How Valerie Bertinelli Learned To Cook

Valerie Bertinelli might be known for her role on "The Food Network," but the Emmy-award winning host actually got her start as an actress. According to Celebrity Net Worth, Bertinelli's fame began at a young age when she starred in "One Day at A Time," which aired from 1975-1984. As IMDb notes, she also appeared in hit shows like "Café Americain," "Touched by an Angel," and "Hot in Cleveland." Beyond her onscreen roles, Bertinelli made headlines for her personal life when she married rockstar Eddie Van Halen. The two share a son, Wolfgang, and remained close even after divorcing in 2007. Following Van Halen's death in 2020, Bertinelli penned an emotional tribute to her ex-husband on Instagram, where she wrote that she would "see you in our next life."

Though Bertinelli got her start in acting, she switched gears in 2015 to focus on her love for cooking. According to Deadline, she stars in shows like "Valerie's Home Cooking" and "Kids Baking Championship," and inked new deals with Disney+ as of 2021. The Food Network star has also hosted "Family Restaurant Rivals" and "Family Food Showdown." Per Publisher's Weekly, she has written four books, including the cookbook "Valerie's Home Cooking: More Than 100 Delicious Recipes to Share with Friends and Family." But given Bertinelli's background in acting — not to mention her famous ex-husband — people often wonder where the star learned to cook.

Valerie Bertinelli always knew that she wanted to incorporate her love for cooking into her career, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer. "​​I've been cooking longer than I've been acting," Bertinelli told the outlet. "Acting, now that I look back, was a setup for doing what I love. By cooking on camera, it's a whole different animal than cooking at home. Years of training on camera made me able to just cook on camera, and invite people into my kitchen."

In fact, Bertinelli first learned to cook in her own home kitchen. Per Cheat Sheet, her mother and aunt passed down family recipes when she was just a child. "I would sit in my aunt Adeline's basement and watch my Noni make cappelletti in brodo, gnocchi and her fried bread. I learned to make that — I was 6 years old, probably," the TV personality shared, via Cheat Sheet. Because she fell in love with cooking early on, it's these same homemade recipes that she features on "Valerie's Home Cooking." And while Bertinelli didn't have any formal training, she uses her platform to encourage others who love to cook. "I want people to realize you don't have to be a trained chef," she told the Philadelphia Inquirer. "It's a chance to be able to spend time with your family, share love and communicate. Our dinner table was a place to reconnect, and food can be that connection."