What's it like to be nominated for an Emmy Award? TV chef Ching-He Huang has launched Click & Cook (www.chinghehuang.com), an online video recipe library to help people learn how to cook healthy Chinese fusion dishes, and this weekend she attended the 40th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards in Los Angeles as a nominee. Here's her insider take on the swanky shindig...
It’s not every day you’re nominated for an Emmy Award. I was the only British nominee in the category of Outstanding Culinary Host. The location is The Beverly Hilton Los Angeles (www.beverlyhilton.com), also home to the Golden Globe Awards.
Getting ready for the big event is all part of the evening – glamour lashes all the way! Next, the hair, then the dress before adding the accessories because if ever there’s a time to go all out, the Emmy Awards are it. The wall-to-wall glamour of US daytime TV calls for some serious appendage. So here’s the kit - Agate drop earrings and an onyx and gold bangle from Etrusca, Jimmy Choo's ‘Kalpa’ platform sandals complete with gold crystals, a Bobelle Rose glitter clutch and some YSL make-up – in red, of course.
Then it was time to hit the red carpet in designer to the stars, Monique Lhuillier. When I saw this dress, I fell in love with it immediately – the lace detail is so elegant. With my fiancé on my arm - actor Jamie Cho – we were super excited to get chatting to the other stars of US daytime TV.
Inside the event, we drank Piper Sonomo Champagne and Fiji Water and ate vegetable tart, pastrami finger sandwich and salmon roll canapés. Looking stunning in a Marchesa dress, I swapped stories with Kelsey Nixon about drafting our new cookbooks. She’s such a star.
There were some real greats in the room – including George Lucas who received the Special Class Animated Programme award for Star Wars: The Clone Wars. And a highlight was when Kris Jenner presented the Emmy for Best Talk Show Host, which went to Ricki Lake, and the crowd congratulated her on Kim Kardashian’s new baby. Aww!
Being the US equivalent of Delia, I loved a little schmooze with Ina Garten, aka Barefoot Contessa – total food royalty, this lady is the epitome of elegance and success, with over a million of her cook books selling as soon as each one is out. Ina shared her philosophy of not doing everything because she likes to have a life – I'm liking her approach!