Sunny Anderson's Unlikely Path To The Food Network

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A good chef has to practice discipline, but Food Network fans might be shocked to find out how one of the brand's stars attained that skill. Sunny Anderson, the bubbly, energetic host of "Cooking for Real," "Home Made in America," and "The Kitchen," got her start in a career not exactly known for good cuisine. Sunny's unlikely path to becoming a television chef began with her joining the Air Force.

Anderson grew up in a military family, and she joined the Air Force herself in 1993. When stationed in Seoul, South Korea, she hosted a radio show on base. Once she completed her service, her career in radio took off, leading to New York's popular Hot 97 station. Anderson caught the ear of someone at the Food Network, who noticed she had a knack for gab and a passion for cooking. This led to a guest spot on Emeril Lagasse's show "Emeril Live."

Anderson told ABC News in 2013, "I was so nervous when I went to Emeril — it's the first time I've ever thrown up from nerves because Emeril is this big thing. I rolled into Food Network and shook everyone's hands and said hey to everybody and went on to chase a dream." After that appearance, Anderson's television career took off, and she went from a senior airman to a celebrity chef worth approximately $5 million.

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Sunny Anderson's military experience laid a foundation for her life as a chef — all the way down to her tastebuds. In an exclusive 2023 interview with Mashed, Anderson says some of her favorite cuisines are German and Korean — German because she lived in the European country as a child when her parents were stationed there, and Korean because of her own service in South Korea.

In a 2017 Fox News interview, Anderson said her time in the Asian country introduced her to unique spices and grilling techniques. "I certainly learned a lot about preparing different types of meat — you know grilling is really an art over there and their fried chicken, I mean, there is just nothing like it!" she said, adding that she is grateful to the Air Force for her training in broadcasting.

Anderson's military experience may be something fans don't know about her life, but she makes a point to continue supporting her brothers and sisters in arms. In 2016, she teamed up with Hormel Foods, creating a Spam recipe and launching a military care package campaign. She has also acted as a judge for military chefs, not unlike her experience as a judge on shows like "Chopped." On an episode of "Rachael Ray" (via YouTube), Anderson once said that she's proud to still be doing the job that the Air Force trained her for: spreading the good news about what members of the military do.