Bertinelli dishes on White
NEW YORK — Cooking for family is fun for actress Valerie Bertinelli. Cooking for Betty White was intimidating. For the debut of
her new Food Network show premiering Saturday (12 pm ET), Bertinelli invited co-stars White, Jane Leeves and Wendie Malick from the now-defunct TV Land sitcom for a meal.
“It was a little nerve-racking because Betty doesn’t like too many things,” Bertinelli said of her 93-year-old colleague. “She likes tuna fish, she likes hot dogs, she likes Red Vines (candy) and vodka. So what am I going to make for Betty?”
Vodka sounds like a nice start. Bertinelli settled on a tuna salad with an Italian twist.
Growing up in an Italian family, it was “food, God and garlic in our house,” she said. The 55-yearold Bertinelli has fond memories of learning to make pasta from scratch as a young girl, and has long enjoyed cooking as a way to bring family and friends together. She’s hoping the 10-episode
is enough of a success to merit a second season so she can go back to a culinary “boot camp,” full days of trying out recipes with no worries about cleaning up.
Bertinelli sipped a green drink during an interview backstage at the show this week. She’s on a sugar detox after co-hosting the for the Food Network, where some sampling was in order.
“When the Food Network came on, I had it on all the time in my house,” she said. “Some people had CNN on, I had the Food Network going on all the time. To be on it now is really surreal.” The former teen sitcom star of
will be looking for acting jobs again following the cancellation of after six seasons. She and her costars loved the roles because they provided meaningful jobs in an industry where middle-aged and older actresses are not exactly a hot commodity.
“Then they cancelled us because they wanted to put on younger shows,” she said.
She’s particularly proud of Wolfgang, her 24-year-old son with rocker Eddie Van Halen. He’s playing in his dad’s band, and now that he’s gotten older, Bertinelli is over the concerns she had about him going out on the road as a teenager.
She rode in the tour bus recently with Wolfgang to a show, and for the first time he played and sang for her some of the songs he had written. Mom was a puddle.
“I said, ‘Thanks a lot for that, Wolfie!’” she said. “‘Now I have to put on a whole new face of makeup.’ I was sobbing.” There
are three topics that really get my blood going: the government’s treatment of medical marijuana, community mailboxes and the Canadian Medical Association on doctorassisted suicide.
I’ll begin with community mailboxes. My husband often mails our letters at one of these boxes and in taking a good look at it, and being on an electric scooter unable to stand, I had some questions for Canada Post. Anik Losier, spokeswoman for Canada Post, answered them via e-mail.
Q: What provision has been made for elderly people or those with disabilities who cannot get to a mailbox?
A: Since the beginning of the conversion program in 2014, we have implemented a robust accommodation program that aims to find a solution for everyone who may not be able to access their mailbox. We consulted with experts in human rights, as well as organizations representing the rights of elderly and people with mobility issues and they were unanimous on one key aspect: this is not a one-size fits all approach. We work with each individual to find a solution that will meet their needs. If anyone has concerns about the ability to get to their mailbox, we ask that they contact us via the 1-844 number (a dedicated customer service number for those who are changing their mode of delivery). Immediately, their case is transferred to our accommodation group experts who will work with each individual.
Q: If you can get to the mailbox, but can’t hold a key or grab your mail from the box,
what then?
A: There are a number of solutions available, including a larger key handle for those who may have trouble with the little key and trays to pull the mail (so you don’t have to reach inside the box).
Q: If you can’t reach the mailbox assigned to you?
A: We also can change which box you are assigned to, depending on your height and mobility or we can redirect the mail to a loved one or a nearby postal outlet (inside a pharmacy, for example). These are merely examples. Ultimately, our job is to find a solution with everyone to ensure that they have access to their mail.
Q: If you can’t reach the slot at the top of the mailbox to mail a letter?
Anik sent a picture of a mailbox with a lowered compartment for parcels that will receive letters. We don’t have that here. I know I can barely