It's hard being a celebrity these days. It's not enough to just act or sing -- one often needs to also have various other brand extensions to stay in the limelight. So what's an obvious field? Why, food, of course.
Check out these 15 celebrities that are food experts (or at least claim to be).
1
Gwyneth Paltrow
Gwyneth is probably the first person many people think of when they hear the words "food" and "celebrity." She's published two cookbooks and has graced the cover of Bon Appetit.
Food Authority Grade: B+, with hesitation. Look, we know that her diet suggestions can be ridiculous and unrealistic. And sometimes we even make fun of her. But the thing is, even if you disagree with her, she actually backs up what she's talking about. Her lifestyle may be far from ours, but at least she isn't just pretending.
Food Authority Grade: B+, with hesitation. Look, we know that her diet suggestions can be ridiculous and unrealistic. And sometimes we even make fun of her. But the thing is, even if you disagree with her, she actually backs up what she's talking about. Her lifestyle may be far from ours, but at least she isn't just pretending.
2
Ali Larter
Ali Larter, perhaps best known for that scene in "Varsity Blues," has traded whipped cream for sea salt. Her Kitchen Revelry Tumblr features recipes and entertaining advice and her first cookbook debuted this past September.
Food Authority Grade: B. Larter's recipes are healthy and approachable -- we'd definitely make many of these at home. But they are also relatively simple (do we need yet another meatball recipe?). Would she have a cookbook if not for her celeb status? No.
Food Authority Grade: B. Larter's recipes are healthy and approachable -- we'd definitely make many of these at home. But they are also relatively simple (do we need yet another meatball recipe?). Would she have a cookbook if not for her celeb status? No.
3
Haylie Duff
Haylie Duff also has a cookbook out named after her blog, Real Girl's Kitchen.
Food Authority Grade: C. Getting a cookbook deal counts for something but Duff's blog is all over the place. Her restaurant reviews are barely reviews and her recipes leave a bit to be desired (how much tuna? Does "Half of one lemon juice" mean "the juice of of half a lemon?").
Food Authority Grade: C. Getting a cookbook deal counts for something but Duff's blog is all over the place. Her restaurant reviews are barely reviews and her recipes leave a bit to be desired (how much tuna? Does "Half of one lemon juice" mean "the juice of of half a lemon?").
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4
Stanley Tucci
If you have a PBS show devoted to food and wine, you know you've made it in the food world. In addition to acting in food-focused movies including "Big Night" and "Julie & Julia," Tucci also has a cookbook featuring a foreward by Mario Batali.
Food Authority Grade: A. Because Stanley Tucci can do no wrong, even if we sometimes confuse him with his "Big Night" character. We want him at our dinner table.
Food Authority Grade: A. Because Stanley Tucci can do no wrong, even if we sometimes confuse him with his "Big Night" character. We want him at our dinner table.
5
Sheryl Crow
Obviously, Sheryl Crow titled her cookbook "If It Makes You Healthy." After her battle with breast cancer, Crow was inspired to eat healthy and in-season.
Food Authority Grade: B. In addition to her cookbook, Crow is also an anti-hunger advocate and does a lot of work with the World Food Program.
Food Authority Grade: B. In addition to her cookbook, Crow is also an anti-hunger advocate and does a lot of work with the World Food Program.
6
Eva Longoria
Like Sheryl Crow, Eva Longoria's interest in food goes beyond recipes. She was the Executive Producer for several films about farm workers' rights. But yes, the "Desperate Housewives" star also does have a cookbook.
Food Authority Grade: B+. We'll give Longoria credit for working with films that have an important story to be told. And her recipes aren't bad, either... just not ground-breaking.
Food Authority Grade: B+. We'll give Longoria credit for working with films that have an important story to be told. And her recipes aren't bad, either... just not ground-breaking.
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7
Lauren Conrad
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Lauren Conrad's lifestyle website features a "dine" section with recipes such as chicken soup and spiked cider. The photography is actually quite good, and often includes photos of Lauren cooking.
Food Authority Grade: B-. Conrad's blog is one of the nicer-looking celeb lifestyle blogs out there. If you need easy entertaining tips, her blog isn't a terrible place to start.
Food Authority Grade: B-. Conrad's blog is one of the nicer-looking celeb lifestyle blogs out there. If you need easy entertaining tips, her blog isn't a terrible place to start.
