$40 a Day
Encyclopedia
$40 a Day is a Food Network
show
hosted by Rachael Ray
. In each episode, Rachael takes a one-day trip
to an American
or Europe
an city
with only US$
40 to spend on food. While touring the city, she finds restaurant
s to go to (often based on local recommendations), and usually manages to fit three meals and some sort of snack or after-dinner drink into her small budget
.
The show premiered on April 1, 2002, some five months after the debut of 30 Minute Meals
, making it her second Food Network show. Production is currently on hiatus. Clips are sometimes used in Ray's later series, Rachael Ray's Tasty Travels
. Another Food Network series, Giada's Weekend Getaways
starring Giada De Laurentiis
, is similar in format. The show is currently being rerun on The Travel Channel.
restaurant, particularly those of national chains, is considered cheating (she says so explicitly in the Orlando
episode). On occasion, smaller sit-down restaurant chains (such as Bahama Breeze
in the Las Vegas episode, or Bongos in the South Beach
episode) are visited. Generally, non-food items and non-food-related activities are not included in her budget.
Rachael always offers tips on what to see in the various cities, as well as hints on how to save money and find bargains while travel
ing. She also emphasizes researching whatever city she plans to visit through the Internet and asking the local citizens for their recommendations.
Initially, Rachael only used item prices against her $40 limit. She started including applicable taxes and tips during the first season. On occasion, she does go over budget; however, during her trips to Philadelphia and Arizona
, she did so on purpose. Her cheapest day was in Vancouver, British Columbia, in 2003, when she spent just under $25 USD including taxes and tips (at the time, less than $40 Canadian
, although she budgeted for $40 USD). On occasions, she has had to get creative to stay on-budget; for example, she accidentally blew half her budget on her second meal in her first Miami episode.
The pilot, shot in Los Angeles
, had a 12-hour limit, but subsequent episodes raised it to 24 hours. Usually episodes begin in the morning with breakfast
, occasionally brunch
. Episodes almost always feature four paid meals, but on at least one occasion, in the Research Triangle (Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill, NC), she did five meals. Also on rare occasion, only three meals are paid, and a fourth ends up being free. On only one occasion, in Antigua
, she partook of a hotel's free Continental breakfast, but she still did four paid meals in that episode.
On her first visit to Las Vegas during the first season, Rachael began with dinner and stayed overnight, ending with breakfast.
She did several episodes in Europe
when the euro
was still valued less than the U.S. dollar. She has not visited Europe since the U.S. dollar has fallen under the euro in value. She has also visited several island locales, including Bermuda
and Antigua
, both of which generally accept the U.S. dollar.
Ray has occasionally drawn controversy when some meals end up calculating with less-than-traditional tips.
Food Network
Food Network is a television specialty channel that airs both one-time and recurring programs about food and cooking. Scripps Networks Interactive owns 70 percent of the network, with Tribune Company controlling the remaining 30 percent....
show
Television program
A television program , also called television show, is a segment of content which is intended to be broadcast on television. It may be a one-time production or part of a periodically recurring series...
hosted by Rachael Ray
Rachael Ray
Rachael Domenica Ray is an American television personality, businesswoman, celebrity chef and author. She hosts the syndicated talk and lifestyle program Rachael Ray and three Food Network series, 30 Minute Meals, Rachael Ray's Tasty Travels and $40 a Day...
. In each episode, Rachael takes a one-day trip
Tourism
Tourism is travel for recreational, leisure or business purposes. The World Tourism Organization defines tourists as people "traveling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes".Tourism has become a...
to an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
or Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
an city
City
A city is a relatively large and permanent settlement. Although there is no agreement on how a city is distinguished from a town within general English language meanings, many cities have a particular administrative, legal, or historical status based on local law.For example, in the U.S...
with only US$
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
40 to spend on food. While touring the city, she finds restaurant
Restaurant
A restaurant is an establishment which prepares and serves food and drink to customers in return for money. Meals are generally served and eaten on premises, but many restaurants also offer take-out and food delivery services...
s to go to (often based on local recommendations), and usually manages to fit three meals and some sort of snack or after-dinner drink into her small budget
Budget
A budget is a financial plan and a list of all planned expenses and revenues. It is a plan for saving, borrowing and spending. A budget is an important concept in microeconomics, which uses a budget line to illustrate the trade-offs between two or more goods...
.
The show premiered on April 1, 2002, some five months after the debut of 30 Minute Meals
30 Minute Meals
30 Minute Meals is a Food Network show hosted by Rachael Ray. Her first of four shows on Food Network debuted in the fall of 2001. The show specializes in convenience cooking for those with little time to cook. The show is recorded live-to-tape, with Ray doing almost all preparation in real time...
, making it her second Food Network show. Production is currently on hiatus. Clips are sometimes used in Ray's later series, Rachael Ray's Tasty Travels
Rachael Ray's Tasty Travels
Rachael Ray's Tasty Travels is a television show based on cook Rachael Ray and her travels around the world . However, in this show she is not restricted by a budget and showcases food from more upscale eateries...
