Martha Stewart Criticizes Rachael Ray; Rachael Ray Agrees

November 18, 2009, 5:15 pm 8 Comments

marth-stewart-nightline In her first television interview since serving five months in prison in 2004, Martha Stewart spoke to Nightline (the interview is set to air Thursday, but the story is already online). As a followup to their uncomfortable encounter on her show, Martha criticizes Rachael Ray's recent cookbook release Book of Ten and calls her an "entertainer":

"Well, to me, she professed that she could -- cannot bake," said Stewart. "She -- just did a new cookbook which is just a re-edit of a lot of her old recipes. She -- and that's not good enough for me. I mean, I really want to write a book that is a unique and lasting thing. Something that will really fulfill a need in someone's library. So, she's different. She's -- she's more of an entertainer than she is, with her bubbly personality, than she is a teacher, like me. That's not what she's professing to be... She does it very differently than I do, she's a totally different kind cook than I am. I don't know if she has a garden, I don't think so, but if she does, she doesn't show that on her show so much."

Nightline followed up with Rachael Ray, who accepted the criticism, and said:

"Why would it make me mad?" said Ray. "Her skill set is far beyond mine. That's simply the reality of it. That doesn't mean that what I do isn't important too... I don't consider it needling. I really just think she's being honest. She does have a better skill set than I do when it comes to producing a beautiful, perfect, high-quality meal. I'd rather eat Martha's than mine, too."

Hardly the "slam" that US Weekly suggests.

Earlier on Eat Me Daily

Tags: Martha Stewart, Rachael Ray

8 Comments

Comment Feed

clarlune

who knew a kid from upstate new york would show more class than martha? LOL. you go, rachael!

November 18, 2009, 5:52 pm Reply
Rachel

Wow, Rachael Ray is far more gracious than Martha.

November 18, 2009, 6:08 pm Reply
averagebetty

Great post! Thanks for clarifying the US Weekly slamming. Martha and Rachael are both kudo-worthy for the media empires they have created. They are very different empires full of very different fans. If Ray provides the entertainment and inspiration to get people *cooking at home for themselves and their families*, then good for her! And I do wonder... does Martha think you need to have a garden to be a good cook?

November 18, 2009, 6:14 pm Reply
TikiPundit

Oh, brother. Stewart is itching for a fight/ratings.

"That's not good enough for me. I mean, I really want to write a book that is a unique and lasting thing. Something that will really fulfill a need in someone's library."

Which penitentiary library would that be, Martha dear?

Say, does she have to tell the Feds whenever she moves, or was her crime not that severe?

//snark off

November 18, 2009, 9:55 pm Reply
bufo69

Wow, Martha is really disappointing! Very unclassy to put down somebody else like that, especially somebody you'd invited onto your show! She lost a fan in me!

November 18, 2009, 10:24 pm Reply
Raymond

I can't stand either one of them. I wouldn't cook anything that Martha or Rachael made and as far as I am concerned who died and told either one of them they knew anything about cooking or writing cookbooks. The sooner we no longer have to see either one of them on TV the happier I will be.

November 19, 2009, 9:52 am Reply
Caroline

Once again, Eat Me Daily reminds us why they're the People magazine of the food world.

November 19, 2009, 10:53 am Reply
Phillip

Very tacky on Martha's part and disappointing. I enjoy her show but have to confess, this makes me not want to continue watching it. What is amusing about her comments on Ray's book is that Martha herself doesn't write her own books - she has a team of writers, artists, and chefs who do it for her.

November 20, 2009, 10:42 am Reply