BAKERSFIELD, Calif. -- Food Network star Giada De Laurentiis made a stop at the Marketplace Monday to sign copies of her new cookbook, "Giada's Kitchen."

Christine Kotchian didn't want to miss the chance to meet one of her favorite chefs, so she made sure she was one of the first in line outside Williams-Sonoma.

"I've been here since 8 o'clock this morning. It's so great. I can't wait to see Giada -- she's wonderful," said Kotchian.

De Laurentiis is best known for her daytime cooking show "Everyday Italian." Five hundred of her luckiest fans were given the pass to meet the popular Italian chef.

"My dad and I watch her show all the time. I love cooking and brought one of my books to get signed and then my dad brought his own," said De Laurentiis fan Robyn Lace.

It's not every day one of the hottest chefs makes a stop in Bakersfield.

"It really makes it feel like Bakersfield is on the map. You know people didn't know where Bakersfield was, they think it's Buttonwillow. Is it that place by the 5 freeway? So to have someone like Giada come here and sign books, it's really exciting," fan Bill Menta said.