And then there were three!

We are getting down to the wire and the competition is the fiercest it has ever been! Our three finalists: Jeffrey, Melissa and Debbie are still in Miami at the Eden Roc where they are in for a few culinary surprises! After being greeted by Emeril Lagasse, the trio is assigned their main challenge.

They have been allowed to see an advanced screening of the movie “Julie and Julia,” starring Meryl Streep and Amy Adams, based on Julia Child’s culinary journey and one woman, Julie, whose life is inspired by it.

In the spirit of the movie the finalists are to asked to bring their passion for food to life and put it on a plate.  They are to cook their ultimate three-course meal for a private dinner party made up of the culinary elite!  We’re talking Food Network personalities, judges, and world-renowned chefs.  The pressure is SO on!

Challenge: V.I.P Party In Miami  – The group has each been given $1,000 to prepare their three-course meal for a group of about 20.  They will each be assigned their own sous chef to assist in the preparation but what they don’t know is that their sous chefs are actually their co-finalists! Jamika, Micheal and Katie!

Preparation Time: 3 Hours

Presentation: They must present to the dinner party as well as demo a portion of their meal live to the camera and crowd.

Melissa D'Arabian

After seeing the movie, Melissa decided to draw on her and Julia Child’s shared experience of living in Paris, and make a French three-course meal.

1st Course – Ratatouille and Potato Torte

2nd Course – Brick Herb Chicken with Orzo

3rd Course – Cheese Trio, Salad and Chocolate Orange “Pochette” (pastry pocket)

Melissa is paired with Jamika and the cooking goes pretty well, until she learns that her orzo is way too salty and the torte is not cooked to the brownness she was wanting.  The orzo thankfully was cooked in two separate batches and so the two are melded together to outweigh the saltiness.  Being the first presenter, she has decided to swap her torte for the orzo in the first course and serve the torte in her second course so that it has a chance to brown up more.

Melissa’s presentation to the dinner party literally brought the house down!  But in a really good way! She reveals a touching story about how she and her mom would cook together, and how she sadly took her own life when she was in college. Melissa told the crowd that though she found success in life afterward, her soul was undernourished.  She explained that though she may fail at the contest, she would be failing at the right thing this time! Everyone was fighting back the tears!

But Melissa seriously delivered! The only complaint was that her brick chicken was cooked a little too much and there was not enough crust.

Debbie Lee

Debbie was inspired by Amy Adams’ character, Julie.  Both were at dead-end jobs that weren’t doing much for them.  Staying consistent with her Korean cooking Debbie planned a Korean menu.

1st Course -  Chili Rubbed Prawns and Savory Corn Salad

2nd Course – Korean Short Ribs and Crispy Grit Cake

3rd Course – Asian Pear Egg Roll With Rum Butterscotch

Debbie is paired with Micheal and the cooking seems to go well for them.  There were no pitfalls but there was some hesitation from Micheal about the short ribs being served on the bone which would make the meat a little tough, but because it would go against the Korean tradition the meat is left on the bone.

Debbie’s presentation is great, the crowd found her exremely captivating, and her demo went over well too.  The crowd however, was not raving about her food.

They found the first course to be missing that Korean aspect she promised and found the corn salad to be overpowering, more like a southwestern dish, and something they have tasted before.  Her second course was “missing something” and was described as blande.  The meat was not tender enough (just as Micheal had predicted) but Debbie defended it saying that Koreans eat their short ribs like that.  Her third course was overall pretty good but some of the crowd had undercooked dough! Oh no!

Jeffrey Saad

For Jeffrey the movie was a reminder of the passion he felt his first days of culinary school.  He has planned a seafood inspired meal and is cooking out of his comfort zone by taking on a very fragile second course.

