[Photos: © 2009 Food Network]

[Photo: © 2009 Food Network]

On last night’s episode of the Next Food Network Star, the chefs were given the challenge of taking adult foods (squid, Brussels sprouts, etc.) and making them foods that kids would eat. The judging panel included Rachel Ray and three expert kids.

Jamika stumbled during her presentation and didn’t finish before the time ended. Katie was really liked by the kids, but the Food Network judges thought she was boring and condescending. Michael also ran out of time, but everyone loved him anyway.

So when the Elimination Challenge was presented, three of the chefs were already nervous about the possibility of going home. The competitors were divided into teams of two and told to make a live presentation on the Rachel Ray Show where they would update kids’ favorites to be more adult foods.

Debbie & Katie, Melissa & Michael and Jeffrey & Jamika each gave their presentations. The judges told Debbie that she had won the challenge and then they told Michael, Jamika & Katie that they were the bottom three this week.

Jamika was certain that she would be sent home, but the judges told Katie that she was the one to go this week.

I’m happy that Jamika & Michael were safe for another week. They are both so likeable and I have grown to be fans of each of them and Melissa. But Michael will have to overcome his fear of the camera and Jamika will have to gain back her confidence to continue much longer.

What did you think of this week’s challenge? Do you think the judges made the right decision? Let us know!

[Photos: © 2009 Food Network]

On this week’s episode of Next Food Network Star, the chefs were given the challenge of creating the perfect burger that would tell something personal about each of them. There were some amazing looking burgers created! Michael won the challenge with a burger that incorporated cheese in the middle and ham on top of the burger. Yum!

[Photo: © 2009 Food Network]

Then the chefs found out that they would be cooking for a group of 50 service men & women along with their families and the judges. The challenge was to take a random basket of ingredients representing a state and create the next “All-American” dish.

Teddy had to keep looking at notes he wrote on the palm of his hand and did a terrible job in the presentation. Melissa was sparkling and personal and had the dish that everyone loved the most.

During the cooking, Michael accidentally smacked Debbie in the face with a pan and put her in real pain. It messed up his concentration and hers. But luckily, they were both safe at elimination.

The judges were the most displeased with Teddy and told him it was his time to go. I think they made the right choice. He’s just not got a personality that believable on camera and he has issues with integrity. I’m glad to see him go.

What did you think of this week’s challenge? Do you agree or disagree with the judges’ decision to eliminate Teddy? Let us know.

Next Food Network Star is Searching for Food Network’s Next Star!

the current season of Next Food Network Star is airing a really spectacular season right now, but the Food Network is already starting the search for the net 10 chefs to be part of the next season. The new season will air in 2010 and if it is anywhere near as exciting as this season, it will be a challenge you may want to take on! And don’t forget, the prize is your own show on the Food Network!

Casting locations will include:

Phoenix, AZ – Wednesday, July 8, 2009 from 10am-4pm
Embassy Suites Phoenix/Scottsdale
4415 East Paradise Village Parkway, Phoenix, AZ 85032

Chicago, IL – Sunday, July 12, 2009 from 10am-4pm
Affinia Chicago Hotel
166 East Superio, Chicago, IL 60611

Austin, TX – Friday, July 17, 2009 from 10am-4pm
Hyatt Regency Downtown
208 Barton Springs Road, Austin, TX 78704

San Francisco, CA – Sunday, July 26, 2009 from 10am-4pm
W San Francisco
181 Third Street, San Francisco, CA 94103

New York, NY – Friday, July 31, 2009 from 10am-4pm
CBS
530 W. 57th Street, New York, NY 10019

Los Angeles, CA – Monday, August 10, 2009 from 10am-4pm
Saddle Ranch
8371 West Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood, CA 90069

San Diego, CA – Monday, August 17, 2009 from 12pm – 5pm
W San Diego
421 W. B Street, San Diego, CA 92101

Atlanta, GA – Monday, August 24, 2009 from 10am-4pm
W Atlanta Midtown
188 14th St. NE, Atlanta, GA 30361

[Photos: © 2009 Food Network, all rights reserved]

The Next Food Network Star competition is already down to 8 contenders. But this week, things get even tougher. The cooks will have to prepare a budget dinner party using on $5 per person. YIKES!

They have to work in teams of two, which always bring the drama. And some of their dishes fall short of expectations. Here’s a sneak peek:

Be sure to watch the Next Food Network Star this Sunday at 10/9c on Food Network.

It’s reality TV season again, and one of the summer favorites, Next Food Network Star is back for season 5. The new cast of cooking masters will hit primetime when the show premieres on Food Network on June 7th at 9/8c.

Past seasons’ winners have become well known to us all. And last season, there were two new stars born. Adam Gertler & Aaron McCargo, Jr. both got shows of their own. And with the talent in store for us in this new season, who knows how many stars will be born?

