Lincoln-Way Grad Wins Emmy Award for the Food Network

Meghan Hoffman-Baehr, 27, a 2003 graduate from Lincoln-Way East High School, stepped on stage at the June 16 Emmy Awards to offer the acceptance speech for the "Outstanding Culinary Program" award on behalf of the Food Network's Trisha's Southern Kitchen. 

The show tied with The Best Thing I Ever Made for the Daytime Emmy trophy.

A Mokena native, Hoffman-Baehr is one of a team of producers for the cooking show, starring Trisha Yearwood.  A 2007 graduate with a major in nutrition from the University of Illinois in Chicago, Hoffman-Baehr took a major shift once school was out. She'd been working part-time in college as a nanny for the children of Ellen Rakieten, who'd produced the Opra Winfrey Show in Chicago till it closed and then moved on to start producing shows for the Food Network.

Rakieten had a major influence on Hoffman-Baehr's career path. She spotted talent and moved her into the job of producer.

In six short years, Hoffman-Baehr won the hearts of the Food Network as well as the television academy.

"I'm just so happy for the whole team," she said in a telephone interview with Patch. "They announced 'The Best Thing I Ever Made'  first, and it was so loud, we couldn't hear. We didn't know if we won or not."  

Trisha's Southern Kitchen was up against some heavy hitters from the Food Network, including Giada De Laurentis and Bobby Flay. 

Hoffman-Baehr travels back and forth between Chicago and Los Angeles weekly. "I love my job. I love my boss and love working for her."

The Emmy award was for the second season of "Trisha's Southern Kitchen." Already the 9:30 a.m. show is airing the third season. "We're starting work on the fourth season now. Next week we'll be in Owasso, Oklahoma," she said.

Jeff Hoffman, Meghan's father, said the whole family—wife Jayne and Meghan's brothers and sister—watched her on television. "We were all here last night." It was Father's Day, and this was the "best one ever," he said. "We were so excited. You would've thought the Cubs won the World Series."

Hoffman-Baehr was notified a few weeks ago that the show had been nominated for an Emmy. For her family back home, she's been a winner her whole life.

"My family has always been supportive," she said. Her husband, Ryan Baehr, has joined in as well.  

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