The Next Food Network Star has a post-Guy Fieri history of disappointing me with its winner selection, but the show is still oddly fun to watch. Odd, because I'm not particularly interested in watching food on television. You might think that explains away the fact that they never pick the winners I want them to pick... I'm not their audience, but I'm sticking with my theory that the next show they need (and keep needing) isn't the one that gets all the people who already watch the shows on the network yet another show they'll watch.
If you ask me, the best thing to come out of the competition series since the first season is Will Work For Food, and quite simply because I watch it. Maybe that's just me.
At any rate, the competition show, which is the network's number one show (see, there's some information in there), is back for a sixth season starting this Sunday, and I want to introduce you to the new contestants, and give you a chance to win a cool pack of prizes in celebration of the show's return.
First, let's jump in with some info on the new season.
Shot in Los Angeles on a brand-new studio set, season six follows 12 hopefuls competing for the ultimate dream job: his or her own Food Network show. With this coveted prize on the line, the finalists strut their star power and culinary chops for host Bobby Flay and the selection committee to see if they stack up against the competition. Under the mentorship of Giada De Laurentiis, the series kicks off with a two-hour premiere Sunday, June 6th at 9pm ET/PT as finalists get a taste of Hollywood with a trip to Paramount Studios and a six-course lunch for L.A.’s biggest celebrity chef, Wolfgang Puck.
This season, the finalists travel to Los Angeles where they are put through the ringer to prove their culinary talent and impress the industry's biggest stars. Challenges include a crash-course in red-carpet glamour while catering a star-studded MGD 64 after-party with Grammy-winner Colbie Caillat, serving up savory dishes inspired by classic carnival sweets at the Santa Monica Pier, creating and operating lunch trucks on Venice Beach, and using Kellogg's ® breakfast cereals to cook dinner with breakfast. The contestants must also impress special guest stars Eva Longoria Parker and Todd English by illustrating an “emotion” through a dish at their restaurant, Beso.
All season long, the finalists receive extra insight and encouragement from a host of guest stars including Wolfgang Puck, Paula Deen, Guy Fieri, Rachael Ray, Alton Brown, Duff Goldman, Ted Allen, Melissa d’Arabian, Grammy-winner Colbie Caillat, acclaimed chef Todd English and mega-star Eva Longoria Parker. The selection committee comprised of Bobby Flay and Food Network executives, Bob Tuschman (Senior Vice President, Programming and Production) and Susie Fogelson (Senior Vice President, Marketing, Creative Services & Brand Strategy), narrow the field down until the finale. The winner, revealed during the series finale on Sunday, August 15th at 9pm ET/PT, receives a six-episode show that premieres in August 2010.
Let's meet the contestants.
Dzintra Dzenis
44 (Austin, Texas)
A caterer since age 17, she really knows her way around the kitchen. She graduated from Le Cordon Bleu in Paris with a Grand Diplome, signifying mastery in both pastry and cuisine, and enjoys updating classic dishes with a flare of elegance.
Dzintra teaches private cooking classes, hosts a supper club, and spends time with her husband and 12-year old daughter.
Doreen Fang
38 (Los Angeles, Calif.)
Earned an Associate of Occupational Studies from the California Culinary Academy and loves experimenting with different cuisines and ingredients. She currently co-owns a catering company and teaches cooking classes for adults and children.
Raised in a predominantly Chinese community in Los Angeles, Doreen finds culinary inspiration in her family and friends and believes in spending quality time with family in the kitchen.
Alexis Hernandez
40 (Clarksville, Ind.)
Alexis grew up around Latin flavors and feels passionate about experimenting with different ingredients and techniques. He received his culinary training from the Sullivan University’s National Center for Hospitality Studies and has worked as a caterer.
Currently working as a part-time food writer, Alexis lives on a farm where he grows his own fresh produce.
Brianna Jenkins
30 (Atlanta, Ga.)
Originally studied food journalism at Georgia Perimeter College but fell in love with cooking after moving to Atlanta. She graduated from the Ecole Supérieure de Cuisine Française in Paris and now serves as the executive chef and owner of her own catering company.
