The Next Food Network Star
Encyclopedia
The Next Food Network Star is a reality television
series produced by and aired on the Food Network
in the United States
that awards the winner his or her own series on the Food Network. Beginning in season seven, the title was shortened to Food Network Star.
area caterers host a show called Party Line with Dan & Steve, now titled Party Line with The Hearty Boys
, which premiered on September 18, 2005. The runner-up, Deborah Fewell, was chosen to host a special on food at beaches, Surf N Turf, which aired in June 2006. Michael Thomas is the recurring chef on The Tyra Banks Show
. Susannah Locketti has made an appearance on The Tony Danza Show
, and is also an on-air chef for Publix
grocery stores in the southern United States
.
was announced as the winner on April 23, 2006, beating Reggie Southerland. Guy's Big Bite
premiered in June 2006 and was picked up for a second season in 2008 and remains in production. Originally intended as a one-hour special, Fieri's second series, Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives
, premiered April 23, 2007. Guy's third series, Ultimate Recipe Showdown
, first aired on February 17, 2008, co-hosted by Marc Summers
. Guy's newest show debuted on the Food Network on September 14, 2008. Called Guy Off The Hook
, it is similar in concept to Emeril Live
, but allows guests to come up on stage and participate in the cooking.
Guy has appeared with Dinner: Impossible chef Robert Irvine
, and with Paula Deen
in Paula's Party
in 2007; and as a guest judge in subsequent seasons of The Next Food Network Star. He is also host of NBC Network's Minute To Win It
.
Fourth-place contestant Nathan Lyon began hosting his own series, A Lyon In the Kitchen, on the Discovery Health Channel
in March 2007.
) to a mini version of Food Network's Iron Chef America
(with guest judges Bobby Flay
and Cat Cora
). The Selection Committee consisted of Food Network executives Bob Tuschman and Susie Fogelson along with one guest. Guest judges included Alton Brown
, Giada De Laurentiis
, Duff Goldman
, season two winner Guy Fieri, and Robert Irvine. Additionally, Paula Deen and Rachael Ray
participated in contestant challenges, and Bobby Flay also played a role in the guidance and selection process. Amy Finley
was chosen by America as The Next Food Network Star on July 22, 2007. Her new show The Gourmet Next Door premiered on October 14, 2007 and ran for six episodes. Finley later declined to continue with the series, citing relocation to France for family reasons.
: Amy Finley was eliminated Week 7, and the original finalists were Rory Schepisi and Joshua "JAG" Garcia. After the final elimination episode was aired, evidence came to light that JAG had lied about both his culinary training and his military service, representing both as more extensive than they actually were. Food Network allowed him to withdraw from the competition and reinstated Amy Finley, who was voted The Next Food Network Star.
His winning show idea, Big Daddy's House
, first aired August 3, 2008. Finalist Adam Gertler was soon hired to host a Food Network show called Will Work for Food
, which debuted on January 19, 2009 and was cancelled after one season. He now hosts the Food Network show "Kid in a Candy Store" which is currently filming its second season. Kelsey Nixon co-hosts a web show on food2.com (a Food Network sister site) and also appeared in the premiere of Chefs vs. City
in 2009. In 2010, Gertler and Nixon became co-hosts of The Next Food Network Star After Party, a half-hour recap/interview show following that night's episode of Star, on Food Network's sister station Cooking Channel
. Nixon stars in Kelsey's Essentials, a program on kitchen and cooking basics for The Cooking Channel that began in November, 2010.
as the Selection Committee for this season, which was filmed early this year in Miami, Florida
and New York, New York. Melissa D'Arabian was declared the winner on August 2, 2009 with the title for her show being Ten Dollar Dinners
. Her show premiered on August 9, 2009. On August 17, 2009, Food Network announced Jeffrey Saad would return in a series of online videos based on his pilot, now called "The Spice Smuggler." The program premiered with four 4-1/2 minute videos featuring one spice and a recipe incorporating it. Saad was named the national representative for the American Egg Board. In November, 2010, Saad will debut in a new show for The Cooking Channel currently titled United Tastes of America, which explores multiple aspects of traditional American food. Finalist Debbie Lee has carried her "Seoul to Soul" concept to the streets of LA, opening a lunch truck Ahn-Joo, featuring a range of Korean food.
executives Bob Tuschman and Susie Fogelson were again joined again by Bobby Flay
as judges; in addition, Giada De Laurentiis
served as an on-set mentor. On July 17, 2010, a post-competition recap and discussion show premiered on The Cooking Channel
. Shows were filmed in Los Angeles, California
. On August 15, 2010, Aarti Sequeira was declared the winner, and her new show Aarti Party
premiered on Sunday, August 22, 2010 and features American style cuisine with unique Indian flair. Season 2 of Aarti Party
is scheduled to premiere in December. The Food Network also signed runner-up Tom Pizzica to host a new show called Outrageous Food, which premiered in November 2010.