1st Course – Seared Scallops and Green Chili Chutney

2nd Course – Seafood Risotto

3rd Course – Chocolate Mousse wtih Biscotti

Jeffrey is paired with sous chef Katie and while his three courses sound pricey, he has found himself seriously under budget! He only spent $317.14 out of a possible $1,000! While cooking the risotto Jeffrey realizes just how risky this second dish is going to be…once the risotto starts too cool (like dishes are apt to do in the challenges) it can seize up, turning very dry, or under cook it and it could be too soupy.

It’s presentation time and Jeffrey just nails it! The crowd loves him, and finds his demo flawless!  The first course is just as uplifting…but then it’s time for the second course.  Jeffrey planned his risotto so that he would stop cooking it at a certain point so that it would be presentable and edible.  Sadly, his timing was way off! With the harshest of food critics in the room Jeffrey gets reamed a new one!

His risotto was described as the worst ever and a disrespect to Italy!  It’s here that you see Jeffrey completely loses all confidence and he just prays that his third course is good enough to get him back on track.  Thankfully, his dessert is a crowd pleaser….but that doesn’t mean a thing until it comes to the evaluation room.

The Evaluation Room

With such fierce competition, it was really hard to predict who would be going home this week.  And with what I hear has been quite the upset Debbie was asked to leave the show.  Her last challenge left the judges still wanting to see more of that Korean flair she has promised week after week, and though her personality and three courses were received mostly well, her meal was described as a mixed bag of food.  I believed in Debbie. And like Bob Tuschman, I found her to be very camera-ready, but what I didn’t see was the Korean aspect being such a success. I felt throughout the show that she just didn’t deliver what she promised.

I am really excited about the final two contestants! I would hate to be in the judges seat next week because it will be one tough elimination round!

Stay tuned for next weeks Finale Recap of The Next Food Network Star!

Want to watch The Next Food Network Star? Click HERE to catch all previous episodes!

Miami Nights

Wow! We are getting so much closer to knowing WHO will be the Next Food Network Star!  It’s been tough to watch the eliminations, and even tougher to watch good potential candidates lose their cool.  Our four finalists: Jeffrey, Debbie, Melissa and Jamika are still in Miami Beach at the fabulous EdenRoc Hotel, a lap of luxury, where there’s nothing but gorgeous scenery, crystal waters and hot sun!

But Miami hasn’t been that nice to our finalists…they were put to the test and handed some twists and turns to push them to the edge! It is serious crunch time and the judges are not wasting any of it.  They are weeding out who will crack under pressure and who will rise to the top, and anyone who can’t take the heat, just isn’t cut out for the job!

South Florida Live TV Show Mini Challenge
The first challenge this week sent the finalists to SouthFlorida.com/Live - a live web Miami TV show where they had to prepare and cook a signature dish.  I have to say this is one of the funniest challenges I have seen yet on this show because the challenge was set up so that all of the finalists were sabotaged in some way, like missing cooking utensils, swapping food items, messing with their cue times…it was hilarious!
Presentation: Live to camera
Time: 4 Minutes
The twist: SABOTAGE!

Jamika on the SouthFlorida.com/Live Show Set

Debbie was first up for the challenge and coincidentally the winner of the challenge!  She planned a Crispy Catfish with Edamame Succatash, but they replaced her catfish with chicken and took away all functional utensils.  She overcame both obstacles with grace and even laughed about it!  The judges were seriously impressed and joked that maybe they didn’t make it hard enough for her because of how flawlessly she handled it!

Melissa went up next to cook her Tapenade Caviar with Potatoes.  The host of the show Dave was told to basically mess with her the whole four minutes to try and throw her off her game.  So he kept calling her the wrong name, and even described how much he hated one of her ingredients she was using.  Overall she did very well, but somehow that frantic energy surfaced again and she started talking a mile a minute. Sadly the host Dave commented on live TV about it! EEK! She made amends that she was going to apply the Bob Tuschman technique- Speak slowly and your body will follow.