8
Alicia Silverstone
The "Clueless" star has been an outspoken vegan for many years. Her website, The Kind Life, offers a comprehensive recipe section. Silverstone also has a cookbook out devoted to losing weight and saving the planet.
Food Authority Grade: C+. If you're a vegan or interested in vegan food, Silverstone offers useful tips and lifestyle advice. But if you're not, you won't find much in common, food-wise.
Food Authority Grade: C+. If you're a vegan or interested in vegan food, Silverstone offers useful tips and lifestyle advice. But if you're not, you won't find much in common, food-wise.
9
Trisha Yearwood
From country start to Food Network star! Trisha Yearwood has two cookbooks under her belt and a cable show called "Trisha's Southern Kitchen" to boot.
Food Authority Grade: B+. Having a Food Network show doesn't guarantee that you're a bonafide food expert, but it does mean that the recipes are reliable... even if we occasionally question why anyone would make them.
Food Authority Grade: B+. Having a Food Network show doesn't guarantee that you're a bonafide food expert, but it does mean that the recipes are reliable... even if we occasionally question why anyone would make them.
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11
Valerie Bertinelli
Actress Valerie Bertinelli has a cookbook and cookware line.
Food Authority Grade: B. The Jenny Craig ambassador knows what she's doing, but we don't really need yet another healthy eating guru.
Food Authority Grade: B. The Jenny Craig ambassador knows what she's doing, but we don't really need yet another healthy eating guru.
12
Real Housewives: Teresa Guidice, Lisa Vanderpump, Kathy Wakile, Bethenny Frankel
We're grouping all of these ladies into one since they have all used the "Real Housewives" franchise to extend their supposed food expertise further. Are they all the same? Well, no. But do we need another brand extension of the Skinnygirl line or more Italian cooking advice from Teresa Guidice? Also no.
Food Authority Grade: C-. Just because the ones that don't have any business claiming they know about food bring down the ones that do.
Food Authority Grade: C-. Just because the ones that don't have any business claiming they know about food bring down the ones that do.
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13
Adrian Grenier
The "Entourage" star co-founded SHFT, an online platform that encourages a more sustainable lifestyle. The website discusses a range of contemporary food issues such as GMOs. Grenier also occasionally blogs for The Huffington Post about food environment topics such as bluefin tuna extinction.
Food Authority Grade: B. Grenier knows his way around important food issues and uses his fame to draw attention to important causes... but we're not expecting his advocacy to cross over into cookbook territory anytime soon.
Food Authority Grade: B. Grenier knows his way around important food issues and uses his fame to draw attention to important causes... but we're not expecting his advocacy to cross over into cookbook territory anytime soon.
14
Gloria Estefan
In 2008, Gloria Estefan and her husband Emilio debuted Estefan Kitchen, a collection of Cuban recipes. The couple has owns Bongos, a Cuban restaurant in Miami, among others.
Food Authority Grade: B+. Estefan's Cuban roots are well-documented and while her restaurants may get lukewarm reviews, she's proven through her multiple businesses that food is an important part of her life.
Food Authority Grade: B+. Estefan's Cuban roots are well-documented and while her restaurants may get lukewarm reviews, she's proven through her multiple businesses that food is an important part of her life.
15
Jessica Seinfeld
Jerry Seinfeld's wife is the author of twocookbooks -- one for novice chefs and one for parents who want to sneak more vegetables into their kids' food. Her website, Do It Delicious, is a useful resource for beginner cooks.
Food Authority Grade: A-. We wish that Seinfeld would treat vegetables as something that don't need to be hidden away, but we get that kids can be kids sometimes.
Food Authority Grade: A-. We wish that Seinfeld would treat vegetables as something that don't need to be hidden away, but we get that kids can be kids sometimes.
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16
Honorable Mentions
Neil Patrick Harris: Because he has a whole Twitter account devoted to food porn.
Blake Lively: The "Gossip Girl" star is vague about her plans for a future lifestyle site, but calls Martha Stewart and Gwyneth Paltrow her inspiration.
Ted Danson: Danson is a board member of Oceana and is passionate about saving our oceans -- a topic that has a lot to do with food as well.
Blake Lively: The "Gossip Girl" star is vague about her plans for a future lifestyle site, but calls Martha Stewart and Gwyneth Paltrow her inspiration.
Ted Danson: Danson is a board member of Oceana and is passionate about saving our oceans -- a topic that has a lot to do with food as well.