Staying in? What to eat with what you watch

Tom Colicchio

These days, being a celebrity chef requires much more than just impressive culinary skills. Famous foodies like Emeril Lagasse and Rachael Ray, for example, have branded everything from cookware and magazines to restaurants and spice rubs. Here, check out the personalities who have set the culinary world on fire.

The chef, who is co-founder of Gramercy Tavern in New York City and the founder of the Craft restaurant chain, became a household name as the no-nonsense head judge on Bravo’s “Top Chef.” (Riccardo Savi / Getty Images) Share Back to slideshow navigation

Marcus Samuelsson

The Swedish chef, who was born in Ethiopia, had the honor of serving as guest chef for the Obama administration’s first state dinner in 2009. As executive chef of New York City’s Aquavit restaurant, he was also the youngest chef to receive a three-star restaurant review from The New York Times. He has a second restaurant, Riingo, and has appeared on “Iron Chef America” and “Top Chef Masters.” (Rob Loud / Getty Images) Share Back to slideshow navigation

Ellie Krieger

This health-conscious Food Network star finds ways to make even decadent desserts nutritious on her show “Healthy Appetite.” She is the author of two cookbooks and is a registered dietitian and nutritionist. (Food Network) Share Back to slideshow navigation

Ming Tsai

Known for his fusion dishes, the Chinese-American chef hosts the PBS show “Simply Ming” and has appeared on “Iron Chef America.” In addition, he was also named one of People magazine’s 50 Most Beautiful People in 2000. His restaurant, Blue Ginger, is located in Wellesley, Mass., and features an “East meets West” menu with dishes like pan roasted veal chop with Dijon-demi, soba-bacon spaetzle, sake braised cabbage and Asian pear chutney. (Anthony Tieuli / Reuters) Share Back to slideshow navigation

Mario Batali

Chef Mario Batali is shown at Babbo, one of the New York City restaurants he co-owns and operates. Batali, along with sharing his love of good food by way of his television cooking shows, writes cookbooks: His latest is "The Babbo Cookbook.'' (Beth A. Keiser / AP) Share Back to slideshow navigation

Padma Lakshmi

The statuesque “Top Chef” host has written two cookbooks featuring Indian fusion recipes. She modeled for several years and previously hosed a Food Network series called “Padma’s Passport.” She was married to author Salman Rushdie for three years, but the couple divorced in 2007. In February 2010, she gave birth to a daughter, Krishna, confirming a month later that the child’s father is Adam Dell. (Riccardo Savi / Getty Images) Share Back to slideshow navigation

Guy Fieri

The bleach blond blinged-out chef and restaurant owner gained fame after winning the second season of “The Next Food Network Star” and soon got his own show, “Guy’s Big Bite.” He then got a second show, “Diners, Drive-ins and Dives,” and since has appeared on several other cooking and food competition shows. He co-owns five California restaurants, including Johnny Garlic’s and Tex Wasabi’s, and is now the host of the NBC game show, “Minute To Win It.” (Scott Gries / Getty Images) Share Back to slideshow navigation

Eric Ripert

The executive chef and part-owner of the world-famous Le Bernardin in New York City was born in France and learned his culinary skills from his grandmother. The restaurant, dubbed the “Temple of Seafood,” is one of the highest rated restaurants in the world. Ripert has appeared on “Top Chef” and on several episodes of Anthony Bourdain’s “No Reservations.” (J. Scott Applewhite / AP) Share Back to slideshow navigation

The Swedish Chef

“Börk, börk, börk!” The Swedish Chef character from “The Muppet Show” was created as a parody of TV chefs. (The Muppet Studios LLC) Share Back to slideshow navigation

Curtis Stone

The Aussie heartthrob and chef has made several appearances on TODAY as well “The Biggest Loser” and “The Oprah Winfrey Show.” He started his culinary career at the Savoy Hotel in Australia at 18 years old and soon did television in the UK. He also starred in TLC’s “Take Home Chef” and is the author of several cookbooks. In 2006, he was named one of People magazine’s sexiest men alive. (Simon Fergusson / Getty Images) Share Back to slideshow navigation