Reality television
Reality television is a genre of television programming that presents purportedly unscripted dramatic or humorous situations, documents actual events, and usually features ordinary people instead of professional actors, sometimes in a contest or other situation where a prize is awarded...
series produced by and aired on the Food Network
Food Network
Food Network is a television specialty channel that airs both one-time and recurring programs about food and cooking. Scripps Networks Interactive owns 70 percent of the network, with Tribune Company controlling the remaining 30 percent....
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
that awards the winner his or her own series on the Food Network. Beginning in season seven, the title was shortened to Food Network Star.
Summary
The first season of The Next Food Network Star series was taped in February 2005, and was composed of five episodes premiering on Sundays at 9 PM in June 2005. Dan Smith and Steve McDonagh were the winners of the first season. These two ChicagoChicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
area caterers host a show called Party Line with Dan & Steve, now titled Party Line with The Hearty Boys
Party Line with The Hearty Boys
Party Line with The Hearty Boys was a Food Network show hosted by real-life gay couple Dan Smith and Steve McDonagh . Smith and McDonagh launched the show after winning the network's reality contest, The Next Food Network Star, which granted them a six-show Food Network series...
, which premiered on September 18, 2005. The runner-up, Deborah Fewell, was chosen to host a special on food at beaches, Surf N Turf, which aired in June 2006. Michael Thomas is the recurring chef on The Tyra Banks Show
The Tyra Banks Show
The Tyra Banks Show, also known as and shortened to Tyra or The Tyra Show, is an American talk show hosted by Tyra Banks. The last new episode aired on Friday, May 28, 2010.-2005-2009: Syndication:...
. Susannah Locketti has made an appearance on The Tony Danza Show
The Tony Danza Show
The Tony Danza Show was a daytime talk show hosted by Tony Danza, but was also a sitcom featuring the same actor ....
, and is also an on-air chef for Publix
Publix
Publix Super Markets, Inc. is an American supermarket chain based in Lakeland, Florida.Founded in 1930 by George W. Jenkins, it is an employee-owned, privately held corporation. Publix is currently ranked No. 86 on Fortune magazine's list of 100 Best Companies to Work For 2010 and was ranked No...
grocery stores in the southern United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Finalists
| Finalist | Age | Hometown | Place |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dan Smith & Steve McDonagh Party Line with The Hearty Boys Party Line with The Hearty Boys was a Food Network show hosted by real-life gay couple Dan Smith and Steve McDonagh . Smith and McDonagh launched the show after winning the network's reality contest, The Next Food Network Star, which granted them a six-show Food Network series... |
42 and 40 | Bellmore, NY and Wayne, NJ | Winners |
| Deborah Fewell | 32 | Los Angeles, CA | Runner-Up |
| Hans Rueffert | 32 | Jasper, GA | 3rd |
| Susannah Locketti | 33 | Plymouth, MA | 4th |
| Eric Warren | 52 | Los Angeles, CA | 5th |
| Michael Thomas | 36 | Venice, CA | 6th |
| Harmony Marceau | 30 | New York City, NY | 7th |
| Brook Harlan | 24 | Columbia, MO | 8th |
Summary
The second season of The Next Food Network Star series was taped in December 2005 and began airing in March 2006. Guy FieriGuy Fieri
Guy Fieri is an American restaurateur, author, television personality, and game show host. He co-owns five restaurants in California and is widely known for his television series on the Food Network....
was announced as the winner on April 23, 2006, beating Reggie Southerland. Guy's Big Bite
Guy's Big Bite
Guy's Big Bite is a Food Network show starring Guy Fieri, winner of the second season of The Next Food Network Star. The inaugural six-episode season premiered on June 25, 2006 in the 10:00 am/EST timeslot. Currently Guy's Big Bite airs Sundays at 11am EST/PST.Food Network renewed the series after...
premiered in June 2006 and was picked up for a second season in 2008 and remains in production. Originally intended as a one-hour special, Fieri's second series, Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives
Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives
Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives is an American food television series that premiered in November 2006 on the Food Network. Produced by Page Productions, the program stars and is hosted by Guy Fieri...
, premiered April 23, 2007. Guy's third series, Ultimate Recipe Showdown
Ultimate Recipe Showdown
Ultimate Recipe Showdown is a program which airs on Food Network. The program was originally hosted by Marc Summers and Guy Fieri. As of the second season, Fieri hosts the program alone.-Format:...
