estate.

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