Martha Stewart Vs. Rachel Ray: Cocktails and Gossip!

Who among us knew that Rachel Ray and Martha Stewart have a long standing feud that’s not only simmered and bubbled for quite some time, it actually predates, and some might even say, rivals Anthony Bourdain’s outspoken disdain of Paula Dean.

It was another case of expert vs entertainer when the Goddess of all Good Things made the following comment on a 2009 segment of Nightline: “Rachael just did a new cookbook, which is just a re-edit of a lot of her older recipes. And that’s not good enough for me . . . Rachael is different. She’s more of an entertainer . . . with her bubbly personality, than she is teacher, like me.”

Rachael Ray, ever the wise, *ahem* entertainer, took the high road and responded: “Her skill set is far beyond mine,” she said. “That’s simply the reality of it. That doesn’t mean what I do isn’t important, too . . . I don’t consider it needling. I really just think she’s being honest.”

The pots apparently began to simmer on this one shortly after Rachel Ray and Martha Stewart appeared as guests on each other’s shows and Stewart, in a burst uber maganimity, added one final thought before the entire thing was put to rest.

“I applaud Rachel for her enthusiastic approach to cooking and I really had a great time being a guest on her show and it was a lot of fun to have her on this show making pie,” Stewart said on-air. “Come on back Rachael, anytime you want and I hope you have a Yum-o Thanksgiving.”

 I know. What a bitchy unusual thing to say.

But karma, as they say, has a way of coming back and taking a big ol bite – which in Ms Stewart’s case means to the pride because after Martha’s show was cancelled, enthusiastic Rachael Ray and her crew moved into Stewart’s old studio!

As an aside, it was widely reported that Ray insisted the entire space be cleansed of all negative energy before moving in and had her staff “Sage the place down” – a spiritual practice said to remove unwanted evil spirits and the ghosts of flambe past.

And Martha Stewart is now said to have her knives out, sharpened, and ready to go ninja if given half a chance – which she almost got in March when she and Rachael Ray were spotted dining in the same restaurant. Apparently the chill coming off Stewart had people wondering if Mr Freeze had entered the building.

Witnesses say Stewart’s icy glare made Ray so uncomfortable she left after the appetizer course, taking her dinner home in a doggie bag.

I can’t say I blame her.

People, would you want this woman as your enemy?

And that’s the blog!

So pull up a chair and get ready for today’s amazing cocktail - this time in celebration of Motherhood and the competition sisterhood between women

Fresh and Fruity Peach Bellini

Place 1 cup of frozen peaches between two layers of crushed ice in a 16 ounce pitcher. Pour in 1 cup of inexpensive sweet champagne, 1/4 cup of peach schnapps, 1 cup of peach and mango juice, and 1 squeeze of fresh lemon, give it a good stir, and enjoy!

Read more at The Kitchen Witch