Melissa d'Arabian

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.[3]

Melissa d'Arabian
d'Arabian in 2015
Born
Melissa Donovan

Tucson, Arizona, U.S.[1]
SpousePhilippe d'Arabian
Culinary career
Cooking styleAmerican
French
Low calorie
Television show(s)

Early life and education

Born In Anaheim, California, d'Arabian moved throughout her childhood to Tucson, Arizona; San Diego, California; and Bethesda, Maryland.[4] During this time, d'Arabian attended several private Christian schools.[5] d'Arabian's parents divorced when she was a few months old, and she and her sister were raised solely by her mother.[6] 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."[7] 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. After a period working on cruise ships as part of the entertainment staff, d'Arabian studied at Georgetown University, earning her MBA.[8]

Television and professional career
d'Arabian at 2013 LA Times Festival of Books

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.[3] 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.[3] 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.[9]

She has appeared on several other Food Network series, such as The Best Thing I Ever Ate, Chopped, Food Network Challenge, and The Best Thing I Ever Made. Her recipes and budgeting tips have also been featured on the Today Show, CNN, People, Food Network Magazine and iVillage.com.[7]

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.[10] Melissa d'Arabian is the winner of the fifth season of The Next Food Network Star.[11]

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.[12]

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.[8] d'Arabian identifies as a Christian and attends the First United Methodist Church of San Diego.[5]

On April 12, 1989, d'Arabian lost her mother to suicide.[13] d'Arabian described the loss of her mother as taking a toll on her financially, logistically, and emotionally.[5][13] 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.[6] 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.[14]

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. They published one of her recipes at a National Survivors of Suicide Day 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.[15] She has also competed on Guy's Grocery Games, Chopped, and Cutthroat Kitchen for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.[16][17][18]

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 for National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.[19][20]

Filmography

Television
YearTitleNotes
2009Food Network StarSeason five winner
2009–2011The Best Thing I Ever AteAppeared on 8 episodes
2009–2013Ten Dollar DinnersHost
2010Best Places I've Ever BeenDisney Memories episode
2010Food Network Challenge: All-Star Grill-Off
2011–2013The Best Thing I Ever MadeAppeared on 2 episodes
2012Chopped All Stars
2012–presentDrop 5 Lbs with Good HousekeepingHost
2013–2014The Picky Eaters ProjectWeb series
2013–presentGuy's Grocery GamesJudge and contestant
2014Cutthroat Kitchen: Superstar Sabotage Tournament
2015–presentSmart Carts: Winning the SupermarketWeb series

Bibliography
YearTitlePublisherISBN
2012Ten Dollar Dinners: 140 Recipes and Tips to Elevate Simple, Fresh Meals Any Night of the WeekClarkson Potter Publishers978-0-307-98517-0
2014Supermarket Healthy: Recipes and Know-How for Eating Well Without Spending a LotClarkson Potter Publishers978-0307985149

References
  1. "Melissa d'Arabian's Food Network Star Interview". FoodNetwork.com. 2009-08-03. Archived from the original on 2009-08-04. Retrieved 2009-08-03.
  2. Atlas, Darla (2009-03-08). "Former Keller resident wins her own show on Food Network". Dallas Morning News. Retrieved 2009-08-03.
  3. "Melissa d'Arabian : Chefs : Food Network". Archived from the original on 2013-05-02. Retrieved 2013-04-26.
  4. "Home". Vicky & Jen.
  5. "Cooking up joy | Food Network chef rediscovers life's value after deep sorrow".
  6. "Risen Magazine" (PDF).
  7. "About". Melissa d'Arabian. July 9, 2012.
  8. "Melissa d'Arabian Bio". Food Network.
  9. "Melissa d'Arabian Bio : Cooking Channel | Melissa d'Arabian : Cooking Channel". Cooking Channel.
  10. "Ten Dollar Dinners". Retrieved 26 March 2019 – via www.foodnetwork.com.
  11. News story. Television.aol.com. accessed August 4, 2009 Archived August 5, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
  12. "Budget dinners for 9-9-09: Food Network star shares frugal philosophy on 'Ten Dollar Dinners'". Longview News Journal. September 9, 2009. ProQuest 379976789. Retrieved May 12, 2022.
  13. d'Arabian, Melissa (November 2, 2013). "Lessons of Loss: Melissa d'Arabian Reflects on What She Learned From Her Mother's Suicide". Parade.
  14. "Beyond Tears: Translating Our Grief Into Suicide Prevention". EverydayHealth.com.
  15. "Melissa d'Arabian Speaks to Congressional Spouses about Suicide Prevention". American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. Archived from the original on 10 August 2016.
  16. "Melissa Competes on "Guy's Grocery Games"". Melissa d'Arabian. May 19, 2014.
  17. "Chopped…our unofficial results!". Melissa d'Arabian. August 1, 2012.
  18. "Meet the All-Star Chefs on Cutthroat Kitchen: Superstar Sabotage". Food Com.
  19. "Coronado SAFE Celebrates Family Day with Food Network Host Melissa d'Arabian | Coronado Chamber of Commerce Coronado, CA". Coronado Chamber of Commerce.
  20. "It's Breast Cancer Awareness Month and I Live Tweeted My Mammogram". Melissa d'Arabian. October 17, 2014.
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