Celebrity chef whips up line

COSTA MESA — Cindi Fullerton and Andrea Santini were keen on getting an autograph from their favorite celebrity chef Wednesday at South Coast Plaza, but they didn’t bring just a book for signing.

The Huntington Beach businesswomen, who run the labor and delivery gown company B.Y.O.G., brought a stack of maternity outfits to give to Giada de Laurentiis, the host of TV’s “Everyday Italian” and author of three cookbooks.

De Laurentiis is expecting her first child, and when she went to the Crate & Barrel store at South Coast Plaza for a book signing, the partners decided to make an exchange.

“We got a hug,” Fullerton said as she left the signing area with an autographed book. “She liked our gift.”

De Laurentiis led a book signing two years ago at South Coast Plaza’s Williams-Sonoma store, but Wednesday marked her first appearance at Crate & Barrel.

The Italian-born chef has a line of specialty foods sold exclusively at the home furnishings store, and servers distributed treats made with de Laurentiis’ ingredients to customers waiting in line.

The first 450 customers to purchase a copy of one of de Laurentiis’ three books — “Everyday Italian,” “Everyday Pasta” and “Giada’s Family Dinners” — were eligible to receive an autograph.

The line began forming outside Crate & Barrel about 8 a.m., five hours before de Laurentiis sat down to sign.

Cathie Bye, a San Clemente resident, was among those making the trek for an autograph.

“I’m definitely a fan,” she said. “I watch the cooking channel every day. I come home from work and turn on the cooking channel.”

MICHAEL MILLER may be reached at (714) 966-4617 or at michael.miller@latimes.com.