, first aired on February 17, 2008, co-hosted by Marc Summers
Marc Summers
Marc Summers is an American television personality, comedian, game show host, producer, and a two-time talk show host. He is best known for hosting the Nickelodeon game show Double Dare and currently hosts Unwrapped on The Food Network.- Early career :Summers was born Marc Berkowitz in...
. Guy's newest show debuted on the Food Network on September 14, 2008. Called Guy Off The Hook
Guy Off the Hook
Guy Off the Hook is a television series which began airing on Food Network in September 2008. The show is hosted by Guy Fieri and closely follows the format of shows such as Paula's Party and Emeril Live. The show is taped in front of a studio audience, which Fieri often engages...
, it is similar in concept to Emeril Live
Emeril Live
Emeril Live is a program on The Cooking Channel hosted by Emeril Lagasse. It formerly aired on Food Network and Fine Living.Emeril Live features many of the same elements as Emeril's other program, Essence of Emeril, and often has a Creole theme...
, but allows guests to come up on stage and participate in the cooking.
Guy has appeared with Dinner: Impossible chef Robert Irvine
Robert Irvine
Robert Irvine is a celebrity chef who has appeared on a variety of Food Network programs, including Dinner: Impossible, Worst Cooks in America, and Restaurant: Impossible.-Career:Irvine began his cooking career upon enlisting in the Royal Navy at the age of fifteen...
, and with Paula Deen
Paula Deen
Paula Deen American cook, cooking show host, restaurateur, author, actress and Emmy Award-winning television personality.Deen resides in Savannah, Georgia, where she owns and operates...
in Paula's Party
Paula's Party
Paula's Party is a show on the Food Network hosted by Paula Deen. Unlike her other show on the Food Network, Paula's Home Cooking, Paula's Party was originally taped in front of a small audience at Uncle Bubba's Oyster House in Savannah, Georgia, and Deen herself frequently interacts with members...
in 2007; and as a guest judge in subsequent seasons of The Next Food Network Star. He is also host of NBC Network's Minute To Win It
Minute to Win It
Minute to Win It is an American prime time game show on NBC hosted by Guy Fieri. Contestants take part in a series of 60-second challenges that use objects that are commonly available around the house....
.
Fourth-place contestant Nathan Lyon began hosting his own series, A Lyon In the Kitchen, on the Discovery Health Channel
Discovery Health Channel
Discovery Health Channel is a website owned by Discovery Communications, created for people interested in health and wellness. Until December 31, 2010, it was a U.S. cable television specialty channel dedicated to television programming that highlights various aspects of health and wellness...
in March 2007.
Finalists
| Finalist | Age | Hometown | Culinary P.O.V. | Eliminated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guy Fieri Guy Fieri Guy Fieri is an American restaurateur, author, television personality, and game show host. He co-owns five restaurants in California and is widely known for his television series on the Food Network.... |
38 | Santa Rosa, CA Santa Rosa, California Santa Rosa is the county seat of Sonoma County, California, United States. The 2010 census reported a population of 167,815. Santa Rosa is the largest city in California's Wine Country and fifth largest city in the San Francisco Bay Area, after San Jose, San Francisco, Oakland, and Fremont and 26th... |
"Off the Hook" California Cuisine California Cuisine California cuisine is a style of cuisine marked by an interest in fusion cuisine and in the use of freshly prepared local ingredients.The food is typically prepared with strong attention to presentation... |
Winner |
| Reggie Southerland | 39 | Los Angeles, CA Los Angeles, California Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California... |
Modern Soul Food | Runner-Up |
| Carissa Seward | 33 | San Diego, CA San Diego, California San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round... |
Simple Food for Entertaining | Week 6 |
| Nathan Lyon | 35 | Los Angeles, CA Los Angeles, California Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California... |
Healthy and Seasonal Food | Week 5 |
| Andrew Schumacher | 26 | Brooklyn, NY | Cooking Techniques | Week 4 |
| Evette Rodriguez | 35 | Port St. Lucie, FL Port St. Lucie, Florida Port St. Lucie is a city in St. Lucie County, Florida, United States. The population of Port St. Lucie was 88,769 at the 2000 census but grew rapidly during the 2000s. In 2009 the State of Florida estimated the City's population at 155,251. Port St. Lucie forms part of a metropolitan area called... |
