Giada De Laurentiis

Emmy Award-winning personality Giada De Laurentiis has become a household name. With an impressive background of culinary training and a unique personable charm, she is a globally revered celebrity chef. She continues to prove her skill and accessibility not only with her expanding presence beyond Food Network but also with the great success of her cookbooks, brand alliances, newly launched food products and recurring role on the Today show.

Born in Rome, Giada grew up in a large Italian family where the culture of food was a staple in and of itself. She developed a passion for cooking and began her professional training at Le Cordon Bleu in Paris, specializing in both cuisine and pastry. She moved to Los Angeles, where her training included positions at the prestigious Ritz Carlton Fine Dining Room and Wolfgang Puck's Spago in Beverly Hills. She later founded GDL Foods, a catering company in Los Angeles.

Giada joined the Food Network in 2002. Since then, she has earned an Emmy for Outstanding Lifestyle Host and has become one of Food Network's most recognizable faces. Her Emmy award winning, daytime cooking show, "Everyday Italian" featured quick, healthy and satisfying Italian dishes. Her primetime show, "Giada's Weekend Getaways" debuted in January 2007 and followed Giada to popular destinations in and around the United States as she explored the cities' most notable restaurants and activities. She is also a judge on the highly popular series "Next Food Network Star."

Giada can also be seen in the highly rated "Giada at Home," where she plans and prepares meals and parties for family and friends and in Food Network specials, such as "Giada in Paradise: Capri and Santorini." Her cookbooks were New York Times bestsellers, and include Everyday Italian, Giada's Family Dinners, Everyday Pasta, Giada's Kitchen and Giada at Home.

De Laurentiis has partnered with Target to launch her own exclusive products for their chain of stores nationwide. The Giada De Laurentiis for Target collection offers guests the craftsmanship, quality and affordable prices they expect from Target. The assortment ranges from pasta sauces and flavored coffee to kitchen essentials, such as stainless steel cookware, ceramic bake ware and nylon tools, all designed with the at-home cook in mind. The collection captures Giada's signature style with a fresh, modern twist on the tools, gadgets and food needed to make easy and affordable meals every day.

She is also a guest co-host on the NBC's "Today Show," where she highlights current trends in travel, cuisine and lifestyle.

As dedicated to helping others as she is to cooking, Giada is a celebrity ambassador for Oxfam America, which highlights the struggles of the billion people around the world who are chronically hungry.