. Another Food Network series, Giada's Weekend Getaways
Giada's Weekend Getaways
Giada's Weekend Getaways is a show on the Food Network that ran from 2007 to 2008. The show follows chef Giada De Laurentiis around the country for "3 day weekend adventures." The show begins Friday afternoon, as Giada arrives at her destination. She may begin with a light dinner, appetizer, and a...
starring Giada De Laurentiis
Giada De Laurentiis
Giada Pamela De Laurentiis is an Italian American chef, writer, television personality, and the host of the current Food Network program Giada at Home. She also appears regularly as a contributor and guest co-host on NBC's Today...
, is similar in format. The show is currently being rerun on The Travel Channel.
Details
According to Ray, visiting a fast foodFast food
Fast food is the term given to food that can be prepared and served very quickly. While any meal with low preparation time can be considered to be fast food, typically the term refers to food sold in a restaurant or store with preheated or precooked ingredients, and served to the customer in a...
restaurant, particularly those of national chains, is considered cheating (she says so explicitly in the Orlando
Orlando, Florida
Orlando is a city in the central region of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat of Orange County, and the center of the Greater Orlando metropolitan area. According to the 2010 US Census, the city had a population of 238,300, making Orlando the 79th largest city in the United States...
episode). On occasion, smaller sit-down restaurant chains (such as Bahama Breeze
Bahama Breeze
Bahama Breeze is an American restaurant specializing in Caribbean-inspired fresh seafood, chicken and steaks, and tropical drinks. Most locations are in suburban retail districts and tourist areas.-Locations:*Florida**Fort Lauderdale Sunrise...
in the Las Vegas episode, or Bongos in the South Beach
South Beach
South Beach, also nicknamed SoBe, is a neighborhood in the city of Miami Beach, Florida, United States. It is the area south of Indian Creek and encompasses roughly the southernmost 23 blocks of the main barrier island that separates the Atlantic Ocean and Biscayne Bay.This area was the first...
episode) are visited. Generally, non-food items and non-food-related activities are not included in her budget.
Rachael always offers tips on what to see in the various cities, as well as hints on how to save money and find bargains while travel
Travel
Travel is the movement of people or objects between relatively distant geographical locations. 'Travel' can also include relatively short stays between successive movements.-Etymology:...
ing. She also emphasizes researching whatever city she plans to visit through the Internet and asking the local citizens for their recommendations.
Initially, Rachael only used item prices against her $40 limit. She started including applicable taxes and tips during the first season. On occasion, she does go over budget; however, during her trips to Philadelphia and Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
, she did so on purpose. Her cheapest day was in Vancouver, British Columbia, in 2003, when she spent just under $25 USD including taxes and tips (at the time, less than $40 Canadian
Canadian dollar
The Canadian dollar is the currency of Canada. As of 2007, the Canadian dollar is the 7th most traded currency in the world. It is abbreviated with the dollar sign $, or C$ to distinguish it from other dollar-denominated currencies...
, although she budgeted for $40 USD). On occasions, she has had to get creative to stay on-budget; for example, she accidentally blew half her budget on her second meal in her first Miami episode.
The pilot, shot in Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
, had a 12-hour limit, but subsequent episodes raised it to 24 hours. Usually episodes begin in the morning with breakfast
Breakfast
Breakfast is the first meal taken after rising from a night's sleep, most often eaten in the early morning before undertaking the day's work...
, occasionally brunch
Brunch
Brunch is a meal eaten between breakfast and lunch. The word is a portmanteau of breakfast and lunch.-Origin of the word:The 1896 supplement to the Oxford English Dictionary cites Punch magazine which wrote that the term was coined in Britain in 1895 to describe a Sunday meal for "Saturday-night...
. Episodes almost always feature four paid meals, but on at least one occasion, in the Research Triangle (Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill, NC), she did five meals. Also on rare occasion, only three meals are paid, and a fourth ends up being free. On only one occasion, in Antigua
Antigua
Antigua , also known as Waladli, is an island in the West Indies, in the Leeward Islands in the Caribbean region, the main island of the country of Antigua and Barbuda. Antigua means "ancient" in Spanish and was named by Christopher Columbus after an icon in Seville Cathedral, Santa Maria de la...
, she partook of a hotel's free Continental breakfast, but she still did four paid meals in that episode.
On her first visit to Las Vegas during the first season, Rachael began with dinner and stayed overnight, ending with breakfast.
She did several episodes in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
when the euro
Euro
The euro is the official currency of the eurozone: 17 of the 27 member states of the European Union. It is also the currency used by the Institutions of the European Union. The eurozone consists of Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg,...
was still valued less than the U.S. dollar. She has not visited Europe since the U.S. dollar has fallen under the euro in value. She has also visited several island locales, including Bermuda
Bermuda
Bermuda is a British overseas territory in the North Atlantic Ocean. Located off the east coast of the United States, its nearest landmass is Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, about to the west-northwest. It is about south of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, and northeast of Miami, Florida...
and Antigua
Antigua
Antigua , also known as Waladli, is an island in the West Indies, in the Leeward Islands in the Caribbean region, the main island of the country of Antigua and Barbuda. Antigua means "ancient" in Spanish and was named by Christopher Columbus after an icon in Seville Cathedral, Santa Maria de la...
, both of which generally accept the U.S. dollar.
Ray has occasionally drawn controversy when some meals end up calculating with less-than-traditional tips.
Season 1
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Season 2
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Season 3
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Season 4
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