My Dinner With Rachael Ray
Food Network darling lights a fire under Family Supper.
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 TOASTY TWOSOME: Rachael Ray with Family Supper's Naomi Hebberoy IMAGE: BYRON BECK |
[March 1st, 2006] Rachael Ray was late for dinner.
When P-town's coolest foodie couple, Naomi and Michael Hebberoy (ripe, clarklewis, Gotham Bldg. Tavern), invited me and my partner, Juan, to dine with one of television's hottest foodies at Family Supper—their legendary NoPo meal where big platters of food are passed around at long communal tables—I jumped at the chance. I wasn't about to miss a once-in-a-lifetime dining experience with Ray—the Muppet-mouthed star of such Food Network faves as 30 Minute Meals and $40 a Day.
In town to tape segments for another of her shows, Tasty Travels, Ray had already bought five pairs of shoes before spending time at the Pearl Bakery and Powell's, as well as chowing on scallops at our fave gay piano bar, Hobo's (love to know who suggested that place). But she was late to Family Supper.
Juan and I were already on our second glass of wine before a diminutive woman blew into the dining room with a blunt "hi" that sounded more like "get out of my way." It was Ray. And she had work to do.
Soon bright lights went up, the music was turned down and the convivial magic that is Family Supper came to a screeching halt. Seemed Ray wanted to be served first. And she wanted it to happen "right now." What a b-i-t-c-h. That's not how Family Supper works.
That meant my off-camera table, made up of Gang of Four's Dave Allen, a dessert maker and a lovely insurance agent named Noah, would have to keep waiting to eat—at least until the dicey diva was properly miked. Ray was sitting all the way at the other end of the room with a group of gals who looked like the Ukrainian version of Desperate Housewives. They were rapidly replaced with camera-friendly dinner guests (it was all about the "clothes colors," we were told). Before chef Tommy Habetz's out-of-this-world meal of slow-roasted Carlton pork-shoulder arista and Tuscan kale gratinata arrived, the only words that came wafting down from Ray's end of the table were pronouncements like "Rachael had a great meal at a 'Blue' place today." I assumed I knew where she was talking about. Imagine my shock to find out later that the meal she had expounded on, in great detail, was from the Belmont jazz club Blue Monk, not Bluehour.
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That's the thing about Ray. She's full of surprises. Was she brash at the beginning? Sure, it's her style. But once the food was served and the wine started flowing (this girl loves her wine), Ray seemed to lighten up—a lot.
In fact, she reminded me of a cool high-school chick who just happens to love to cook. Skipping dessert ("I drink, I don't do desserts," she cooed), Ray parked herself outside for a smoke and a little conversation. It seemed that underneath her TV-ready sound bites of "awesome!" and "wow!" this charming (yet, off-camera, foul-mouthed) starlet really did get it.
"Hey, Tommy," I overheard Ray say to one of Portland's best chefs, "There aren't many original stories left in the world of food anymore. And [Family Supper] is one of them. I'm coming back. And I'm bringing my magazine out here, too."
Maybe next time she'll treat us more like family, too.
My Dinner With Rachael Ray
Responding to commentor above, Beck's column is one of the only regular first-person columns in Portland, and one that is regularly fresh and interesting. His coverage of his own marriage and his interview with Vera Katz about her illness have been some of the highlights of my WW reading over the last 5 or 6 years.
Too bad you want to force him to simply be a mouthpiece for the gay community because what makes his columns good is that they are about the days and nights of a more or less culturally-engaged human who happens to be gay. Some of his columns are gay-er than others, some are Super Gay, but to restrict him solely to addressing "gay community" issues would a.) waste his talent and b.) not be half as interesting. Kudos to Beck for the courage to write whatever the hell he wants and not be boxed into just being the gay guy on staff at the WW.
—Marie Antoinette
My Dinner With Rachael Ray
Who cares?
Life amongst you Pearl types must be awfully trivial.
—len
My Dinner With Rachael Ray
....and the point of this article:
1. To annoy the general public?
2. To tell the world how gay you are?
3. To inform Portland that you are on the societal C-list (wanna bes)?
4. To "OUT" the Hebberoys?
5. To put me to sleep faster than a presurgical shot of something from the Benzodiazepine group?
6. To show how community college journalism classes can get you a job at WW?
—Byron Bust
My Dinner With Rachael Ray
Hey "len". I care. Because I am a fan of Rachel Ray and because I love food.
—wonder
My Dinner With Rachael Ray
thank you for the mention about the blue monk. if you get a chance to get over to the south east side drop in.
—chris joseph
My Dinner With Rachael Ray
In response to Marie Antoinette, one should not have a weekly column (albeit dull and unoriginal---even for Portland standards) entitled QUEER WINDOW if one is not expected to “be a mouth piece for the gay community.”
"His coverage of his own marriage and his interview with Vera Katz about her illness have been some of the highlights of my WW reading over the last 5 or 6 years.” Girl, have you lost your head or is it stuck in Willamette Week/River sand? If you consider that good journalism, you should be invited to dine with Beck.
—Marie Antoinette was a girl IDIOT who lost her head....
