the swamp. He did that, of course, only after hunting alligator eggs and roping a 9-ft.-long monster.

"You don't have to be a foodie to love this," explains Finch. "Food is a connective tissue. It's memories and experiences, going places and doing things. It's not just going into the kitchen and doing a recipe." Finch's nongourmet sensibilities helped her tap the fact that food is adored not only when it captivates but also when it comforts. So rather than another take on truffles and pâté, Finch created Unwrapped, a series focused on the fun stuff — like candy, French fries, Champagne — so beloved by most people. Her Best of ... has quirky categories — the best places for homemade desserts, the best pickles, the best places to take the kids. Does she miss "hard news"? "People who in all those years were never knocked out by what I did now come up to me at cocktail parties," Finch says, laughing. "They want to know, 'Can I get a ticket to Emeril? What is Bobby Flay like?'" Not bad for a nonfoodie who says her favorite foods are still broccoli and macaroni and cheese.