Rachael Ray Reemerges at Blue Moon Burger Bash 2.0

Rachael Ray returned to the public stage on Oct. 17, hosting the Blue Moon Burger Bash 2.0 at the New York City Wine and Food Festival, an appearance organizers and attendees said marked a visible rebound after months of online scrutiny over her health and a quieter public profile. Ray, 57, cohosted the tasting event with Brooklyn Beckham and presided over celebrity judges and crowd voting as chefs competed using Pat LaFrieda's custom burger blend.

The festival event included a panel of judges and a public tasting that helped raise funds for festival beneficiaries. Over the past 17 years, the New York City Wine and Food Festival has generated more than $14.8 million for charitable organizations. This year the festival named Event Zero Foundation as host beneficiary, citing the group's work on sustainable event practices, and worked in partnership with the James Beard Foundation to support the restaurant industry.

Ray used the event to push back against narratives that she had stepped away from professional life after her daytime talk show ended in 2023. I work my ass off all the time, and I never left, she said in an interview, adding that since leaving the daytime format she...