Latin Cuisine Latin American cuisine Latin American Cuisine refers to typical foods, beverages, and cooking styles common to many of the countries and cultures in Latin America... |
Week 3 |
| Elizabeth Raynor | 32 | Sausalito, CA Sausalito, California Sausalito is a San Francisco Bay Area city, in Marin County, California, United States. Sausalito is south-southeast of San Rafael, at an elevation of 13 feet . The population was 7,061 as of the 2010 census. The community is situated near the northern end of the Golden Gate Bridge, and prior to... |
Simple Mediterranean Cuisine | Week 2 |
| Jess Dang | 24 | Menlo Park, CA Menlo Park, California Menlo Park, California is a city at the eastern edge of San Mateo County, in the San Francisco Bay Area of California, in the United States. It is bordered by San Francisco Bay on the north and east; East Palo Alto, Palo Alto, and Stanford to the south; Atherton, North Fair Oaks, and Redwood City... |
Asian Cuisine Asian cuisine Asian cuisine styles can be broken down into several tiny regional styles that have roots in the peoples and cultures of those regions. The major types can be roughly defined as East Asian with its origins in Imperial China and now encompassing modern Japan and the Korean peninsula; Southeast Asian... |
Week 1 |
Summary
The third season began on June 3, 2007, and the winner was announced on Sunday, July 22. In season 3, judges narrowed the field down to 2 with 1 or 2 contestants going home weekly. Once the field was down to 2, the viewers picked the winner. During the season, the contestants lived in a shared house in New York City. The contestants' challenges included cooking concession food for a NBA game (with guest Darryl DawkinsDarryl Dawkins
Darryl Dawkins is a retired American professional basketball player, most noted for his days with the NBA's Philadelphia 76ers and New Jersey Nets, although he also played briefly for the Detroit Pistons and Utah Jazz late in his career...
) to a mini version of Food Network's Iron Chef America
Iron Chef America
Iron Chef America: The Series is an American cooking show based on Fuji Television's Iron Chef, and is the second American adaptation of the series, following the failed Iron Chef USA. The show is produced by Food Network, which also carried a dubbed version of the original Iron Chef. Like the...
(with guest judges Bobby Flay
Bobby Flay
Robert William "Bobby" Flay is an American celebrity chef, restaurateur and reality television personality. He is the owner and executive chef of 12 restaurants: Mesa Grill in Las Vegas, New York City, and the Bahamas ; Bar Americain in New York City and Uncasville, Connecticut; Bobby Flay Steak...
and Cat Cora
Cat Cora
Catherine "Cat" Cora is a Greek-American professional chef best known for her featured role as an "Iron Chef" on the Food Network television show Iron Chef America.-Early life:...
). The Selection Committee consisted of Food Network executives Bob Tuschman and Susie Fogelson along with one guest. Guest judges included Alton Brown
Alton Brown
Alton Crawford Brown is an American television personality, author, actor, and cinematographer. He is the creator and host of the Food Network television show Good Eats and the mini-series Feasting on Asphalt and Feasting on Waves, and he is the host and main commentator on Iron Chef America...
, Giada De Laurentiis
Giada De Laurentiis
Giada Pamela De Laurentiis is an Italian American chef, writer, television personality, and the host of the current Food Network program Giada at Home. She also appears regularly as a contributor and guest co-host on NBC's Today...
, Duff Goldman
Duff Goldman
Jeffrey Adam "Duff" Goldman is a pastry chef and television personality. He is the executive chef of the Baltimore-based Charm City Cakes shop which is featured in the Food Network reality television show Ace of Cakes...
, season two winner Guy Fieri, and Robert Irvine. Additionally, Paula Deen and Rachael Ray
Rachael Ray
Rachael Domenica Ray is an American television personality, businesswoman, celebrity chef and author. She hosts the syndicated talk and lifestyle program Rachael Ray and three Food Network series, 30 Minute Meals, Rachael Ray's Tasty Travels and $40 a Day...
participated in contestant challenges, and Bobby Flay also played a role in the guidance and selection process. Amy Finley
Amy Finley
Amy Finley is a cook and writer who was the winner of the third season of The Next Food Network Star and was thus awarded a commitment to host a cooking show on the Food Network...
was chosen by America as The Next Food Network Star on July 22, 2007. Her new show The Gourmet Next Door premiered on October 14, 2007 and ran for six episodes. Finley later declined to continue with the series, citing relocation to France for family reasons.
