Food Network staffs its lineup of cooking, competition, and culinary shows with hosts that are either engaging on screen or infallible experts -- Alex Guarnaschelli is the rare on-air personality that can fit into both classifications. A classically trained chef who ran acclaimed New York restaurants for years before she entered the fray of food T.V. in the 2000s, Alex Guarnaschelli is invariably friendly, laid-back, and funny as she shares her rare and extensive knowledge with viewers or shows off her cooking skills. Whether she's hosting "Ciao House," judging entries on "Chopped," contributing to the history, evolution, and future of "Iron Chef," or showing what cooking on television is really like on "Alex's Day Off" or "The Kitchen," she's proven herself a valuable part of the Food Network formula.

But as much happiness, joy, and passion that Guarnaschelli exudes preparing food, talking about food, joking about food, or critiquing food, she overcame a lot to get there. The chef, cookbook author, and cable T.V. celebrity has faced a lot of dark moments in both her professional and personal life, before fame and well into her career as a Food Network stalwart. Here's a look at the tragic side of Alex Guarnaschelli.