Jeffrey Saad

Next up was Jeffrey, and they threw him all sorts of technical loops! Crazy cues from the crew, dropping mics in his face, forcing him to hold a mic and cook at the same time!  It was hilarious!  He made it look so easy when it really wasn’t and finished his dish in time and with applause! The judges only wished he would’ve brought Dave, the host, more into the demo with him.

Last up was Jamika, and the crew really messed with her!  They were giving her incorrect cue times, telling her she had a minute left when she had more, sticking cameras right up in her face so she basically bumped into them no matter where she went.  This is where Jamika started to show how when she is pushed, she will lose her cool.  She became visibly frustrated and it showed on camera.  She lost her sunshine and that made a big impact on the judges.

The Red Lobster Challenge - Chef LaDuke from Red Lobster was on set where he challenged the finalists to pair a fish dish with a crustacean OR shellfish.  They were told to prepare their dish in a way that would emphasize the freshness of the fish, the wood-fire grill they had to cook on, and bring their own bit of culinary expertise.  The winning dish is to be featured on the Fresh Fish Menu at Red Lobster Restaurants.
The wood-fire grill was a twist the finalists certainly were not expecting.  But the fun was just beginning…the judges did something that made me so happy!  The finalists keep getting stuck in their culinary comfort zones; constantly re-using the same ingredients or flair for their dishes, and this time the judges, (and I!) wanted to see them cook something out of that comfort zone.  Once the finalists were five minutes into the challenge with their menu planned, the judges stopped the clock to rearrange some of their ingredients.
You could say it was the Miami heat but it certainly got hotter on the set after this!

Debbie, who always cooks with Asian ingredients had them taken away and replaced with Mediterranean ingredients.
Jeffrey, who always cooks with a Mexican flair was stripped of his spicy chilies and was given Asian ingredients to work with.
Melissa always plays it safe by not using anything too spicy in her cuisine, so they took away her citrus ingredients and replaced them with habanero peppers.
Jamika, the Caribbean Queen of Cuisine had her pineapple taken away, a key element in her dish and was given celeriac, or celery root, instead.

Presentation: Selection Committee including Mike Symon and Chef LaDuke
Preparation time: 45 Minutes

Overall, all the finalists did well incorporating their new ingredients.  But the test wasn’t just about the ingredients, it was to see if they could adapt to change. Jamika did not do so well at this part again.  She became very testy with Judge Bob Tuschman and shut down her audience instead of engaging them.  Melissa utilized her habaneros very well, something the judges were a little nervous about, and proved this challenge she can keep a calm demeanor even under stress.  Debbie showed she could handle adversity well but messed up BIG time when she left out one of the Mediterranean ingredients from her dish.  It not only cost her the win, but it put her on very shaky ground.  The judges felt that she was again finding a way to not be held accountable for her mistakes.  The winner in this challenge was Jeffrey! with his Wood-Grilled Tilapia in a Spicy Soy Broth.

The Loser This Week was Jamika.  Her snippy attitude and inability to keep her cool was a sign that she does not have what it takes for the camera.  It was a hard decision but it was one that I was not surprised about.

The judges called this week “midterms” for the finalists!   So everything that has happened in the past few weeks was taken into consideration.  This was THE week for the cast to shine and really show the judges they have made any improvements or adjustments to stay in the competition as The Next Food Network Star.

This week’s theme was all about “Kid Food”.  So there was lots of mac n’ cheese, chicken fingers, and grilled cheese.

Cooking Demo Challenge: The first of the challenges was in honor of Rachel Ray’s organization dedicated to kids and food called Yummo.  The finalists were instructed to cook up a kid-friendly dish with not-so kid-friendly ingredients: brussels sprouts,  squid, and tofu!  Which sounds like quite a challenge if you ask me since I don’t have kids just yet (but I’ve got 3 more months until that all changes!).  Each finalist was given an ingredient and one hour to create a kid-friendly dish.

