Ten Top-Earning Celebrity Chefs

Forbes ^ | 08/08/08 | Chaniga Vorasarun

[Artemis Webb]

Say what you will about Rachael Ray, but the jaunty chef-next-door knows how to build a brand.

She began winning audiences with catch phrases like "EVOO" (for extra-virgin olive oil) on her first Food Network show, 30 Minute Meals, in 2001. Today, she has four Food Network programs, including Tasty Travels and $40 a Day. Her nationally syndicated, Oprah-backed talk show, Rachael Ray, is averaging 2.6 million viewers this season, and her Every Day With Rachael Ray magazine has 1.5 million readers. She endorses Dunkin' Donuts too--all to the tune of $18 million a year.

More established chefs also know how to play her game. Wolfgang Puck pulls in $16 million a year.

[mnehring]

Ray isn’t a Chef. She has said herself she is a ‘cook, not a chef’.

[Larry Lucido]

I want olive oil that’s had some experience!

[Artemis Webb]

10. Anthony Bourdain
9. Bobby Flay
8. Tom Colicchio
7. Mario Batali
6. Paula Deen
5. Alain Ducasse
4. Nobuyuki Matsuhisa
3. Gordon Ramsay
2. Wolfgang Puck
1. Rachael Ray

[Artemis Webb]

Ray isn’t a bad person but she does get on my nerves. And you are correct, she isn’t a chef.

[Republican Party Reptile]

She endorses Dunkin' Donuts too ....

Hmmmm, Rachael may be huffing a bit too much on the donuts

[Joe 6-pack]

"I want olive oil that’s had some experience!"

You better not let her boyfriend hear you say that...

[Blogger]

no Emeril?

[leda]

interesting bit on big name chefs/cooks

[Holicheese]

Paula Dean is the best.

[PzLdr]

No Emeril?

[Holicheese]

Sorry, Paula Deen. Also, Alton Brown is the entertaining and informative of the chef on TCC.
Love the Iron Chef.

[Artemis Webb]

"no Emeril?"

Now that you mention it I'm really surprised that Emeril is not on there. It makes me wonder a little about this list.

[mnehring]

From the ones of whom I've eaten at their restaurants, Nobuyuki Matsuhisa (Nobu) is the best, Batali is the worst.

[Artemis Webb]

I can't stand Paula Deen.
I really like Alton Brown!
But THIS WOMAN should be number one:

[mnehring]

He took some big financial losses in New Orleans and is spending a lot rebuilding his restaurants which is probably why he isn’t currently on the list.

[Holicheese]

Did they open a Nobu in Philly?

[deport]

The list started at $1.5 million. Emeril got hit hard by Katrina. However he does have the condiment line out to help and would have thought that he’d have made the cut line.

[Holicheese]

My wife hates her and there is no way she eats anything she cooks. She is smokin!

[Illuminatas]

Anthony Bourdain “Kitchen Confidential”

Chapter “The Level of Discourse” - hilarious and telling.

I would post a sample, but I dont want a banning.

[mnehring]

Not that I'm aware of, however, Philly has on of my favorite restaurants, Morimoto, who apprenticed under Nobu.

[misharu]

Her voice drives me to drink!

[timsbella]

My husband loves Giada (sp?) and she is a babe, and I concede, she can cook. Wears the weirdest clothes on TV.

I love Paula Deen — her chicken fried steak throwdown with Bobby Flay was terrific.

Alton is Aces — we bought the Feasting on Asphalt t-shirts. Too cool a show and an excellent travelogue of the US.

[GOPyouth]

I enjoy watching Gordon Ramsay. I appreciate his respect for the customer, and that the entire staff, from the front of the house to the back, must keep the customer happy.

Some don't like his language, or the yelling, but he realizes that if people are going to drop big $$ on a meal, they better get quality service/cooking.

[Daffynition]

Martha bought out the Emeril Lagasse franchise.

