Too many celebrity chefs can spoil your soup

Being a celebrity chef is as much about celebrity -- and good marketing -- as it is about cooking.

Sounds like an obvious statement, but a recent SmartMoney article takes the celebrity-chef craze to task for what it considers some sleights of hand that can ruin your appetite as well as your dinner budget.

It points an especially accusing finger at the Food Network, which has spawned many of glamorous gourmets, each with product to peddle to viewers. While cooking and eating at home in lieu of dining at pricey restaurants is great in theory, the article points out you could easily undermine your frugal moves by splurging on Emeril Lagasse cast-iron cookware, Mario Batali Crocs or Rachael Ray mixing bowls, olive oil or even dog food.