Finalists
| Name | Age | Hometown | Eliminated |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amy Finley Amy Finley Amy Finley is a cook and writer who was the winner of the third season of The Next Food Network Star and was thus awarded a commitment to host a cooking show on the Food Network... |
33 | San Diego, CA San Diego, California San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round... |
Winner1 |
| Rory Schepisi | 31 | Vega, TX Vega, Texas Vega is a city in Oldham County, Texas, United States. It is the county seat of Oldham County . The population was 936 at the 2000 census. A July 1, 2009, U.S. Census Bureau estimate placed the population at 896.... |
Runner-Up |
| Joshua Adam "JAG" Garcia | 25 | Havelock, NC Havelock, North Carolina Havelock is a city in Craven County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 22,442 at the 2000 census, and estimated to be 21,906 in 2006... |
Withdrew1 |
| Paul McCullough | 36 | Los Angeles, CA Los Angeles, California Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California... |
Week 6 |
| Adrien Sharp | 29 | Jackson, MI Jackson, Michigan Jackson is a city located along Interstate 94 in the south central area of the U.S. state of Michigan, about west of Ann Arbor and south of Lansing. It is the county seat of Jackson County. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 33,534... |
Week 5 |
| Michael Salmon | 53 | Brooklyn, NY | Week 4 |
| Tommy Grella, Jr. | 34 | Methuen, MA Methuen, Massachusetts Methuen is a city in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 43,789 at the 2000 census.-History:Methuen was first settled in 1642 and was officially incorporated in 1726; it is named for the British diplomat Sir Paul Methuen. Methuen was originally part of Haverhill,... |
Week 3 |
| Colombe Jacobsen Colombe Jacobsen Colombe Jacobsen-Derstine is an American chef and actress. She attended the Natural Gourmet School in New York City, and competed in the 2007 season of The Next Food Network Star... -Derstine |
29 | New York, NY | Week 3 |
| Nikki Shaw | 38 | Oakland, CA Oakland, California Oakland is a major West Coast port city on San Francisco Bay in the U.S. state of California. It is the eighth-largest city in the state with a 2010 population of 390,724... |
Week 2 |
| Patrick Rolfe | 33 | Seattle, WA Seattle, Washington Seattle is the county seat of King County, Washington. With 608,660 residents as of the 2010 Census, Seattle is the largest city in the Northwestern United States. The Seattle metropolitan area of about 3.4 million inhabitants is the 15th largest metropolitan area in the country... |
Week 1 |
| Vivien Cunha | 40 | Hermosa Beach, CA | Week 1 |
: Amy Finley was eliminated Week 7, and the original finalists were Rory Schepisi and Joshua "JAG" Garcia. After the final elimination episode was aired, evidence came to light that JAG had lied about both his culinary training and his military service, representing both as more extensive than they actually were. Food Network allowed him to withdraw from the competition and reinstated Amy Finley, who was voted The Next Food Network Star.
Summary
Season four of The Next Food Network Star premiered on Sunday, June 1, 2008. Food Network executives Bob Tuschman and Susie Fogelson are joined by Bobby Flay as the selection committee for this season. Each new episode aired on Sundays at 10:00 PM EDT. For this season, the viewers no longer received the chance to vote for the winner; producers instead made the final decision. This led to an error by FoodNetwork.com, which briefly posted the winning moment video on their website three days before the finale aired. The winner for the fourth season was Aaron McCargo, Jr.Aaron McCargo, Jr.
Aaron McCargo, Jr. is an American chef from Camden, New Jersey. He is best known as the winner of the fourth season of the Food Network's reality television show, The Next Food Network Star....
His winning show idea, Big Daddy's House
Big Daddy's House
Big Daddy's House is a cooking show on the American specialty channel Food Network. The show stars Aaron McCargo, Jr., the winner of the fourth season of the network's reality television series, The Next Food Network Star. The six-episode first season was McCargo's grand prize for winning the...
, first aired August 3, 2008. Finalist Adam Gertler was soon hired to host a Food Network show called Will Work for Food
Will Work for Food (TV show)
Will Work For Food is a Food Network show starring Adam Gertler, one of three finalists of the fourth season of The Next Food Network Star. The show premiered on Monday, January 19, 2009 at 8:30 PM EDT...
, which debuted on January 19, 2009 and was cancelled after one season. He now hosts the Food Network show "Kid in a Candy Store" which is currently filming its second season. Kelsey Nixon co-hosts a web show on food2.com (a Food Network sister site) and also appeared in the premiere of Chefs vs. City
Chefs vs. City
Chefs vs. City is an American television show produced by Food Network. The show stars chefs Aarón Sanchez and Chris Cosentino who travel to different cities of the United States to challenge two local chefs to a variety of food-related challenges. Also starring is actor Ethan Erickson as the...
in 2009. In 2010, Gertler and Nixon became co-hosts of The Next Food Network Star After Party, a half-hour recap/interview show following that night's episode of Star, on Food Network's sister station Cooking Channel
Cooking Channel
Cooking Channel is a television specialty channel that airs recurring programs about food and cooking, owned by Scripps Networks Interactive. It is a spinoff of Food Network, also owned by SNI, but focuses more on instructional shows rather than "reality style" and contest programming that Food...
