Valerie Bertinelli is targeting The Food Network, criticizing the channel for straying away from old-fashioned cooking shows.
The 63-year-old took to social media on April 9, expressing her disappointment with the network for its increase in reality culinary competition shows.
“I fell in love with Food Network two decades ago because of all the amazing ITK [in the kitchen] shows… I learned so much. It’s sad it’s not about cooking and learning any longer. Oh well, that’s just business, folks,” she wrote.
Her response comes months after she was let go from the network. Ms. Bertinelli was known for hosting “Valerie’s Home Cooking” and “Kids Baking Championship,” where she also acted as judge for the competition.
With all three being in-the-kitchen cooking shows, she honored the trio for contributing to sharing information viewers and industry professionals alike desire from The Food Network.
This came in response to a post from blogger and cookbook author Marlynn Schotland, who voiced her disdain for the increase in competition formatted shows.
In the Kitchen With Valerie
Ms. Bertinelli hosted an in-the-kitchen cooking show “Valerie’s Home Cooking” for 14 seasons. The network eventually pulled the plug in the Summer of 2022, leaving Ms. Bertinelli confused.“Food Network canceled us last summer, I have no idea why. And I didn’t say anything last summer because honestly, I was hoping they would change their mind. But they have not. So this is it, this is the final season.”
She added that despite the move, she loved creating the show and bringing joy to viewers, calling it a “dream come true.”
Ms. Bertinelli went on to continue hosting and judging “Kids Baking Championship” for 12 seasons, alongside Food Network star Duff Goldman, since 2015.
“I know it’s not supposed to. Logically, I know it’s business [and] budget cuts, right? But it really hurt my feelings to know that I’m not going to be asked back to be on Kids Baking Championship really sucks.”
She acknowledged Goldman and the production crew for their time together, and gave some words of encouragement to all current and previous bakers taking on the challenge.
“To all the bakers that are coming in for the new season, even though I won’t be there, I’ll be there with you in spirit and I just want you to remember this: You are there for a reason. You’re some of the best bakers in America right now. And if you don’t make it to the next round, please always remember this, it’s not because you’re not a good baker, you just had a bad day,” she said.
Early Food Network Days
Founded on April 19, 1993, The Food Network was a small cable television channel looking to make a big name for itself. It was created on the premise of culinary arts and has evolved into a stapled name for access to recipes, food information, kitchen-oriented products, and entertainment.The Food Network is now available in millions of households nationwide, becoming a powerhouse in the global food industry and making the names and fortunes of stars like Emeril Lagasse, Paula Deen, Guy Fieri, and Rachael Ray.
The Epoch Times reached out to The Food Network for comment.