Prep Time: 1 hour 

Presentation: Cooking demo to camera                                                                     

The Twist This Week: The Judges panel includes Rachel Ray and 3 kids

Rachel Ray Show Challenge: The finalists got paired up with each other and were given kid food ingredients and were told to make them into a more adult-friendly dish.  The ingredients: hot dogs and baked beans, grilled cheese and tomato soup, chicken nuggets and mac ‘n’ cheese,

Prep Time: 45 minutes to shop for ingredients and 1 1/2 hours to prepare the food            

Presentation: Live studio audience; 5 minute cooking demo that was nationally televised on the Rachel Ray Show.

The Pairs:

Katie and Debbie – Baked Chicken Nuggets and Shrimp Mac ‘N Cheese with Fontina, Gouda and Swiss                          

Jamika and Jeffrey – Chorizo and Shrimp Hot Dogs with Rice and Baked Beans                                                                                    

 Micheal and Melissa – Grilled Cheese Skewers and Tomato Soup with Bacon Lardons

The Loser this week:

Katie Cavuto

I am actually sad to see Katie go home.  She really showed improvement over the past few weeks and I really loved the idea of her cooking style because it matches my own so well.  I cook with organic products and whole wheat pastas, and yes I bake (not fry!) my chicken fingers.  Which is something she did this week that did not win over the judges.

Cooking Demo Challenge: This is where I thought Katie did pretty well.  She was given squid, and even with her healthful approach she made something that both the kids and the judges seemed to enjoy:  Calamari Fruit Salad with Quinoa in an edible bell pepper bowl.

What she did not do so well at was her presentation.  Even though the kids liked it, and I didn’t think it was so bad, the judges did not and unfortunately they were who mattered most.  They felt she was almost condescending during her presentation, which I could see, but it was most likely due to the fact that there were kids there.  Her presentation skills changed, however, on the Rachel Ray Show, which the judges found to be better but inconsistent for a TV host.

Rachel Ray Show Challenge: Katie was paired up with Debbie, and while the two did work well together, Katie had some problems on her own connecting to the camera and audience.  She hardly every looked up while she was cooking, which is a big thing for a TV chef!

The food the pair cooked up also was a miss this week: Baked Chicken Fingers and Shrimp Mac ‘N Cheese.  The judges found the chicken to be flavorless and really dry, and I couldn’t quite tell what they thought about the Mac ‘N Cheese.

Katie’s inconsistent presentation skills and inability to prove that healthy food can still be tasty is what got her the ax!

Remaining Finalists Scorecards:

Jeffrey Saad

Jeffrey, welcome back to the top!  He did a fantastic job at the first challenge with his Tofu Chicken Nuggets and Spaghetti.  He gave a killer presentation that was not only entertaining but super creative!  The kids panel not only laughed, they liked his food and liked to watch him! Jeffrey also did very good on the Rachel Ray Show.  He was paired up with Jamika and while their cooking style didn’t quite match up (AWKWARD!),  it showed in the kitchen and on camera, he proved on live national TV that he’’s got the chops to make it as The Next Food Network Star.  He was a little harassed by Bob that he took over the talking on the RR Show but Debbie felt differently about the takeover. See comments on Jamika to get the jist of this.

Jamika Pessoa

Jamika was not doin’ so hot this week.  She actually was the only one to not get any sort of positive feedback for the first challenge.  Though her “Sweet Corn Snack Wrap” was tasty to the kids panel, she didn’t finish her cooking demo, which is crucial on TV.  She talked way too much, almost as if she was trying too hard to butter up the judges.  On the Rachel Ray Show she completely froze! She just stood there and let Jeffrey do all of the talking, and when she did finally speak up she was void of any emotion, she never smiled, and it was evident she had lost her confidence!  She ended up being on the bottom 3 for the panel evaluation, but somehow the judges have given her another chance. I don’t think it’s looking so good for this contestant.