. Nixon stars in Kelsey's Essentials, a program on kitchen and cooking basics for The Cooking Channel that began in November, 2010.
Finalists
| Name | Age | Hometown | Occupation | Eliminated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aaron McCargo, Jr. Aaron McCargo, Jr. Aaron McCargo, Jr. is an American chef from Camden, New Jersey. He is best known as the winner of the fourth season of the Food Network's reality television show, The Next Food Network Star.... |
36 | Camden, NJ Camden, New Jersey The city of Camden is the county seat of Camden County, New Jersey. It is located across the Delaware River from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city had a total population of 77,344... |
Chef | Winner |
| Adam Gertler Adam Gertler Adam Gertler is an American cook, TV personality, and actor. As a contestant on season four of The Next Food Network Star, Adam Gertler was the runner-up.... |
30 | Philadelphia, PA Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,... |
Food Server | Runner-Up |
| Lisa Garza Lisa Garza Lisa Garza is an American celebrity chef, restaurateur, and television personality. She owns SUZE restaurant in Dallas, TX.-External links:* *... |
32 | Dallas, TX | Restaurateur/Designer | Runner-Up |
| Kelsey Nixon Kelsey Nixon Kelsey Nixon is a chef who hosts the Cooking Channel series, Kelsey’s Essentials, which premiered November 6, 2010. She was one of the final 4 contestants in season 4 of The Next Food Network Star on the Food Network.-Personal and professional life:... |
23 | North Ogden, UT North Ogden, Utah North Ogden is a city in Weber County, Utah, United States. The population was 15,027 at the 2000 census. North Ogden is on SR-235, three miles north of Ogden. It is a suburb of that city and is part of the Ogden –Clearfield, Utah Metropolitan Statistical Area.-History:North Ogden was... |
Assistant Culinary Director | Week 7 |
| Shane Lyons Shane Lyons Shane Edward Lyons is an American actor and chef, best known as a regular performer on the hit Nickelodeon show All That. Shane was featured in one episode of Wizards of Waverly Place in 2008. He also played Kenny Bookwell in the first season of That's So Raven... |
20 | Colorado Springs, CO Colorado Springs, Colorado Colorado Springs is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and most populous city of El Paso County, Colorado, United States. Colorado Springs is located in South-Central Colorado, in the southern portion of the state. It is situated on Fountain Creek and is located south of the Colorado... |
Private Chef and actor | Week 6 |
| Jennifer Cochrane | 32 | Woonsocket, RI Woonsocket, Rhode Island Woonsocket is a city in Providence County, Rhode Island, United States. The population was 41,186 at the 2010 census, making it the sixth largest city in the state. Woonsocket lies directly south of the Massachusetts border.... |
Chef | Week 5 |
| Nipa Bhatt | 35 | Victoria, MN Victoria, Minnesota As of the census of 2000, there were 4,025 people, 1,367 households, and 1,141 families residing in the city. The population density was 575.4 people per square mile . There were 1,410 housing units at an average density of 201.6 per square mile... |
Marketing Manager | Week 4 |
| Jeffrey Vaden | 43 | White Plains, NY White Plains, New York White Plains is a city and the county seat of Westchester County, New York, United States. It is located in south-central Westchester, about east of the Hudson River and northwest of Long Island Sound... |
Food Service Management | Week 3 |
| Kevin Roberts | 39 | San Diego, CA San Diego, California San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round... |
Radio Talk Show Host/Restaurant Owner/Author | Week 2 |
| Cory Kahaney Cory Kahaney Cory Kahaney is an American comedian. She competed in the first season of NBC's reality television show Last Comic Standing.Cory was a grand finalist and runner-up in season one of NBC's Last Comic Standing. She has had her own comedy specials on both Comedy Central and HBO... |
45 | New York, NY | Stand-up Comedian | Week 1 |
Summary
Season five of The Next Food Network Star premiered on June 7, 2009. Food Network executives Bob Tuschman and Susie Fogelson were joined by Bobby FlayBobby Flay
Robert William "Bobby" Flay is an American celebrity chef, restaurateur and reality television personality. He is the owner and executive chef of 12 restaurants: Mesa Grill in Las Vegas, New York City, and the Bahamas ; Bar Americain in New York City and Uncasville, Connecticut; Bobby Flay Steak...
as the Selection Committee for this season, which was filmed early this year in Miami, Florida
Miami, Florida
Miami is a city located on the Atlantic coast in southeastern Florida and the county seat of Miami-Dade County, the most populous county in Florida and the eighth-most populous county in the United States with a population of 2,500,625...
and New York, New York. Melissa D'Arabian was declared the winner on August 2, 2009 with the title for her show being Ten Dollar Dinners
Ten Dollar Dinners
Ten Dollar Dinners is a television program hosted by Melissa d'Arabian. It debuted August 9, 2009 at 12:30 PM EST. Melissa d'Arabian is the winner of the fifth season of The Next Food Network Star....