[Holicheese]

That is the one I was thinking of.
My wife is from Philly. She and her mom go to Le Bec Fin every few years. She just loves it.

[Citizen Blade]

From the ones of whom I've eaten at their restaurants, Nobuyuki Matsuhisa (Nobu) is the best, Batali is the worst.

I'd go with Gordon Ramsey first, followed by Nobu.

[Scythian]

Ok, here's the #1 as it should have been.

Sandra Lee of Semi-Homemade:


Very classy and pretty ...

[mnehring]

I have yet to be blessed with the opportunity to eat at one of Ramsey’s restaurants. But, unlike many celeb chefs, he is the real deal.

[ErnBatavia]

Paula Dean is the best.

She was kind of tolerable until we learned she considers Jimmuh Carter the best President this country has ever had.

[Holicheese]

Only because he is from Georgia!
Her recipees rock and her story is amazing.

[deport]

Well well well. I didn’t know that but I guess Martha is doing just fine.

[weegee]

“Never trust a skinny chef.” A good chef is constantly tasting the food...

[mnehring]

She was kind of tolerable until we learned she considers Jimmuh Carter the best President this country has ever had.

Are you mixing her up with Ina Garten? Garten used to work for Carter and raves about him all the time.

[Citizen Blade]

I enjoy watching Gordon Ramsay. I appreciate his respect for the customer, and that the entire staff, from the front of the house to the back, must keep the customer happy.

I'm impressed by the fact that he isn't a food snob- he appreciates soul food in a funky joint as much as a fine French meal at a 3 Michelin star restaurant. One of the only times I saw him clean his plate was when he ate barebecued ribs in a Brighton restaurant run by an American ex-pat. On the other hand, he regularly lambasts self-absorbed chefs who prepare inedible pretentious crap.

He's a perfectionist when it comes to cleanliness, freshness of food and respect for the customer. He's doing something right- his restaurants have earned a total of 12 Michelin stars.

[CT-Freeper]

No Andrew Zimmern?

That's an outrage.

[caver]

They forgot to mention Rachael Ray’s line of dog food.

[Malacoda]

I'm currently in the Philly 'burbs. I like Le Bec Fin a heck of a lot more than Striped Bass or Buddakan.

Morimoto was excellent, though.

[Daffynition]

Nobu Salad & Sushi
1511 Chestnut St
Philadelphia, PA 19102

[Citizen Blade]

I’ve only been to one- his New York restaurant in the London New York.

One of the best meals I’ve ever had. Plus the service was perfect- attentive without being intrusive, professional without being overly friendly or formal.

Of course, be ready to pay for the privilege- we dropped over $400 for a dinner for two, and we didn’t really splurge.

[Vinnie]

She was kind of tolerable until we learned she considers Jimmuh Carter the best President this country has ever had.

And her campaigning with Hillary.

But, I made her recipe for bread pudding a few months ago.
Fantastic

[Daffynition]

She’s doing very fine. Good for her!

[Artemis Webb]

Re #20

I picked up “Kitchen Confidential” as a book on tape. That section had me rolling on the floor!

I heard he is working on a show with Mario Batali that is to be kind of a walking tour of food in Italy.

[ErnBatavia]

Are you mixing her up with Ina Garten?

Nope....never heard of Ina Garten.

[Vinnie]

One of these days she is going to stand over the stove a bit too long and steam her salines. :)

[Daffynition]

Jacques Pépin. Extraordinary chef/guy... I forgive him for being a Frenchman.

[Old Professer]

Ina Garten... obviously a vegetarian.

[D_Idaho]

Bourdain’s TV show “No Reservations” is one of the only shows I watch anymore. The guy just has a down to earth manner that is refreshing.

[Petronski]

Kitchen Confidential as a book on tape is GOLD.

Almost wrecked my car, more than once.

[HIDEK6]

Where's Emeril?

Where's Justin?

Where's Graham Kerr?