Melissa Donovan d'Arabian is an American cookbook author and television show host. She won the fifth season of
''Food Network Star'' in 2009. Following her victory, she went on to host ''
Ten Dollar Dinners
Melissa Donovan d'Arabian is an American cookbook author and television show host. She won the fifth season of ''Food Network Star'' in 2009. Following her victory, she went on to host '' Ten Dollar Dinners'' on Food Network.
Early life and ed ...
'' on
Food Network
Food Network is an American basic cable channel owned by Television Food Network, G.P., a joint venture and general partnership between Warner Bros. Discovery Networks (which holds a 69% ownership stake of the network) and Nexstar Media Group ...
.
Early life and education
Born In Anaheim, California, d'Arabian moved throughout her childhood to Tucson, Arizona; San Diego, California; and Bethesda, Maryland. During this time, d'Arabian attended several private Christian schools.
d'Arabian's parents divorced when she was a few months old, and she and her sister were raised solely by her mother.
Because her single mother was paying her way through medical school, Melissa discovered her passion for cooking and developed her budget strategies very young. In an interview with Food Network, she said, "That's where I learned about cooking as a way of showing people that you care about them."
After high school at
St. Andrew's Episcopal School in Maryland, d'Arabian attended the University of Vermont, graduating with a bachelor's degree in Political Science. d'Arabian joined
Alpha Chi Omega
Alpha Chi Omega (, also known as Alpha Chi or A Chi O) is a national women's Fraternities and sororities in North America, fraternity founded on October 15, 1885.
As of 2018, there are 132 collegiate and 279 alumnae chapters represented across ...
. After a period working on cruise ships as part of the entertainment staff, d'Arabian studied at Georgetown University, earning her MBA.
Television and professional career
After winning ''Food Network Star'', d'Arabian launched her show, ''Ten Dollar Dinners'' in 2010. The show focused on affordable meals that cost ten dollars or less to make. The show ran for three seasons.
In 2012, she published her first cookbook, ''Ten Dollar Dinners: 140 Recipes and Tips to Elevate Simple, Fresh Meals Any Night of the Week'', which became a ''New York Times'' best seller.
Also in 2012, d'Arabian began hosting a show on the Cooking Channel, ''Drop 5 Lbs. with Good Housekeeping'', which featured low-calorie recipes and weight loss tips.
She has appeared on several other Food Network series, such as ''
The Best Thing I Ever Ate
''The Best Thing I Ever Ate'' is a television series that originally aired on Food Network, debuting on June 22, 2009 (after a preview on June 20).
The program originally aired as a one-time special in late 2008. After being cancelled by The Food ...
'',
''Chopped'', ''
Food Network Challenge
''Food Network Challenge'' is a competitive cooking television series that aired on the Food Network. In each episode, professional chefs vie in a timed competition in their professional specialty. The winner receives a cheque for $10,000 and a gol ...
'', and ''
The Best Thing I Ever Made
''The Best Thing I Ever Made'' is an American cooking television series that aired on Food Network. It featured a rotating lineup of chefs demonstrating how to prepare their favorite recipes. The series is a spin-off of ''The Best Thing I Eve ...
''. Her recipes and budgeting tips have also been featured on the Today Show, CNN, People, ''
Food Network Magazine
''Food Network Magazine'' is a monthly food entertainment magazine founded by Hearst Communications and Scripps Networks Interactive based on the latter's popular television network Food Network. The magazine debuted in 2008, originally as two new ...
'' and iVillage.com.
Ten Dollar Dinners
''Ten Dollar Dinners'' is an American cooking television program hosted by d'Arabian. It debuted August 9, 2009 at 12:30 PM EST.
Melissa d'Arabian is the winner of the fifth season of ''
The Next Food Network Star
''Food Network Star'' is a reality television series that premiered June 5, 2005. It was produced by CBS EYEtoo Productions for seasons 1–8 and by Triage Entertainment for subsequent seasons. It airs on the Food Network in the United States. ...
