A
W
n
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mbinatio
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Petite in size yet grand in accomplishments, this global cook/author/television
personality is apowerful presence in theworldof all things culinary.
BYCATHYWHITLOCK
The journeyofGiadaDeLaurentiis
fromcaterer tocelebratedchef
was inmanywaysanaturalone.
Apassion forcookingnodoubt
originated in thegenesasshe
grewup ina large Italian family
steeped in the loveof food, cul-
ture, and tradition.At theheadof
thedining table?Noneother than
famedfilmproducerDinoDeLau-
rentiis,whose family formerly
ownedapasta factory inNaples.
“Sundayswewereall together
in thekitchen,”GiadaDeLauren-
tiissays. “Mygrandfather trav-
eleda lot so itwas importantwe
had family time together.Wehad
big late lunchesaround2or3
p.m., and theadultsweren’t
afraid tohaveuskids in the
kitchenhelping!”
WhengrandfatherDinowasn’t
producinghitfilmssuchas
King
Kong
or
Serpico
,heran theDDL
Foodshow, aspecialty Italian
gourmetmarketwith locations in
BeverlyHillsandNewYork.De
Laurentiisnotes, “Itwasoneof
thefirstDean&DeLuca-type
placeswithout theproduce.He
brought the idea fromNaples
andwouldbringcooks in for
demonstrations.”Shespenta lot
of time thereasachildandap-
parently thatwaswhere thecu-
linarydiewascast.Dino’s
venturewascertainlyaheadof
its time, and theexcitementand
skillsof thecookingevents
werepassedon tohis impres-
sionableandenterprising
granddaughter. “Nowcooking
issecondnature!” thecharis-
matic41-year-olddeclares.
Born inRome,DeLaurentiis
moved to theUnitedStatesat
theageof 7withhermotherand
grewup in tonyBeverlyHills.
Aftergraduating fromUCLA
withadegree inanthropology,
shestudied foraprofessional
careerat the famedLeCordon
LEFT:© JOHNHUBA/ART+COMMERCE;RIGHT:©GETTY IMAGES
25
celebratedliving.com
FALL 2011