My Dinner With Rachael Ray
It's miraculous! In several short years Beck has transformed himself from a sniveling self-loathing homophobic queerboy into Just Out's posterboy for Prop 36. Perversity truly is the mother of re-invention. Keep up the good work!
—zorro, the gay blade
My Dinner With Rachael Ray
Being one the Desperate Housewives that you referred to in your piece..... Nay, we were not replaced. There was one person added to the mix for a better color / shot. Ray sat down at our end of the table by chance. Sounds to me like you are only jealous. I believe you are a “Housewife wanna be” She was there to do a job and was on a fairly tight schedule. I, again being right there from the moment she walked in, thought she was fun and friendly from the time she got there. There was business to do, she got that out of the way and then was able to relax. Remember you were there as a guest and you knew going in it wasn’t going to be the same ole’ same ole’. Naomi made that clear. Don't make assumptions out of spite. Who do you think got her into the swing of things? Who did she “hang” with all night? Sorry you are too trite to have had a nice evening as it should have been.
—A Desperate Housewife
My Dinner With Rachael Ray
Why is this in the paper when there are ACTUAL issues affecting the gay community in Portland, and if it won a Pulitzer, shouldn't it encourage its writers to dig deeper than ridiculous gossip that appears to be nothing but whining from a spiteful never-was? How is this relevant—unless were there *really* no other culture happenings in Portland last week? Unless Beck bucks up, QW is nothing but a blemish to the paper's credibility.
—
My Dinner With Rachael Ray
Good god, mary, that was all about you, your "access", and a self-indulgent unloading of a mediocre piece of gossip at best and a twisted means of social elevation at worst.
Even Kansans know that media is shallow and its personalities moody, what we don't know is the stories of your local gay population, which may sometimes be just as dishy. Save this kind of crap for message boards and coffee klatsches with aforesaid Desperate Housewives. And please, for the sake of the gay population that gets creamed and slandered by the religious right every day, create columns that are entertaining AND make a difference (not to mention a legacy for you).
P.S. I got the link from Queerty.com, and I think this real bore of a story was a rare miss for them
—American In Paris
My Dinner With Rachael Ray
Loved the article. As a fan of this column and the food network, I found it a quick glimpse through the veil. It's the height of rudeness to think that yourself comes before anyone else. She is unbeliveable and I hope her talk-show flops.
—Andy Butler
My Dinner With Rachael Ray
Wow, so cool. Rachael Ray rocks! I managed to meet her at the Ecotrust building, downtown, while she was fiiming her show!
—Oregon Guy
My Dinner With Rachael Ray
Does it matter what happened at this feast is it not more about forgiveness and letting what happened go!!! she is a great food person and is very talented with her 3 shows! let's not forget that people are not always what they seem on tv but u know rachel ray does eat dessert i saw her on tv and drink lots of beer i don't think that is setting a good example but she is of age though so!!! but let it go maybe she had a bad day that day was running late Etc!!!!
—Rebekah
My Dinner With Rachael Ray
Actually, you ARE our version of Carrie Bradshaw. I applaud your fearless honesty and refusal to be a shallow mouthpiece for the celebrity machine. Money and fame are poor excuses for incivility and selfishness. Go get 'em, Stud!
—Beck fan
Ray may be on top for now, but she will crash and burn like the Hindenburg. After all, her head is nearly as big.
It is easy to see your jealously over the success of Rachael. You should jump off a cliff. Your gay lover probably eats a lot of McDonalds because your cooking would choke a cow you cow.
Actually I would think RR has a lot in common with the gay community. Due to social attitudes, she is forced to keep many facets of her personality hidden. Her husband is a beard. She could learn a thing or two from Rupaul and others about "hiding her candy" -- such as it is, when she's at a charity event. I agree that she will crash like the Hindenberg, except that this time everyone will be laughing.
She is a Smoker...Ewwwwwwwwww. What a piece of nasty filthy low life white trash!
Thank you for a great article on Ms.Ray. I knew something just wasn't right... so she is foul-mouthed as well as a smoker! Wonderful!
You did us all a great service by reporting the not-so-pretty side. Her morning show is not suitable for all audiences--she's often disgusting with sex.inuendo, besides being just plain rude to her guests & studio audience. Swilling wine in the morning, sets a bad example (no matter that she is preparing 'dinner'...it's only 10a.m.!)
I wonder what Oprah thinks of her little prodigal one now.
-julier
I DONT BELIEVE YOUR STORY AT ALL! SHES NOT AT ALL LIKE WHAT U ARE SAYING!!!!! THATS A BUNCH OF CRAP!!!!!! STOP SAYING STUPID THINGS LIKE THAT!!!!!!! I LUV RR!!!!!!!!
"Hey, Tommy," I overheard Ray say to one of Portland's best chefs, "There aren't many original stories left in the world of food anymore.>>
I guess she would know, since every episode of 30 Minute Meals has the same damn script. In fact, it has only 10 minutes worth of the same damn script. It just repeats after that.
It smells INSANE in here already!
My Dinner With Rachael Ray
Good grief Beck! You're not Carrie Bradshaw. No one cares about how you spend your days or evenings. When will you start writing about issues that actually speak to the gay community... And when did Rachael Ray become a queer icon anyway? zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
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