Debbie was up and down this week.  She made a tasty dish for the Cooking Demo Challenge, Oven Baked Calamari Rings and Sweet Potato Chips but tanked during the presentation by completely running out of time as well as some embarrassing technical difficulties.  Even though the judges liked the food, not completing the demo did hurt her a little bit.  Her presentation on the  RR Show soared though!  As usual she was calm, collected, poised and completely at ease in front of a live studio audience.  Even though the judges didn’t like the baked chicken nuggets, they could clearly see it was Katie’s idea, it did not hold her back in the evaluation round.

Melissa D'Arabian

Melissa is definitely proving that she’s got the chops to make it, but she still needs some fine-tuning.  She got that same frantic glazed over look she gets when she’s nervous or frazzled.  And we didn’t see it last week so it was a little disappointing to see a touch of it come back this week.  Her Smashed Potatoes and Brussels Sprouts were liked by the judges panel.  She pureed some of the sprouts with cream cheese (points from the judges)  but left some of them raw in the dish, which confused the judges.  She didn’t get to explain that in her demo which left them uneasy about her dish.  On the RR Show she did well explaining her dish, but this is where that frazzled look came in; she seemed rushed and even though that may be on TV you can’t let it affect your performance or the audience will notice. Well the judges did.  Still she did well enough to keep her in the upper 3 this week.

Michael Proietti

Michael did alright this week.  Which really bums me out because he is my favorite.  He again showed amazing energy during his presentation during the Cooking Demo Challenge.  He made Brussels Sprouts Tomato Soup and Brussels Sprouts Puppets which won over the kids and judges.  But he was a bit hurried through the presentation which left him extra time to kill. The sad thing is the judges and kids really enjoyed watching him, but he still has to find his camera self.  On the RR Show he kind of froze up like Jamika did.  His personality came through the last bit of the presentation and it’s what got him on the bottom 3 this week.  The judges however felt he was safe after considering how well liked his camera presence is even if he can’t get it right just yet.

Be sure to tune into The Next Food Network to catch next week’s episode where the crew goes to MIAMI!

To catch up on any episodes you missed including last week’s, click here!

Ok all you Food Network lovers out there! The Next Food Network Star is back! Yes, I do realize I am a few episodes behind to just now start writing a blog about it, but I gotta say, I have not paid attention to this show….until now! Well actually I started with episode 2 but didn’t think to write about it until, I don’t know…number 4?  I will make up for it though, I promise! The good news is I caught it early enough to get hooked and share my thoughts.

If you don’t know much about the show let me break it down: Ten people are selected nationwide to show off their culinary skills and if they got what it takes (camera-wise) to be The Next Food Network Star! The winner gets their own six-episode show on The Food Network, an exclusive feature in Food Network Magazine, and a top spot at the New York City Wine & Food Festival!

Did you know that Guy Fieri of “Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives” was the Season 2 winner of this very same show?! I didn’t and I have been watching that show for quite some time now! This show does find winners I tell ‘ya!  So now for the recap on Episode Number Four….

The Two Challenges this week are all about American food!

Bobby’s Burger Challenge – Make the ultimate burger inspired by a region of America, using their spices and flair.  The winning burger will be featured on the menu at Bobby Flay’s new burger restaurant, Bobby’s Burger Palace, opening in Connecticut!

Prep Time: 20 Minutes                                                                                           Direct-To-Camera Presentation: 30 seconds

USS Intrepid Challenge – The finalists go on board the USS Intrepid where they are throwing a Homecoming Party for troops returning from the Middle East.  Each contestant receives an ingredient basket specific to a US state (kind of like Chopped or Iron Chef).  They have to cook up an “all american home-cooked dish” for the soldiers and their families.  The winner will be featured along with their dish in USA Weekend!

Prep Time: 1 1/2 Hours                                                                                                                             Presentation: Open Mic to guests and selection committee

The Loser This Week:

Teddy Folkman

Well, first thing’s first, Teddy is gone! And without bringing up too much dirt from past episodes (since we are soo over those now), he does have a habit of throwing people under the bus for his own follies and mistakes (poor Melissa and Debbie!) which as you can see I am still upset about.  That being said, he may be a great chef, but he just cannot pull it off in front of the camera, which is the reason he was axed from the show.  He turns into a “game show host” as Jamika put it.

