Giada De Laurentiis Biography

Fast Facts

• Active supporter of Oxfam America, an international relief organization that aims to combat hunger
• Being the daughter of Italian actress Veronica De Laurentiis and producer Alex De Benedetti, she claims that she never wanted to go into show business due to being camera shy
• Aspired to be a pastry chef, studying at Le Cordon Bleu in Paris, France, before returning to Los Angeles to work as a professional chef
• Quote: "If people are made to feel uncomfortable in the kitchen, they won't go in there․ That's why I think children learning to cook can be such a wonderful thing․ It can help build confidence, make them feel good about themselves․"
• Quote: "I come from a place where I think life is never perfect․ If we look deep inside, there are issues everywhere․"
• Founded the Los Angeles-based catering company GDL Foods
• In 2002, she contracted with the Food Network as a food stylist and styled a piece in Food & Wine Magazine
• Released her first cookbook, "Everyday Italian," in 2005