A bit more low-key than your average celebrity chef—at least by today's media standards—Simon was, however, dubbed "The Rock n' Roll Chef" by no less an authority than Rolling Stone. The owner and chef of Simon Palms Place in Las Vegas as well as the popular SimonLA inside the Sofitel Hotel in Beverly Hills, Simon has also appeared on the Food Network's toughest celebrity chef battle, Iron Chef America, and defeated Iron Chef Cat Cora in "Battle Hamburger."

Seemingly overnight Rachael Ray, the queen of 30-minute meals, became a media juggernaut with television programs, books, magazines and her own nationally syndicated (and Emmy Award-winning) talk show. The host of the hugely successful Food Network program 30 Minute Meals (as well as the network's Rachael Ray's Tasty Travels), the New York native also hosts a daily morning talk show that bears her name. Known for her effervescent—if cloying—personality, Ray shows no sign of slowing down anytime soon.

Perhaps not as well known to the average television consumer as, say, Rachael Ray, but ask any chef in the world who Jean-Georges Vongerichten is and you'll draw the instant recognition of a master at work. The man behind a global empire of award-winning restaurants everywhere including in London, Paris and Shanghai, Vongerichten is perhaps best known for his three-Michelin starred masterpiece of a restaurant in New York City called simply Jean-Georges.

The godfather to all subsequent stars on the Food Network, Emeril Lagasse—known for his signature New Orleans Creole and Cajun cuisine as well as for his signature "BAM!" whenever he adds condiments to his dishes—is a James Beard Award winning master chef. Most notable for his long-running programs on the cable network, Emeril Live and Essence Of Emeril, Lagasse also heads no less than 10 restaurants all over the country.

Another legend among chefs, Mario Batali crafts his sublime Italian fare from eight different locations including Del Posto, Lupa and Babbo Ristorante e Enoteca, where he received the much coveted Michelin star. The long-time host of Food Network's Molto Mario, an Italian cooking show, Batali is also one of the cable network's heralded Iron Chefs as well as co-host, with Oscar-winning actress Gwyneth Paltrow, of the 13-week PBS program Spain...On The Road Again.

The star of Food Network's long-running show Everyday Italian, Giada De Laurentiis has also hosted Behind The Bash, Giada's Weekend Getaways, Giada At Home and Giada In Paradise for the popular cable network. The granddaughter of legendary film producer Dino De Laurentiis, the chef was surrounded her entire life by Italian food and cooking. Apparently, some of that stuck with her.

The telegenic popular star of NBC reality program The Restaurant—which featured his unbelievably charming mother, Nicolina, and her amazing meatballs—Rocco DiSpirito is known for his Italian-American fare almost as much as he's known for his bachelor-man-about-town social activities. A frequent guest judge on Bravo's Top Chef, he currently hosts Rocco Gets Real on A&E.

Mostly famous now for being the head judge—and by far the harshest critic, a kind of culinary Simon Cowell—on Bravo's smash television program Top Chef, Tom Colicchio is a god to other chefs since opening his seminal New York City restaurant, Craft. Prior to Craft, Colicchio was the co-owner and executive chef at Gramercy Tavern restaurant in Manhattan.

Perhaps more than even most chefs working today, Bobby Flay personifies the modern rock star status of chefs. Married to a gorgeous actress, Flay—who cooks with a Southwestern flair—took New York City by storm years ago with his first celebrated restaurant, Mesa Grill on lower Fifth Avenue in Manhattan. Everything evolved from there including his numerous television programs on the Food Network (Boy Meets Grill, Throwdown With Bobby Flay, FoodNation), his Emmy win, his growing restaurant empire as well as holding the coveted title of Iron Chef. This is definitely Bobby Flay's time.

This Colombian-born firecracker has exploded into the American food scene most obviously from her hit show on the Food Network called Simply Delicioso (Simply Delicious). Her concept is to take Latin food's bold flavors and textures and combine them in a simple, you-too-can-do-this-at-home manner. Her vibrant, infectious personality is also a big draw.