''.
The second season of her program premiered in January 2010 on the Food Network. During this season, she received a new kitchen set, which has the set up similar to a home kitchen. The third season of her program premiered in July 2010.
In each episode, d'Arabian shows the viewers how to cook up a dinner for four people based on a budget of $10 USD.
Personal life
While working in merchandise finance in Euro Disney, d'Arabian met her husband, Philippe. They live near San Diego, California, with their four daughters.
d'Arabian identifies as a Christian and attends the First United Methodist Church of San Diego.
Mother's suicide and related charitable work
On April 12, 1989, d'Arabian lost her mother to suicide.
d'Arabian described the loss of her mother as taking a toll on her financially, logistically, and emotionally.
Following the death of her mother, d'Arabian states that she entered into a "decade-long tail spin". She attributes this period of time to the isolation she felt due to the stigma of suicide.
This experience led d'Arabian to become involved in mental health awareness and suicide prevention. Specifically, d'Arabian advocates for reductions of stigma against suicide, mental health, and substance abuse as well as encouraging people to reach out when they feel suicidal.
Since 2009, d'Arabian has worked with the
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP). Initially, the AFSP approached her after she dedicated a recipe to her mother on an episode of
The Next Food Network Star
''Food Network Star'' is a reality television series that premiered June 5, 2005. It was produced by CBS EYEtoo Productions for seasons 1–8 and by Triage Entertainment for subsequent seasons. It airs on the Food Network in the United States. ...
. They published one of her recipes at a
National Survivors of Suicide Day
International Survivors of Suicide Loss Day is designated by the United States Congress as a day when the Suicide survivor, friends and family of those who have died by suicide can join together for healing and support. This day always falls on the ...
event. d'Arabian has participated in the
San Diego Out of the Darkness Community Walk, been a part of the AFSP panel at the
Congressional Spouses for Suicide Prevention and Education congressional briefing, and donated cookbook proceeds to the organization. In May 2013, d'Arabian was awarded the Survivor of Suicide Loss Award by the AFSP. She has also competed on
Guy's Grocery Games
'' Guy's Grocery Games '' (often nicknamed ''Triple G'') is an American reality-based cooking television game show hosted by Guy Fieri on Food Network. Each episode features four chefs competing in a three-round elimination contest, cooking food ...
,
Chopped Chopped can have the following meanings:
* Chopped and screwed
Chopped and screwed (also called screwed and chopped or slowed and throwed) is a music genre and technique of remixing music that involves slowing down the tempo and deejaying. It ...
, and
Cutthroat Kitchen
''Cutthroat Kitchen'' is an American cooking show hosted by Alton Brown that aired on the Food Network from August 11, 2013 to July 19, 2017. It features four chefs competing in a three-round elimination cooking competition. The contestants face ...
for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.
d'Arabian has volunteered with a number of other charitable organization including teaching family cooking courses for Coronado Substance Abuse Free Environment and live-tweeting her
mammogram
Mammography (also called mastography) is the process of using low-energy X-rays (usually around 30 kVp) to examine the human breast for diagnosis and screening. The goal of mammography is the early detection of breast cancer, typically through d ...
for
National Breast Cancer Awareness Month
Breast Cancer Awareness Month (BCAM), also referred to in the United States as National Breast Cancer Awareness Month (NBCAM), is an annual international health campaign organized by major breast cancer charities every October to increase awaren ...
.
Filmography
Television
Bibliography
References
External links
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:d'Arabian, Melissa
American television chefs
Food Network chefs
Food Network Star winners
Living people
Writers from Tucson, Arizona
Women cookbook writers
American women chefs
American cookbook writers
21st-century American non-fiction writers
21st-century American women writers
People from Anaheim, California
McDonough School of Business alumni
Writers from San Diego
People from Bethesda, Maryland
Christians from California
Chefs from California
University of Vermont alumni
American philanthropists
Suicide prevention
Year of birth missing (living people)