News | Entertainment
27 Oct 2025 11:49
NZCity News
NZCity CalculatorReturn to NZCity

  • Start Page
  • Personalise
  • Sport
  • Weather
  • Finance
  • Shopping
  • Jobs
  • Horoscopes
  • Lotto Results
  • Photo Gallery
  • Site Gallery
  • TVNow
  • Dating
  • SearchNZ
  • NZSearch
  • Crime.co.nz
  • RugbyLeague
  • Make Home
  • About NZCity
  • Contact NZCity
  • Your Privacy
  • Advertising
  • Login
  • Join for Free

  •   Home > News > Entertainment

    Al Roker has co-authored a cookbook with his daughter

    The veteran weatherman, 69, announced on the 'Today' show he is releasing 'Al Roker's Recipes to Live By' on 15 October, saying he wrote it with his "very special" girl Courtney Roker Laga, 37, who worked on the project while she was pregnant with her first child, Sky, now 11 months old


    Al, who had Courtney with his ex-wife Alice Bell and is also father to daughter Leila, 25, and son Nick, 21, who he shares with his wife Deborah Roberts, 63, said: "(Courtney) tested all the recipes and wrote them - did a great job - (and) found the stylist to do it and photographer.

    "I wrote some stuff - I wrote some of what they call the head notes. She did a lot which was amazing.

    "One of the greatest moments of your life is when you realise your kid is actually good and professional.

    "And Courtney is a great chef. So, I'm just thrilled and proud to be doing this book."

    Al also announced the upcoming book on his Instagram by posting a video of him cooking with Courtney.

    The clip showed the weatherman searing a steak as his daughter explained what they were cooking.

    In another video on his Instagram to promote the book, Al dec lares while holding tongs in his hand: "Cooking is science!"

    The father-daughter book will include 100 recipes, including dishes such as sunrise burritos, coffee-and-spice-rubbed pork chops, Christmas morning cinnamon rolls, bourbon apple pie milkshakes, Tuscan polenta and lemon meringue crumb crust pie.

    It comes after Al marked his 69th birthday by saying he feels "lucky to be alive" after a string of health problems.

    He told fans on his Instagram: "This is my 69th anniversary of orbiting the sun and after everything that I went through at the end of last year I am more than grateful to be celebrating this birthday.

    "And to all of you who sent good wishes and well wishes over the past year, god bless you. Thank you so much. I appreciate it... grateful for another trip around the sun."

    Father-of-three Al has previously been absent from 'Today' after being hospitalised for weeks for blood clots in his legs and lungs, as well as two bleeding ulcers.

    He was also forced to have his colon "re-sectioned", his gallbladder removed and his small intestine fixed.

    Al revealed on 'Today' about his horrific ordeal: "I lost half my blood. They were trying to figure out where it was."

    He has also had knee surgery, which his wife Deborah told fans online left him with "body fatigue".

    In November 2020, Al was diagnosed with prostate cancer and had to undergo surgery, but was back on 'Today' two weeks after the operation.

    © 2025 Bang Showbiz, NZCity

     Other Entertainment News
     25 Oct: Isabelle Tate has died aged 23
     25 Oct: Jim Parsons still has "so many" special memories from his time on The Big Bang Theory
     25 Oct: Ashley Park's on-screen character enjoys some "big moments" in the new season of Emily in Paris
     25 Oct: Bruce Springsteen saved director Scott Cooper's family after the Los Angeles wildfires
     25 Oct: Josh O'Connor got "kicked" out of being an altar boy for "smiling too much"
     25 Oct: Victoria Beckham used to carry a fake designer handbag
     24 Oct: 50 Cent would love to be at Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce's wedding
     Top Stories

    RUGBY RUGBY
    Stacey Waaka's returning to the NRLW on a two-year deal with the Warriors to feed her hunger for success More...


    BUSINESS BUSINESS
    Taranaki's deep water port could make it a clear contender for being a defence manufacturing hub More...



     Today's News

    Motoring:
    F1 live Mexico: Lando Norris wins and leads Formula 1 standings, Oscar Piastri fifth in Mexico City Grand Prix 11:27

    Cricket:
    Central Stags pace bowler Blair Tickner has been added to the Black Caps squad for the two remaining ODI matches against England 11:07

    Environment:
    An emergency response in the South Island's continuing as more wild weather draws closer 10:47

    Cricket:
    Captain Sophie Devine believes the White Ferns couldn't have prepared any better for the women's One-Day World Cup in India...despite a last game eight-wicket loss to England leaving them 6th in the 8-team standings 10:27

    Health & Safety:
    A public health expert says it's important to be prepared for the arrival of bird flu 10:07

    Politics:
    Former diplomat Lachlan Strahan shares insider's take on Solomon Islands-China deal in memoir 9:57

    Living & Travel:
    Dog attacks on protected wildlife are trending upwards, with kiwis falling victim at an alarming rate 9:27

    Motoring:
    Truck drivers say flow-on effects from a significant disruption impacts services for days, and they're calling for better communications 9:17

    Business:
    Taranaki's deep water port could make it a clear contender for being a defence manufacturing hub 9:17

    Health & Safety:
    The Associate Justice Minister says no rule or label can fix Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, as advocates call for a new warning sign 9:17


     News Search






    Power Search


    © 2025 New Zealand City Ltd