Rachael Ray
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Who really intimidates you? —Shaun Brauteseth, Port Elizabeth, South Africa
My mother when she is angry, because she is the biggest influence in my life and her opinion matters so much to me. She didn't raise me to be intimidated much, though I feel very intimidated if I have to go down a red carpet or stand next to celebrities or be in that sort of environment. The whole idea of being in a place where I'm kind of the square peg for a round hole makes me very nervous.
Make your choice: Cuban sandwich or American burger? —Omar Laffita, Miami
Well burger to me is pretty wide. I have probably 300 different burger recipes. I'll make anything into a burger, from salmon to swordfish. I make shrimp burgers and Portobello burgers. I guess I have to pick the burger, though it's probably not what he's asking. He's probably thinking a straight up little beef patty on a lone bun.
If you had a full free day, what would you do with it? —Susan Watkins, Forth Worth, Texas
Pretty much what I do at work: I cook, I travel, I love watching films, I love writing recipes. It's truly a joy. I love writing in general and I'm a huge film buff so I like to catch up with some movies, and I like to eat and sleep a lot [laughs]. I either do absolutely nothing, or do what I do for a living. Or I might jump out of an airplane. I do enjoy that.
What do you think of your detractors? —Danny Leon, New York City
I just wasn't raised to be a person who thinks you can be all things to all people. Popeye said it best—"I am what I am," and that's it. What I have to offer is accessible food and accessible programming. Some people love it, and for others, it's not for them. So be it.
When do you believe the turning point occurred in your career? —Cali McCullough, Hershey, Penn.
Cooking up thirty-minute meals literally as a way to sell groceries. That cooking class turned into a local news segment, which led to the Food Network job, which led to this. It was a happy little accident there.