Giada De Laurentiis reveals surprising reason she left the Food Network after 21 years

Giada De Laurentiis revealed why she left the Food Network after 21 years.

The 54-year-old Italian-American chef – who recently revealed the three things to look for when buying olive oil  -recently opened up about why she stepped away from her longtime gig.

Giada had announced that she was stepping away from the network at the beginning of 2023 as she also revealed that the time that she had signed a multi-year deal with Amazon Studios.

She recently revealed her reason for making the major leap in her career was to open up her entrepreneurial side which would be hard to juggle with what she was doing at the time.

On Rebecca Minkoff’s Superwomen podcast she explained: ‘It took a while for me to make this decision because I was very fearful of leaving Food Network. 

‘Because when you’re a big fish in that pond and then you get out, who knows what’s gonna happen next? But I really started to become interested in the entrepreneurial sort of journey. And I realized I couldn’t do both.’ 

Fashion designer turned podcaster Rebecca asked if she missed working on the Food Network.

Giada responded: ‘No. I know, I should say yes. I think it’s because I got burnt out. I really worked so hard for so long. I got burnt out and I couldn’t see a path that was exciting anymore. I need excitement. And if I’m getting bored, my viewers are getting bored.’

With her newfound freedom the entrepreneur has been able to open new doors in her career including founding her own lifestyle brand Giadzy.

She said: ‘So about two and a half years ago, I finally was like, okay, I’m gonna make the jump, and I’m gonna put my energy in Giadzy. I’ll still do TV. I have a deal with Amazon, so I still do a little bit of that, but it’s definitely not the schedule I used to keep. Definitely not.’

This came days after she shared her expertise on social media yet again, and this time she’s shared her top tips to consider when shopping for bottles of olive oil.

In an Instagram video posted on Monday, the Food Network star filmed herself at a supermarket as she revealed the three things that consumers should look out for when buying that all important ingredient.

Dressed in a sheer black top and khaki green, button up pants, Giada, 54, began the clip by telling her 2.2 million followers: ‘Here’s a few little things to remember when you buy olive oil.’

Turning to the shelf and touching a few of the products on display, the blond star revealed: ‘The best kind of olive oils come in glass, colored glass because it protects… the dark-colored glass protects the olives inside.

‘They go rancid otherwise, from heat and from sunlight,’ she continued, before advising: ‘Plastic anything isn’t always the best way to hold olive oil.

‘And let’s not even go into the micro plastics that go into it, not good for your health!’ she added, before continuing her top tips.

‘So, the other thing you want to look for is one variety of olive,’ Giada said as she picked up a specific bottle.

‘This one is a California one and you can see it because they show it right here. All the olives come from the state of California.

‘So it doesn’t necessarily mean it’s one olive, it’s probably a combination of olives but they all come from the state of California.’

‘Also better for you [is] really good, first pressing of the olive so it’s fresh and it’s the best flavor and it’s the best oil coming from the olive,’ she advised.

Finishing off her reel, Giada added: ‘So, it’s up to you as to the flavor profile that you’re looking for, but remember: one olive, single origin, first pressed, best flavor, that way… glass container, always, and dark glass container is the top of the top.

‘Hopefully that helped, enjoy your olive oil!’ Giada said at the end, before giving the camera a double thumbs up and a flashing a cheesy grin.

Her followers were quick to comment on the post as one person told her: ‘Great info!’ and another said: ‘So helpful!’

A third person commented: ‘Great video. Really informative. Thanks Giada,’ while a fourth added: ‘I listen to whatever Giada says!!’

Someone else posted: ‘I’ve always wondered how to choose! This was so helpful!’ and another complimented Giada and said: ‘Do you ever age? Keep doing what you’re doing!’

Giada is no stranger to sharing her food expertise in front of the camera as she used to host her own program on the Food Network called Giada at Home.

The mother-of-one also appears regularly as a contributor and guest co-host on NBC’s morning show Today.

Back in September, Giada took to social media and shared a video of her lookalike daughter, Jade Marie De Laurentiis-Thompson, 16, singing with her band, The Hours. 

Jade can be seen singing lead vocals nearby a train station, possibly engaging in the tradition of busking. 

The Food Network star – who had sinus surgery earlier this year – shares Jade with her ex-husband, fashion designer Todd Thompson.