Kevin's Watch

It's official: Kitchen queen Rachael Ray's EVOO is a word

By Walter Nicholls
Washington Post

Prolific phenom Rachael Ray -- with 13 cookbooks, a lifestyle magazine, three television programs and branded cookware, appliances and cutlery -- has officially become a wordsmith.

One of her catchphrases will be immortalized in the 2007 edition of the Oxford American College Dictionary. That would be EVOO, short for extra-virgin olive oil.

``It's C-O-O-L,'' Ray writes us in an e-mail.

Unlike ``yummo,'' another of her favorites, EVOO ``is not a made-up word anymore,'' she writes.

She calls the term ``a time-saver. It's a mouthful to say extra-virgin olive oil over and over again,'' especially when it is your ``most important kitchen ingredient.''

For those who haven't seen Ray on television, EVOO is pronounced a letter at a time, E-V-O-O.

Erin McKean, editor in chief of Oxford University Press, presented Ray with a certificate, saying: ``We look at thousands of words every year, and very few of them get in. It has to be useful to people, and we see people using EVOO.''

Wouldn't that be an acronym, rather than a word?

--A

Not even that. An acronym is a word made from initials; this is just saying the initials--abbreviation.

It's insane, is what it is.

I despise Rachael Ray...

Why?

Aw, Menolly, don't be knockin' the Rachel Ray just because of EVOO. Yes it's a lame lingo-ism thing, but it's no worse that the pop-psych soundbites that idiot Dr. Phil spouts out in that annoying Texas "What you need to do is" drawl.

If you want to talk about annoying Food Network chicks, what about Sandra Dee? I hate when she uses the word 'tablescape'. It always gives me the urge to reach into the TV and slap her.

And somebody needs to tell Giada DeLaurentiis that her smile is creepy - brandishing your teeth at the camera is no substitute for a smile, no matter how thin and pretty you are. <Gah!>

DW

EVOO is about the dumbest possible "word" in existence. I think the people who make decisions about what should become a word have fallen down on the job and should all be fired immediately.

I see an entry for "abc bad things" a-comin'!

Rachel doesn't bother me half as much as Emeril. I can't watch more than 5 minutes of him.

Alton Brown is my favorite Food Network personality. I like the scientific angle to Good Eats.

Well, seriously, EVOO is the stupidest thing I have heard of in a long time. Saying E V O O isn't any easier or time saving compared to saying extra virgin olive oil. It's just stupid. Stupid, stupid STUPID!!!! Someone should seriously slap both Rachel Ray and the person who decided that it should be made a word. Slap them both, several times, hard.

Cameraman Jenn wrote:Well, seriously, EVOO is the stupidest thing I have heard of in a long time. Saying E V O O isn't any easier or time saving compared to saying extra virgin olive oil. It's just stupid. Stupid, stupid STUPID!!!! Someone should seriously slap both Rachel Ray and the person who decided that it should be made a word. Slap them both, several times, hard.

:::bares repeating:::

Hear!!! Hear!!!

A post I made regarding Food Network hosts on a cooking forum I frequent:

>> I don't care for Essense of Emeril, but his Live show is AWESOME!!!!!<<


See, now this is where we disagree.

I think the Live show is too full of hype, BAM!, and the audience cheering him on to add ever more wine, cayenne, and/or garlic. And while Doc Gibbs and band are terrific and entertaining, do they really belong on a cooking show? C’mon, it’s not The Tonight Show.

Whereas, on the Essence show, Emeril can calm down and teach techniques while he makes a recipe.

Ina also shows great techniques, and most of her recipes are awesome. But her giggle drives me nuts, especially around Jeffrey. And her general mellow manner just does not hold my attention.

I can’t watch Sandra Lee at all; she’s an accident waiting to happen. I wonder how many times a show had to be reshot because her long, flowing sleeves caught on fire? And how many people have kitchens that can be redone to match the outfit of the day?

Don't get me started on my dislike of Rachael Ray. She was quoted in an interview as saying she never even tried the majority of the recipes in her 365 30 Minute Meals (or whatever it's called) cookbook. Any cookbook author who will release a recipe book without at least testing the recipes looses any respect I may have had for them. But, I never had any for RR...

I admit I use convenience foods on occasion. But if I made Sandra’s recipes, my sodium intake would go through the roof.

I like Paula Deen, especially in the older shows at Gordon Elliot’s house. Since relocating the how to the kitchen in her new home with Michael, she strikes me as presenting herself as a caricature of herself, especially on Paula’s Party, and I find that sad.

I love Giada on Everyday Italian, I learn so much from her. But I can do without Behind the Bash and the new travel show.

Sarah Moulton’s contract with Food Network was not renewed over a year or so ago. I personally think FN made a big mistake there, and am glad she is still a correspondent on Good Morning America.

My favorite FN host is Alton Brown. I just love both Good Eats and Iron Chef America. I can even watch Bobby Flay, who I think is terribly arrogant towards others on his various shows, on ICA.

I also like Tyler Florence (hubba, hubba!). Besides being easy on the eyes, he teaches well and makes terrific recipes.

I've got a better word than evoo.....stupifinity. Definition: Infinite stupidity Example: evoo

Wow, you guys watch a lot of food network.

Food Network is white noise for me, unless a show is on that I want to watch.

Meh, I like Rachel Ray.

It's not about liking or disliking Rachael Ray for me, it's about the stupidity of actually making that a word. I swear if I EVER hear anyone use that I am going to jam a spoon up their nose.

I am going to jam a spoon up their nose.

OK who do we speak to about making an emoticon of that?

HAHAHAHA! That would rule....Vain oh Vain darling, where you at?

dlbpharmd wrote:Meh, I like Rachel Ray.

Oh Don...

Even though you're a Vol, I had such high hopes for you...

Menolly wrote:

dlbpharmd wrote:Meh, I like Rachel Ray.

Oh Don...

Even though you're a Vol, I had such high hopes for you...