Document text
- Subscribe - Contact Us - Rate Card - Place an Ad Valley&State Backpage O&E Sports Archives Classifieds Faith&Beliefs Obituaries Revels October 21, 2004 Ashland on '$40 a Day' By Bill Choy Ashland Daily Tidings Clutching a copy of a Rachel Ray cookbook, Roxanne Faull waited in anticipation for the Food Network personality to film at Lela's Bakery & Cafe on Wednesday. Rachel Ray, host of the TV show "$40 a Day," speaks with her server, Toki Cavener, during a break in filming Wednesday at Lela's Restaurant. Denise Baratta | Ashland Daily Tidings Ray was at the restaurant to film a segment of her show "$40 a Day," which was filming in Ashland and in Central Point on Wednesday and today. She is also host of two other Food Network programs: "30 Minute Meals" and "Inside Dish with Rachel Ray," which premieres in November. "I'm a big fan," said Faull of Phoenix, as she sat for lunch with her husband Tom. "She is the only chef who has encouraged me to try new things in my cooking and to experiment. [My husband] loves it. When I heard she was here, I had to come." Packed to near capacity, the restaurant buzzed with activity when Ray and her crew entered the A Street establishment about 11:30 a.m. and quickly went to work filming the show. They were in and out in about 90 minutes. The show goes to cities around the country and the world, sampling local cuisine on a $40 budget, including tax and tip. The crew filmed several takes of owner-chef Lela Sherdon showing Ray to her table. During one take, the espresso machine drowned out the sound, and in another take, the director wanted Sherdon to speak closer to Ray. While waiting for the camera crew to set up different shots, or waiting for her food, Ray spent the time signing autographs, singing a rendition of Cat Stevens "Peace Train" to her crew, or applying some makeup. At Lela's, she ordered a roasted primavera panini that was served with French onion soup, and had water with lemon. Wednesday morning, she ate at the Ashland Bakery & Cafe and had polenta pancakes. Today, she will sample cheeses at the Rogue Creamery in Central Point and have dinner at Quinz on the Plaza. About two years ago, Sherdon told herself she knew she made it if she ever appeared on the Food Network. "I'm amazed two years later, I'm going to be on the Food Network, and what I hoped for is coming to fruition," she said. "It's a national show and it puts Ashland on the map." Ray and her crew of six arrived in Ashland Tuesday night. They have already filmed shows in Coos Bay and Salem, and will head to Jackson Hole, Wyo., next. Ray said she has enjoyed her time in Ashland and spent some free time buying jewelry, which she plans to wear during the filming of her next show, and buying a mat for her dog. "Ashland is fabulous, and the food is fantastic" Ray said. "I love how compact everything is and how easy it is just to walk around and explore." She said it reminds her of the town of Sarasota Springs, N.Y., near her home in the Adirondacks. For Ray, being able to travel around the country and world, and encouraging people to enjoy cooking and to try different foods is a perfect job to have. "I eat and I chat for a living. It's great," she said. "It sure beats digging ditches." She and her crew spent Tuesday night having dinner at "Thai Pepper" and seeing a showing of the British zombie comedy "Shaun of the Dead" at the Varsity, which she had already seen two times before. "It's probably the funniest movie I've seen in a year, and I had to show it to my crew," she said. The "$40 a Day" episode on Ashland is scheduled to air sometime early next year. DailyTidings.com Home Page Valley&State | Backpage | O&E | Sports | Archives | Weather | Classifieds Columnists | Faith&Beliefs | Obituaries | Revels | Subscribe | Contact Us Copyright 2004 Ashland Daily Tidings and Ottaway Newspapers All Rights Reserved Click Here Site Search: .:Advertisements:. RESOURCES - Mail Tribune News - ODOT Road Cams