In a recent social media post, former Food Network host Valerie Bertinelli expressed her disappointment in the network's current direction, just months after being fired from her hosting role on "Kids Baking Championship." The renowned TV personality shared her thoughts, stating that she initially fell in love with Food Network for its amazing cooking shows, but now feels it has become less focused on cooking and learning.

Bertinelli, 63, took to Threads on Tuesday to voice her concerns, saying, "I learned so much from the incredible ITK shows on Food Network, such as '30-minute meals,' Ina Garten, and Giada De Laurentiis. It's sad that it's not about cooking and learning any longer. Oh well, that's just business, folks." Her candid remarks garnered support from her more than 314,000 followers, with many agreeing that they have stopped watching the network altogether.

Numerous commenters echoed Bertinelli's sentiments, expressing their fatigue with cooking competitions and longing for the return of genuine cooking shows. One fan even suggested that Bertinelli should consider starting her own cooking show outside of Food Network, highlighting her immense popularity among viewers.

This critique comes after cookbook author and food blogger Marlynn Schotland also voiced her opinion on Threads, stating that the Food Network does not need another cooking competition show. Lamenting the lack of actual cooking shows on the network, Schotland questioned the necessity of an additional competition-based program.

Bertinelli's dissatisfaction with Food Network isn't surprising, as she previously revealed in April 2023 that her long-running show, "Valerie's Home Cooking," was abruptly canceled after 14 successful seasons. Despite expressing her confusion about the network's decision at the time, she gracefully bid farewell to the show and expressed gratitude to the crew and production team for their efforts.

More recently, in January 2024, Bertinelli revealed on social media that she was also let go from her co-hosting role on "Kids Baking Championship," a show she had been a part of alongside Duff Goldman since 2015. In an Instagram video, she candidly expressed that the dismissal had deeply hurt her feelings, prompting an outpouring of support from fans.

As Valerie Bertinelli continues to build her career beyond the Food Network, it appears that her departure from the network has only fueled her determination to provide authentic cooking content to her loyal audience. While her words have resonated with viewers who long for the return of genuine cooking shows, only time will tell if the network heeds her and others' concerns and adjusts its programming accordingly.