Giada de Laurentiis is the charming host of the Food Network’s hit show, Everyday Italian. A private chef and caterer in Los Angeles, Giada had no intention of getting into the family business of entertaining (she is the granddaughter of the famous producer Dino de Laurentiis).

Giada was born in Rome, Italy in 1970. At the age of seven, her family moved to southern California. She attended UCLA where she attained a degree in social anthropology.

Giada started her culinary career by attending Le Cordon Bleu in Paris. She returned to Los Angeles to work in a number of restaurants including Wolfgang Puck’s Spago. Later, Giada started her own catering company, GDL Foods.

After a piece in Food & Wine magazine, Giada was noticed by Food Network executives. She was given her own show in 2003, Everyday Italian. In 2004, Giada teamed up with Mario Batali to host the TV special, An Italian Christmas with Mario and Giada. Giada recently published her first cookbook, Everyday Italian: 125 Simple and Delicious Recipes (2005).