Person Biography:
Lives in the picturesque Adirondacks with her loving husband John M. Cusimano, her caring mother Elsa Scuderi, a feline companion, and two aquatic friends, the twofishes. She has a younger brother, Emmanuel (Manny),and an older sister, Maria Betar. When she was just a first-grader, her family relocated to upstate New York, where she grew up. Her family's entrepreneurial venture, "The Carvery," owned several restaurants in and around Falmouth and Mashpee, Massachusetts, at one point.
After completing her education, she secured a job as a candy manager at "Macy's Marketplace" in New York. She swiftly rose through the ranks, being promoted to the fresh food section. However, she eventually left Macy's and embarked on a new career path as a chef and buyer at a gourmet store. Subsequently, she moved out of New York City and began working at a shop in Albany, where she not only worked but also held cooking lessons. It was during this time that she caught the attention of a local television station, which led to the creation of cooking segments that would later evolve into "30 Minute Meals" in 2001.
Throughout her illustrious career, she has authored numerous cookbooks, including "Rachael Ray's 30-Minute Meals" and "The Open House Cookbook." Her remarkable culinary skills and charismatic personality gained her widespread national recognition, particularly after a segment on the Today show during a blizzard, which left a lasting impression on audiences.
