The Return of Cheese Rat | Clinton's Infamous Halloween Cheese Ball Shaped Like A Rat is Back

It’s officially Halloween week in the Chewed Up kitchen, and things get scary good. Clinton Kelly, Carla Hall, and Michael Symon welcome Jeanette Donnarumma , beloved culinary producer from The Rachael Ray Show , for a festive, full-throttle celebration of spooky season. Together they recreate Clinton’s infamous “Cheese Rat” — a 1970s-style curry cheese ball transformed into a furry rodent with coconut “fur,” almond ears, and licorice tail. As the group decorates their cheesy creation, they dive into stories from their TV past, from on-set injuries to the freedom of producing a show with zero network executives. Jeanette also stirs up a batch of Apple Cider Margaritas for the grown-ups and a family-friendly version for the kids, before unveiling a DIY Pumpkin Wine Keg that steals the show (and possibly your dignity). The episode wraps with a lively Fan Mail segment, reflections on the old Rachael Ray days, and one lucky winner from Hampton, Virginia snagging this week’s giveaway. It’s festive, chaotic, and hilariously nostalgic—exactly what Halloween in the kitchen should be. 👉 Grab the full recipes + more at: www.chewedupshow.com/recipes Find Jeanette: @jeanettemadeit 🔑 Keywords cheese rat, halloween recipes, curry cheese ball, Clinton Kelly recipe, Jeanette Donnarumma, apple cider margarita, pumpkin wine keg, Carla Hall, Michael Symon, halloween party ideas, funny food podcast, cheese ball recipe, retro appetizer, spooky snacks, cocktail ideas, food show reunion 🕒 Timestamps 00:00 – Intro: “Cheese Rat. Excellent.” 01:00 – Carla declares Halloween her Super Bowl 03:00 – Clinton introduces guest Jeanette Donnarumma 06:30 – Cheese Rat origin story + shaping the “rat” 10:30 – Marketing plan: “Cheese Rat for the people!” 11:00 – Sponsor shoutouts: Frontgate, Casamara Club, All-Clad 13:00 – Decorating the rat (almond ears, licorice tail) 16:00 – First bites + curry-mango-coconut rave reviews 17:00 – Jeanette’s Apple Cider Margarita recipe 18:30 – Trick-or-treat chaos in Ridgewood, NJ 22:00 – Sponsor shoutouts: Headley & Bennett, Blues Hog 24:00 – Halloween cocktails & “booze you can’t drink” confessions 25:00 – Fan Mail + behind-the-scenes stories from The Chew & Rachael Ray 28:00 – The infamous Pumpkin Wine Keg reveal 30:00 – Fan Giveaway winner: Monique V. from Hampton, VA 🙌 Special Thanks to Our Sponsors Frontgate → Outdoor furniture, décor, and entertaining essentials designed for elevated living. frontgate.com Casamara Club → Botanical leisure sodas inspired by travel and crafted for mindful sipping. casamaraclub.com All-Clad → Professional-grade cookware made in the USA since the ’70s. all-clad.com Headley & Bennett → Professional-grade aprons and kitchen tools that blend form, function, and style. headleyandbennett.com Blues Hog → Champion-winning BBQ sauces and rubs. “Stay Saucy.” blueshog.com 🏠 Kitchen + Credits Kitchen Designed by Anthony Carrino → anthonycarrino.com Produced by Simple Alien → simplealien.com Camera, Audio & Crew by TV Boy → tvboynyc.com 🎧 About Chewed Up Three lifestyle icons reunite with zero filter, strong opinions, and even stronger flavors. Clinton Kelly, Carla Hall, and Michael Symon are back in the kitchen with comedy, comfort food, and unfiltered conversation—served loud. Episodes drop 3x a week: Monday – Appetizers Wednesday – Mains Friday – Desserts Subscribe and turn on notifications so you don’t miss a bite. 🔗 Watch & Listen Watch: YouTube Listen: Spotify • Apple • Amazon 🎁 Fan Giveaway This Week’s Giveaway: A Frontgate board from the Cheese Rat episode, autographed by Clinton, Carla, Michael, and Jeanette Donnarumma. 👉 Enter now at: chewedupshow.com/fangiveaway Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy