It’s ‘Not About Cooking & Learning’ Anymore

Actress and cookbook author Valerie Bertinelli didn’t hold back when she was asked about the current state of Food Network, her former employer.

A fan on Threads, a social media app that allows users to engage in public conversations, said that they’ve grown tired of all the cooking competitions that are replacing cooking shows. In response to the comment, Bertinelli slammed Food Network for taking the focus away from cooking and learning. She also commended the pioneering hosts of the network, including Ina Garten and Giada De Laurentiis.

“I fell in love with Food Network two decades ago because of all the amazing ITK [in the kitchen] shows. 30 minute meals, Ina, Giada…the list goes on. I learned so much. It’s sad it’s not about cooking and learning any longer. Oh well, that’s just business, folks,” she wrote.

Bertinelli’s remarks come a year after her show, Valerie’s Home Cooking, was canceled after 14 seasons on Food Network. And earlier this year, she was also let go from the network’s series Kids Baking Championship. Bertinelli had served as co-host and judge on the baking competition show since it debuted in 2015.

Although her Food Network days may be behind her, Bertinelli did recently complete a major career milestone. On April 2, she released her cookbook, Indulge: Delicious and Decadent Dishes to Enjoy and Share. In celebration of Indulge, Bertinelli has set off on a book tour that will take her to many cities across the country.

Update: On April 17, Bertinelli walked back her earlier comments in a post on X. “I will always be very grateful that I was able to work for them for seven years,” she wrote.

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