Here’s the new crop of cooks:

Brett August
[Photo: © 2009 Food Network]

Brett, 32 (New York, N.Y.), keeps busy as the executive sous chef at Doral Arrowwood Hotel in Rye Brook, N.Y., where he has worked for 11 years while enjoying the music, sports and culinary scene in his native New York City. Inspired to cook by his father at a young age, Brett’s culinary point of view focuses on simple food for the home cook. The New York Restaurant School graduate exudes passion and ambition in and out of the kitchen.

Food specialty: Can’t say that I have one specialty. My mom raised me on Italian and just good home cooking, but when it comes to my job, I use a lot of different food styles to feed so many people.
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I’m thrilled to let you know two wonderful things in regards to the most recent season of Next Food Network Star. The first is that I watched the winner, Aaron McCargo Jr.’s first episode of his new Food Network series, Big Daddy’s House. It was great! I was inspired to go make some crispy chicken strips and put them on a great salad!! Thanks, Aaron! I loved your recipe!!

The second bit of great news is that my other favorite contender for the show was Adam Gertler got his own show on the network too. When it came to the final three and my two favorites were there, it was exciting!! But in a way, they both won.

Adam Gertler now has his own Food Network show called Will Work for Food! I’m looking forward to that one too! Adam will explore the world of little known food jobs and will most likely make us laugh and learn at the same time.

Be sure to catch the premiere of Will Work for Food on Tuesday, September 30th at 9:30pm ET/PT.

Food Network , food tv, Reality TV, reality-tv, Television, Next Food Network Star

The fourth season of the Next Food Network Star has ended and I’m thrilled to say that one of my favorite two contenders won.

Aaron McCargo Jr. is the newest Food Network star and will premiere his new series, Big Daddy’s House on the Food Network this Sunday, August 3 at 1:30pm/12:30c.

Aaron was one of my favorites all season because of his warmth and his down-to-earth style of cooking. I already have my TiVo set to watch his show. In the mean time, Here’s a quick recap of the season finale:

But even more exciting, I got to take part in a conference call with him yesterday where he answered a lot of questions about himself and what we can expect from his show. Here’s what was discussed:

Q: How has your family’s food habits influenced what you want to present in your new show?
A: His family’s food habits have really influenced how he will cook on the show. He will be cooking a lot with his mother and his father and his whole family on the show.
“We’re all about big portions. My mother always was into flavoring food a lot and that is what I plan to present to the audience in Big Daddy’s House.”
(click on “Read More” for the rest of the interview)
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Reality Exploits readers, now you can enter to win a prize package to celebrate the new season of the Next Food Network Star. And the package includes Chef Bobby Flay’s latest cookbook, Bobby Flay’s Grill It!

Here’s What You Can Win:

One winner can win the following Food Network prize pack for Next Food Network Star which includes:

1. Cookbook - Bobby Flay’s Grill It!
2. Food Network Keychain
3. Next Food Network Star Poster
4. Next Food Network Star Postcard
5. Next Food Network Star T-shirt

Here’s How You Can Enter:

It’s easy to enter, all you have to do is comment on this post with a reason why you need Bobby Flay’s cookbook to help you be better at grilling. (Be sure to enter a working email address in the comment form so I can contact you if you are the winner!!) One entry allowed each day from the same email address or person only, please. A winner will be chosen at random from those timestamped before midnight of June 30, 2008.

Watch the Next Food Network Star, Sundays at 10pm/9p on The Food Network. Now, be sure to check back here for coverage throughout the remainder of the season!

[Images: ©2008 Food Network]

Food Network , food tv, Reality TV, reality-tv, Television, Next Food Network Star

[Photos: © 2008 Food Network]

Due to circumstances beyond my control, I’m late getting started with the coverage for this season of Next Food Network Star. But I’ve watched every season so far and simply love two of the winners. It’s a good series and they put the aspiring stars through some really tough challenges on their way to find the winner.

This year, there’s a new twist. It’s a component that I wish we had been able to have for the previous seasons, but then, we have it now so it’s a great thing. We are now able to vote for our favorites on the series so we, the viewers get to help decide who will have a new show for us to watch. Seems pretty obvious, I don’t know why we didn’t think of it sooner…

To catch you up with the first two episodes of the season, here are the official recaps from Food Network. Here’s the recap for episode 4.01:

And here’s what you might have missed in episode 4.02:

Watch the Next Food Network Star, Sundays at 10pm/9p on The Food Network. Now, be sure to check back here for coverage throughout the remainder of the season!

Food Network , food tv, Reality TV, reality-tv, Television, Next Food Network Star

[Photo: © 2008 Food Network]

The fourth season Next Food Network Star has begun and there’s a whole new group of aspiring Food Network stars hoping to win their own show on the network. Here’s the cast of this season’s competition:

Next Food Network Star - Aaron McCargo, Jr.
[Photo: © 2008 Food Network]

(click on “Read More” for the rest of the aspiring stars)
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