Show summary Hide summary
Rachael Ray is carving out a transatlantic life, trading the bustle of New York for the calm of Tuscany whenever she can. The celebrity chef’s heart is in Italy, but family ties and work in the Big Apple keep her traveling between two very different worlds.
Why Tuscany became Rachael Ray’s second home
Ray’s connection to Italy runs deep. It’s where her family roots lead and where she has long dreamed of settling. Over the years she has turned that dream into reality.
Hilary Swank’s husband Philip Schneider: inside the businessman behind the star
Polska pregnant and betrayed by a close friend: she is very, very shocked
- Wedding and vows: She and husband John Cusimano tied the knot in a Tuscan castle in 2005 and later renewed their vows there.
- Property investment: Ray purchased a home in Tuscany and has invested in making it a working, lived-in retreat.
- Culinary storytelling: Her series Rachael Ray in Tuscany highlights local food traditions and her personal life on the estate.
How the Tuscan estate reflects her culinary life
The house is more than a vacation spot. It’s a kitchen garden, a small farm and a place to slow down.
- They cultivate an orto — a vegetable and herb garden used in daily cooking.
- The couple presses olive oil and makes their own wine on the property.
- A freshwater pool sits nearby so their dog can swim and drink safely.
Ray often describes the property’s air and quiet as restorative. Being hours ahead of the U.S. also gives her space and time to be less available.
Managing two lives: New York rhythm vs. Tuscan calm
Balancing homes in Italy and New York requires compromise. Cusimano’s career keeps him rooted in the city, while Ray spends as much time abroad as she can.
- John Cusimano: A New York lover and rock musician who spends much of his time with his band.
- Rachael Ray: Splits her schedule to accommodate projects, family and the lifestyle she’s built in Tuscany.
She told reporters at the New York City Wine & Food Festival that she tries to coordinate travel and work so both places function as homes.
Seasonal routines and holiday plans in two countries
This year the couple is planning a quiet holiday stretch, prioritizing time together on their Tuscan property.
- They plan a low-key anniversary and holiday season, shared only with family and their dog, Bella.
- They’ll travel back to the U.S. briefly to visit extended family before returning to Italy for Christmas Day.
For Ray, the slower pace and simple rituals of Tuscan life — cooking from the garden, pressing olives and tending vines — are the rewards of a career spent in the public eye.