. Her show premiered on August 9, 2009. On August 17, 2009, Food Network announced Jeffrey Saad would return in a series of online videos based on his pilot, now called "The Spice Smuggler." The program premiered with four 4-1/2 minute videos featuring one spice and a recipe incorporating it. Saad was named the national representative for the American Egg Board. In November, 2010, Saad will debut in a new show for The Cooking Channel currently titled United Tastes of America, which explores multiple aspects of traditional American food. Finalist Debbie Lee has carried her "Seoul to Soul" concept to the streets of LA, opening a lunch truck Ahn-Joo, featuring a range of Korean food.
Finalists
| Name | Age | Hometown | Occupation | Culinary P.O.V. | Eliminated |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Melissa d'Arabian Melissa d'Arabian Melissa Donovan d'Arabian is an American television personality from Tucson, Arizona. She is best known for being the winner of the fifth season of The Next Food Network Star, and is the host of Food Network's Ten Dollar Dinners.... |
40 | Keller, TX | Stay-At-Home Mom | "Kitchen Survival Guide" | Winner |
| Jeffrey Saad | 42 | Los Angeles, CA | Restaurateur/Food Consultant/Recipe Developer/Chef | "Ingredient Smuggler" | Runner-Up |
| Debbie Lee | 39 | West Hollywood, CA | Restaurant Consultant | "From Seoul to Soul" | Week 8 |
| Jamika Pessoa | 30 | Atlanta, GA | Personal Chef/Businesswoman | Caribbean Cuisine Caribbean cuisine Caribbean cuisine is a fusion of African, Amerindian, British, Spanish, French, Dutch, Indian, and Chinese cuisine. These traditions were brought from the many homelands of this region's population... |
Week 7 |
| Michael Proietti | 28 | City Island, NY | Executive Chef | "Global A Go-Go" | Week 6 |
| Katie Cavuto | 30 | Philadelphia, PA | Personal Chef & Dietician | Healthy and Green Cuisine | Week 5 |
| Teddy Folkman | 33 | Alexandria, VA | Restaurant Owner/Executive Chef | "Gourmet Bar Food" | Week 4 |
| Eddie Gilbert | 30 | Los Angeles, CA | Apprentice Chef | Traditional dishes simplified for the home cook | Week 3 |
| Brett August | 32 | New York, NY | Executive Sous Chef | Simple food for the home cook | Week 2 |
| Jen Isham | 30 | Orlando, FL | Sales Manager | "Housewife 2.0" | Week 1 |
Summary
The sixth season of the series premiered on Sunday, June 6, 2010. Food NetworkFood Network
Food Network is a television specialty channel that airs both one-time and recurring programs about food and cooking. Scripps Networks Interactive owns 70 percent of the network, with Tribune Company controlling the remaining 30 percent....
executives Bob Tuschman and Susie Fogelson were again joined again by Bobby Flay
Bobby Flay
Robert William "Bobby" Flay is an American celebrity chef, restaurateur and reality television personality. He is the owner and executive chef of 12 restaurants: Mesa Grill in Las Vegas, New York City, and the Bahamas ; Bar Americain in New York City and Uncasville, Connecticut; Bobby Flay Steak...
as judges; in addition, Giada De Laurentiis
Giada De Laurentiis
Giada Pamela De Laurentiis is an Italian American chef, writer, television personality, and the host of the current Food Network program Giada at Home. She also appears regularly as a contributor and guest co-host on NBC's Today...
served as an on-set mentor. On July 17, 2010, a post-competition recap and discussion show premiered on The Cooking Channel
Cooking Channel
Cooking Channel is a television specialty channel that airs recurring programs about food and cooking, owned by Scripps Networks Interactive. It is a spinoff of Food Network, also owned by SNI, but focuses more on instructional shows rather than "reality style" and contest programming that Food...