In her spare time, Brianna teaches cooking classes and travels the world looking for culinary inspiration.
Aria Kagan
30 (Hollywood, Fla.)
A single working mother and former chef instructor at Le Cordon Bleu in Miami, loves learning where food comes from and enjoys using fresh produce from farmer's markets in her recipes.
She loves the way her food makes people feel and wants to teach people more about cooking with their family and friends. Aria grew up working in her parents’ Wisconsin café, she was trained at the Culinary Institute of America, and she now works as a private chef.
Herb Mesa
41 (Atlanta, Ga.)
Herb is a restaurant-trained chef who worked his way up from dishwasher to director of catering and assistant general manager of luxury hotels.
He has worked as a personal chef since 2003 and adds creative twists on recipes from friends and family. Herb, who works as a personal fitness trainer in his spare time, also attempts to nutritiously enhance any recipe he encounters.
Serena Palumbo
31 (New York, N.Y.)
A New York corporate attorney and former ballerina, taught herself how to prepare food with unusual ingredients while growing up southern Italy.
She currently hosts an online instructional cooking show, “Cooking in Manhattan,” on YouTube and believes the cooking process should be simple and healthy.
Tom Pizzica
32 (San Francisco, Calif.)
Tom graduated with an Associate of Occupational Studies in Culinary Arts from the California Culinary Academy in 2004 and served as the executive chef and owner of a top Chesapeake Bay restaurant.
Tom recently relocated to San Francisco, where he seeks a more creative lifestyle to match his approach to cuisine.
Aarti Sequeira
31 (Los Angeles, Calif.)
A former CNN producer who then trained at The New School of Cooking in Los Angeles, experiments adventurously with Indian flavors and incorporates them into American classics.
She has taught at her alma mater and now has an online cooking show called “Aarti Paarti.” Born in India and raised in Dubai, Aarti draws culinary inspiration from her cultural background, her mother, and never-ending food experiments.
Darrell “DAS” Smith
28 (Los Angeles, Calif.)
Darrell trained in the culinary arts at Atlanta Technical College, and specializes in new American cuisine. Originally from Detroit, he made his way to Beverly Hills to work as a chef, caterer, and consultant.
He instituted a new culinary program at Beverly Hills High School, where he now teaches. DAS believes that good food has the power to heal the body and soul, and he wants to show children in urban areas that cooking professionally is an attainable goal.
Brad Sorenson
25 (Austin, Texas)
Brad began cooking at age 17 and moved quickly up the culinary ladder, graduating from the Culinary Institute of America.
At the age of 22, Brad opened Black Creek Bistro as executive chef, which became a top new restaurant in Columbus, Ohio. Brad recently relocated to Austin, where he works at ASTI Trattoria.
Paul Young
32 (Woodridge, Ill.)
Paul graduated from Le Cordon Bleu in Orlando and later worked as a cooking instructor, sauté cook and executive sous chef in Chicago and Milwaukee. A former improv comedian, Paul also likes to improvise on recipes, using them only as guidelines for the dishes he prepares.
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The Next Food Network Star Kick-Off Giveaway
To get you ready for the next season, here's what's in the prize pack one lucky winner will receive.
Food Network Bag
Next Food Network Star T-Shirt
Next Food Network Star CD
Giada DeLaurentis’ new book Giada at Home
To enter-
Leave a comment below and let me know your thoughts on the contestants. That's it.
U.S. only. Winner will be randomly selected June 27th.
Before you go, check out a couple of preview videos.
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About Marc Eastman
Marc Eastman is the owner and operator of Are You Screening? and has been writing film reviews for over a decade, and several branches of the internet's film review world have seen his name. His reviews have brought him personal praise from the director of a major motion picture, and have been used as required reading in a course at a major University. These priceless rewards, along with just bags of cash, keep him from straying from freelance writing. He is also a member of The Broadcast Film Critics Association and The Broadcast Television Journalists Association.
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