Last night on “The Next Food Network Star,” they had to make up for not being on the air last weekend for July 4, and stretched it to a 90 minute episode. They also billed it as the “midterm” of the show, since we’re just about halfway through this season.
We started out with mentor Giada Di Laurentiis and judge Susie Fogelson on hand to announced the first challenge of the day. This was to take clear jars and create a product to be sold in stores, and one that they would have to demo making a recipe on camera. Is it just me or are the challenges this season extremely demanding and scary? Anyway, the gist of this was to convey their personality in the jar. They would present their product to 100 people at the Grove Promenade. And, for the first time, Giada showed up at their house and mentored each contestant one on one on what they needed to do to step up their own game.
Then Brianna told everyone else that she was making them dinner, but Serena kept getting in her way, trying to “help.” They were clearly not getting along. Anyway, here is what they made and how they did on camera and in the judges’ eyes:
Serena made a tomato sauce, but was talking so fast she was hard to follow, and then the worst part was that the sauce had no flavor.
Paul switched his point of view to blue collar blah blah blah. Dude doesn’t get this, does he? He made a tomato sauce as well, but his tasted good. Unfortunately he didn’t finish his demo in the 3-minute time allowed.
Herb combined coconut oil and olive oil and called it a product. He made a stir fry and had good energy but tripped over his own words.
Aarti made a tandoori paste but didn’t have time to plate her dish and discuss it. However, the judges loved her product.
Brianna was way nervous and talked so fast, but as always, her cooking took the lead and they loved her chocolate raspberry sauce.
Aria made apple/pear chutney but didn’t demo it well. The fruit also wasn’t cooked enough, and she was exposed as maybe peaking way too early.
Tom made a citrus marmalade and took a huge risk by making chicken livers and Brussels sprouts and claimed his product made these traditionally unappealing foods taste better. It paid off and his presentation was great, but the judges weren’t thrilled with the taste of the marmalade.
Finally, Brad made a 3-onion/cherry marmalade, and he did well and had a good product, but once again forgot to smile. Also, it’s worth noting that they showed him without his hat. Dude has a full head of hair….why does he need that goofy lid???
Anyway, aside from the regular judges, the audience got to vote on their top 2 and bottom 2 of products and demos. The bottom two were Serena and Brianna, and the top two were Tom and Aarti. For the next challenge, they would be working in teams of two. Serena and Brianna had to be a team (ha!), and Tom and Aarti. Tom and Aarti, since they won the first challenge, were allowed to choose the other two teams. They put Herb with Paul and Aria with Brad. They all then took a trolley ride and were introduced to the great Paula Deen. Their challenge was to create a food truck that would be in business at Venice Beach. They had to name their business and create a few food truck items to sell.
Serena and Brianna surprisingly worked great together and called themselves Two Chix in a Truck. Also, their food was awesome.
Tom and Aarti also did well, naming their business Dick Bombay’s and putting an Indian twist on American foods like BLTs and funnel cake.
Herb and Paul were mostly loud and obnoxious, and made a few different types of wraps. They called their truck “Herb and Paul’s”…really? They also brought bad karma on themselves by going out and poaching customers from the other lines.
Finally, Brad and Aria called theirs “All American Cheesehead” because they were both born in Wisconsin. Blah. Their food was also blah, as they stuck to burgers, dogs and shakes. Boring!!
The judges awarded Serena and Brianna top prize, and they were both safe. Good for them, because they went from last to first just like that. They also gave Tom and Aarti free passes, and also let Herb slide through.
So the bottom three were Aria, Paul and Brad. Aria has been very disappointing ever since appearing to be a front runner in the first episode. It’s like she stayed level the whole time and didn’t improve. But they gave her a pass.
So then it was down to Paul and Brad. Paul had a very awkward moment in front of the judges, when they again questioned his change of point of view. Bobby Flay called him out and asked what he would use to apply his point of view to, and Paul sarcastically said, “Food, Bobby.” Ooohhhh, not good. And for that, ladies and gentlemen, Paul was sent home. Dude lasted two more weeks than he should have, anyway. And Brad was safe, but he’s not going to last much longer on this show.
That’s it for this week, and here are your remaining seven–Brad, Aria, Aarti, Brianna, Serena, Herb and Tom. I think the next to go will be Brad and Herb, and then maybe Serena and Aria. I think the final three will be Tom, Aarti and Brianna. What do you think? Let me know in the space below and I will see you guys back here next week….