So what did him in?

Burger Challenge: I personally think he did a better job at this presentation than he has before at other challenges, but the judges didn’t think so.  They still felt he couldn’t find the right presentation energy.  His Pennsylvania Burger was not a winner either.  Bobby thought there were too many things on the burger to enjoy it.

USS Intrepid: So it’s not just the camera that gets Teddy in a tizzy.  It seemed that his New York state basket was prepared well but he tanked on his presentation this time in front of a crowded room, which some say may be harder than an actual camera.

Winner’s Circle:

This week was all about rising stars! Move over Jeffrey, Debbie and Jamika! This week’s winners were Michael and Melissa. Here is how they won their challenges:

Michael Proietti

Best Burger Challenge Winner:  Michael – His “Mulberry Street Burger” looked awesome! A burger stuffed with fresh mozzarella cheese and crisp pancetta on both sides served on top of garlic bread! He wowed the judges with this one!  His presentation was good with “great energy” though he still had that nervousness about him.

In fact, I want to try everything Michael makes! He is so creative and inventive every single week, his personality is absolutely adorable and he is someone I would totally love to see with his own show on The Food Network.  He is still working at his camera skills, but he totally has the personality and flair to pull it off! The judges agree he has the right energy, I just hope he can do it in time to show the judges he’s got what it takes!

USS Intrepid Challenge Winner: Melissa’s Marinated Skirt Steak Tostada with black beans and honey mango salsa was a hit amongst the soldiers and the judges!  Melissa was assigned the state of New Mexico with a basket of hot chilis, which she never cooks with. So she actually tasted all of the raw peppers to see what she was working with! Yikes! She scored major points after the judges heard about that.

Melissa just looks like a natural on camera and has some tasty sounding recipes to add.  She did very well at the Burger Challenge, though it didn’t give her the win, she finally showed Teddy (and the others) she is more than just a “stay at home mom!”

Melissa was just nailing it this week! I have to say I am very happy she finally found her mojo.  She was a bit frazzled the first few challenges but she pulled it together this week and it brought her a win!

And the other contestants?

Jeffrey, who is usually on top with the judges, fizzled out quickly this week.  He failed to wow the judges at the Burger Challenge, bringing them the same “heat-sweet” combo he’s been doing every week, and he still was not able to connect his personal life with his dishes.  He also bombed miserably at the USS Intrepid with his presentation and his Lobster Blueberry Pot Pies.  Judge Susie Fogelman said she “would never eat it unless she had to!”

Jamika who has also been a favorite with the judges tanked this week too.  Her “Mardi Gras Madness Burger” drove the judges mad! The texture of the sausage under the burger didn’t sit well with Bobby Flay and neither did her presentation.  Due to undercooked potatoes, her loaded potato casserole with sausage, beer and cheese on the USS Intrepid turned out like glue! The soldiers hated it, and so did the judges, and she actually wound up on the bottom this week of both challenges!

Katie, who is really scraping by every week, brought another undercooked inedible dish to the Burger Challenge. She did manage to win the crowd over on the USS Intrepid with her “girl next door” personality and her edible and fully cooked Almond and Panko Crusted Catfish, Vidalia Onion Greens, Molasses and Orange Butternut Squash, it may be what saved her tookus this week. Although her dish was tasty the judges didn’t think she connected the health and taste aspect well enough in her presentation.

Debbie, wasn’t flying high with the judges this week.  Though her presentations were spot on, both of her dishes were too bland.  Her Cal Asian burger was not asian inspired enough, and even though she suffered an injury in the kitchen on the USS Intrepid her chicken with a red wine sauce and green beans with ginger almond crunch were not up to par to secure a win this week.

Keep watch for a recap each week on the rest of The Next Food Network Star season!

Meet the Finalists of The Next Food Network Star, Watch their video bios!