Alton Brown

After blinding viewers with food science on the Food Network show "Good Eats," quirky chef Alton Brown also worked on a road-tripping series for the network called "Feasting on Asphalt." He has authored three books, including one devoted to baking and one about kitchen gadgets. (Gregory Smith / AP) Share Back to slideshow navigation

Cat Cora

In 2005, Cat Cora became the first female Iron Chef on the Food Network program "Iron Chef America." The Mississippi native is the author of two cookbooks, and also the co-founder of Chefs for Humanity, a non-profit that was created in response to the 2004 tsunami disaster. (AP) Share Back to slideshow navigation

Rocco DiSpirito

Queens-born chef, cookbook author and restaurant owner Rocco DiSpirito is known for his Italian-American cooking and fusion cuisine. He started his TV career with the NBC reality show, "The Restaurant,' which followed the opening of his restuarant, Rocco's on 22nd Street, which closed in 2004. He's also made himself a presence on NBC's "Biggest Loser" franchise and ABC's "Dancing with the Stars." (AP) Share Back to slideshow navigation

Tyler Florence

Tyler Florence's brand of "honest" cooking led him to the Food Network lineup, where he hosted several shows, including "Food 911," "How to Boil Water," and "Tyler's Ultimate." He has also published cookbooks which focus on simple, uncomplicated recipes. (Michael Buckner / Getty Images) Share Back to slideshow navigation

Giada De Laurentiis

Italian-American chef and TODAY guest co-host Giada De Laurentiis hosts a handful of Food Network programs, including "Everyday Italian." Some of her projects are the show, "Giada at Home," five cookbooks including "Giada's Kitchen" and 'Giada At Home," and a baby daughter named Jade.

• Giada De Laurentiis has baby girl! (Heidi Gutman / NBC) Share Back to slideshow navigation

Masaharu Morimoto

Japanese chef Masaharu Morimoto is best known for his unique fusion cuisine and his status as an Iron Chef on both the Japanese and American versions of the program. After working as executive chef at New York City's Nobu, he opened his own restaurant, Morimoto, which has multiple locations. (Everett Collection) Share Back to slideshow navigation

Jamie Oliver

For Jamie Oliver, cooking is all about stripping food down to the bare essentials, so it makes sense that he's best known as "The Naked Chef." After the success of his books and television series, the English chef decided to give back to the community by launching "Feed Me Better," a national campaign for more nutritious school lunches. This led to his current project, "Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution," on ABC.

• Jamie Oliver's perfect pasta (Gareth Cattermole / Getty Images) Share Back to slideshow navigation

Wolfgang Puck

Credited with reviving California's culinary scene, Austrian chef Wolfgang Puck is best known for cooking and catering to world leaders and Hollywood stars. He has a collection of restaurants, as well as a line of convenience foods, and has authored a number of cookbooks. (Noel Vasquez / Getty Images) Share Back to slideshow navigation

Rachael Ray

Simple recipes that can be prepared in 30 minutes are the foundation of Rachael Ray's media empire, which includes multiple Food Network series, a syndicated talk show, best-selling cookbooks, a magazine, TV commercials and product endorsements. Ray draws upon her Sicilian/Cajun-French heritage in her cooking style. (David M. Russell / AP) Share Back to slideshow navigation

Alice Waters

Alice Waters has become the face and voice of the locally grown, fresh food movement. She is credited with developing California Cuisine and promotes organic food, campaigning for and succeeding in bringing healthier food to the Berkeley, Calif. school system. She is the co-owner of Chez Panisse in Berkeley. (Paul Sakuma / AP) Share Back to slideshow navigation

Remy

The unlikely hero of the animated family comedy "Ratatouille," Remy is a French rat with an extraordinary sense of smell and the soul of a great chef -- attributes he uses to guide a clumsy kitchen janitor to culinary triumph. Comedian Patton Oswalt supplied Remy's voice in the critically acclaimed hit. (Pixar Animation Studios) Share Back to slideshow navigation