. Shows were filmed in Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
. On August 15, 2010, Aarti Sequeira was declared the winner, and her new show Aarti Party
Aarti Party
Aarti Party is a Food Network program, starring Aarti Sequeira, the sixth season winner of the reality series The Next Food Network Star and focusing on sharing easy ways to enhance American favorite dishes with simple but unique Indian influences. It premiered on August 22, 2010...
premiered on Sunday, August 22, 2010 and features American style cuisine with unique Indian flair. Season 2 of Aarti Party
Aarti Party
Aarti Party is a Food Network program, starring Aarti Sequeira, the sixth season winner of the reality series The Next Food Network Star and focusing on sharing easy ways to enhance American favorite dishes with simple but unique Indian influences. It premiered on August 22, 2010...
is scheduled to premiere in December. The Food Network also signed runner-up Tom Pizzica to host a new show called Outrageous Food, which premiered in November 2010.
Finalists
| Name | Age | Hometown | Occupation | Culinary P.O.V. | Eliminated |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aarti Sequeira | 31 | Los Angeles, CA | Food Blogger | "Aarti Paarti" | Winner |
| Herb Mesa | 41 | Atlanta, GA | Personal Trainer/Personal Chef | "Cooking Con Sabor" | Runner-Up |
| Tom Pizzica | 32 | San Francisco, CA | Unemployed Chef | "Big Chef" | Runner-Up |
| Aria Kagan | 30 | Hollywood, FL | Private Chef | "Family Style" | Week 9 |
| Brad Sorenson | 25 | Austin, TX | Professional Chef | "Culinary Quest" | Week 8 |
| Serena Palumbo | 31 | New York, NY | Attorney | "Serena's Trattoria" | Week 7 |
| Brianna Jenkins | 30 | Atlanta, GA | Caterer | "Sexy and Fabulous Flavors" | Week 6 |
| Paul Young | 32 | Chicago, IL | Waiter | "Blue-Collar Dollar" | Week 5 |
| Darrell "DAS" Smith | 28 | Los Angeles, CA | High School Culinary Teacher | Week 4 | |
| Dzintra Dzenis | 44 | Austin, TX | Private Cooking Instructor | Week 3 | |
| Doreen Fang | 38 | Los Angeles, CA | Caterer/Cooking Instructor | "Simply Complex" | Week 2 |
| Alexis Hernandez | 40 | Clarksville, IN | Part-time food Writer | Week 1 |
Summary
The seventh season of the series premiered on Sunday, June 5, 2011. The show is an elimination based show where every week one contestant is eliminated. Season seven winner Jeff Mauro's show "Sandwich King" premiered on Sunday, August 21, 2011.Finalists
| Name | Age | Hometown | Occupation | Culinary P.O.V. | Eliminated |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jeff Mauro Jeff Mauro Jeff Mauro won the Food Network Star season seven competition and subsequently launched a show on the Food Network channel titled "Sandwich King." Mauro, of Chicago, Illinois, aired the first episode of his show on Sunday, August 21, 2011 at 11:30 a.m... |
32 | Chicago, IL | Corporate Chef | "Sandwich King" | Winner |
| Susie Jimenez | 31 | Carbondale, CO | Catering Company Owner | "Spice It Up" | Runner-Up |
| Vic "Vegas" Moea | 36 | Las Vegas, NV | Executive Chef | "Mama's Boy" | Week 11 |
| Mary Beth Albright | 38 | Washington, DC | Food Writer and Blogger | "Sunday Supper" | Week 10 |
| Whitney Chen | 28 | New York, NY | Chef | "Four Star Flair" | Week 9 |
| Jyll Everman | 31 | Glendora, CA | Caterer | "Jyllicious Bites" | Week 8 |
| Penny Davidi | 39 | Los Angeles, CA | Restaurant Owner | "Middle Eastern Mama" | Week 7 |
| Chris Nirschel | 28 | Hoboken, NJ | Sous Chef | "On the Line" | Week 7 |
| Orchid Paulmeier | 38 | Bluffton, SC | Restaurant Owner | "Asian Persuasion" | Week 6 |
| Justin Davis | 31 | Minneapolis, MN | Food Blogger | "The Flavor Factory" | Week 5 |
| Justin Balmes | 32 | Marietta, GA | Fishmonger/ Butcher | "Kitchen Workshop" | Week 4 |
| Alicia Sanchez | 33 | New York, NY | Young Adult Culinary Teacher | "Alicia's Guilty Pleasures" | Week 3 |
| Katy Clark | 34 | Long Beach, CA | Food and Fitness Company Operator | "Simply Fabulous" | Week 2 |
| Juba Kali | 29 | New Orleans, LA | Research Chef | "Cuisine Made Simply" | Week 2 |
| Howie Drummond | 40 | Highlands Ranch, CO | Radio Host | "Basic and Delicious" | Week 1 |