Spill the tea, Valerie! Beloved actress and former Food Network star Valerie Bertinelli isn't mincing words about her final ousting from the channel. In January, she revealed via social media that she'd been let go from her remaining show on the network, "Kids Baking Championship," following an announcement in April last year that "Valerie's Home Cooking" had been canceled after 14 seasons.
Bertinelli Laments Food Network's Move Away From Shows Like "30 Minute Meals"
Last week, Bertinelli fired shots on Threads, noting the network's direction to ditch culinary skill instruction for cutthroat competitions. She reminisced about the good old days filled with shows like "30 Minute Meals" and others in which revered chefs like Ina Garten and Giada De Laurentiis taught viewers how to cook in their home kitchens.
I'm going take a quick pause from reporting on this potential feud to interject my own opinion that Ms. Bertinelli is not wrong. I literally learned how to cook thanks to Rachael Ray, and my favorite Saturday morning activity used to be waking up to Ina's soothing voice, cozied up in my covers with a piece of toast and a glass of fresh-squeezed OJ that would make Jeffrey (IYKYK) swoon. I miss those days, too, Val!
Look, don't get it twisted - I really love watching culinary heavyweights like Brooke Williamson and Michael Voltaggio do their thing in the kitchen; it's friggin' impressive and admittedly very entertaining. But home cooks like me don't aspire to make a delicious side of goat in 60 minutes while being forced to incorporate cacao pods into my dish (does anyone, really?). Personally, I'd love to see a nice balance of instruction and competition on the network. I'll now return you to your regularly scheduled sip of tea.
Is the Food Network Losing its Way?
Our gal Val admitted back in January that she felt hurt about being dropped from the baking competition, especially since she filmed the final season during a difficult personal time.
Could this latest post be a case of sour grapes? Maybe. But Bertinelli's comments definitely raise an eyebrow at the Food Network's programming shift. Are viewers tuning in for kitchen theatrics or genuine culinary knowledge? Only time will tell, but one thing's for sure: the heat is definitely on in the Food Network kitchen!
