Nana Rita Linda - Food Network Debut

Rita Linda, 56, of Coral Springs, Florida (formally of Beverly and Peabody, MA) is one of the newest Food Network stars. Rita's chicken Matzo Ball soup was chosen among over 10,000 recipes nation-wide to compete in the "Ultimate Recipe Showdown" chicken competition. The hosts of this show are Marc Summers (Unwrapped and Trivia Unwrapped and The Next Food Network Star) and Guy Fieri (winner of 2006 Food Network Star and host of Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives and Guy’s Big Bite.)

Rita entered her chicken soup in the spring of 2007. She was notified that she was a semi-finalist in the early summer of 2007. All recipes were cooked in the Food Network kitchens. They were judged by a panel of expert chefs and critics. The finalists were notified of their win in early August. All 9 winners of their chicken categories (whole, fried and soup/stews) were flown out to California for the taping of the show and the announcing of the ultimate chicken recipe at the end of August. The show will air to the public on Sunday, February 17th at 9:00 pm ET/PT and again at midnight. Other repeat shows are scheduled for February 20, 2008 9:00 pm ET/PT, February 21, 2008 12:00 am/ET/PT, February 23, 2008 3:00 pm ET/PT, February 24, 2008 5:00 pm ET/PT, March 17, 2008 9:00 pm ET/PT, March 18, 2008 12:00 am ET/PT, March 21, 2008 9:00 pm ET/PT, March 22, 12:00 am ET/PT and March 23, 2008 4:00 pm ET/PT.

Rita is the daughter of the late Selma and Herbert Blackman of Beverly, MA and N. Miami Beach, Florida. She is the wife of Barry Linda (formally of Mattapan, MA). They have been married for 36 years and have 3 children, Gregory and Julie Linda of Peabody, MA, Steven and Amy Linda of Framingham, MA and Andrea and Manny Costa of Danvers, MA. She is the grandmother of 4-1/2. Jared Costa will be 12 next month, his brother Hunter Costa is nearly 10, Samantha Linda is 3-1/2, Sarah Linda is 4-1/2 months and the newest grandchild will be born sometime in August of 2008.