RECIPE FOR SUCCESS:

I read the Daily Pilot online each morning to stay on top of local happenings and issues, but sometimes I just laugh out loud.

Take last week when someone claimed in an opinion piece that the Daily Pilot was biased toward the conservative views of the Republican party (“Will the Pilot let any liberal views through?” April 8).

The writer called it an “undisguised mouthpiece for their propaganda.”

I don’t know which paper this guy reads, but it’s certainly not the Pilot.

They’re owned by the Los Angeles Times, which has always had a reputation of being a more liberal newspaper.

And if you really read the Daily Pilot, you’ll see it prints all opinions, from right wing to the ridiculous and everything in between, as was evident last week.

But what was hilarious was that the guy mentioned me in his article — basically saying I was a conservative Republican shill for the paper.

I must say the words “conservative” and “Barbara Venezia” have never been used in the same sentence, let alone in the same conversation.

I’m 51-years-old with flaming red hair and tattoos from the 1970s. I made a career out of “stirring” in a garage on the comedy cooking show “At Home on the Range” and then syndicated it worldwide.

I ran for City Council only to drop out of the race I was winning to make a point of protest about the practice of negative politics in Newport Beach.

In my youth I ran a rock ’n’ roll club and had my share of fun, which is probably why I’m now sober more than 20 years. I married the local garbage guy, and today I passionately raise money for HIV/AIDS prevention with outrageous fundraisers like drag queen Tupperware parties.

So what about that screams “conservative” to this guy? Does this life history reflect someone who’s easily controlled?

The Pilot has never asked me to write about any subject. My opinions are mine and mine alone.

When Daily Pilot Publisher Tom Johnson offered me this opportunity about a year ago, he explained I could write about whatever I liked. The paper would give me no direction. He thought I had an interesting and honest take on life, a wide range of interests, and a reputation of speaking my mind no matter what.

My goal with “Recipe for Success” is to make you think, question issues and sometimes talk about things no one else wants to. These articles come from the heart. I don’t get paid. To think that I’m writing with a hidden agenda assigned by the Pilot is absurd.

So I will take this opportunity to tell you about my latest project, which certainly isn’t a conservative effort on my part or my wonderful committee, The Friends of Dorothy Guild benefiting AIDS Services Foundation OC.

Join me from 6 to 9 p.m. May 7 for the Friends of Dorothy‘s “Haute” Men’s Spring Fashion Show at Bloomingdales South Coast Plaza featuring the Gay Men’s Chorus of OC, Janice Dickinson and sexy male models from her reality TV show, along with Lorna Berle, Milton Berle’s widow.

Funds raised will benefit ASF. Food, fun and fashion all for a good cause.

Now that’s a recipe for success. Get tickets at www.hotrange.com.

BARBARA VENEZIA is the chairman of the Santa Ana Hts. Redevelopment Project Advisor Committee and was the co-creator of the cooking show “At Home on the Range” with John Crean.