The Next Food Network Star, Episode 7 Recap: Paula Deen in Vegas Edition
Once again, the Next Food Network Star contestants were pinching themselves, wondering how they entered this surreal food media world. Paula Deen is here? And we're in Vegas? And our next challenge is a Throwdown-style in front of the Throwdown messiah, Bobby Flay? Whoa, I love my life.
This week, the remaining four had to make a signature dish and one-up their opponent's signature dish in a 75-minute battle. That meant Adam was recreating Lisa's cassoulet, the slow-cooked French bean and pork stew, which he'd never tried before, let alone recognized. Lisa, as a Southern girl, should have owned Adam's mac and cheese, but when her dish wasn't endorsed by Paula Deen, she looked weepy.
"I do not like it at all; in fact, I hate it." When the mother of all things gooey, fatty and cheesy, hates your mac and cheese, you're pretty screwed.
Paula also urged Lisa to be less stiff, less intense, and less frightening to viewers at home cowering under couch blankets.
Paula Wants Lisa To Be Warmer, Less Ice Queeny
It was pretty sad. Lisa was starry-eyed for Paula, confessing her Southern girl chef crush for the lady: "She reminds me of my grandma in Tennessee," Lisa gushed. But if Paula's granddaughter couldn't make a mean mac and cheese and acted so intense on camera, she'd most certainly be disowned by the Deen family.
Paula Downright Hates Lisa's Mac and Cheese
Lisa redeemed herself with a "masterful" cassoulet, raved judges. Bobby even called it "the best cassoulet I've ever had," redeeming Paula's earlier jab. Phew, Lisa didn't lose at her own game of cassoulet, against someone who, God forbid, has never even heard of the dish. He was almost as bad as that eight-year old brownie she had to deal with last week.
Next up, Aaron's pork tenderloin and Kelsey's Chicken Parmesan. While they rushed to make the two dishes within the 75-minute time frame, Extra television host Dayna Devon shoved her microphone into both faces, testing the contestant's multitasking skills. Food Network is all about talking and cooking simultaneously, but can any of them actually do both? Aaron sure couldn't. He got so distracted by questions and cameras, he forgot to make half his challenge.
Only Twenty Minutes Left, Aaron Still Hasn't Touched the Chicken Parm
Magically, Aaron scooted by with a last-minute moist recreation of Chicken Parmesan, wowing judges more than Kelsey's "signature" version did. Kelsey also failed at pork tenderloin, but unlike Aaron, it was because she remembered to cook it. Overcooked it. "How'd it cook so freakin' fast!" she yelped. The lesson here, forget to cook your food but remember in the nick of time to avoid over-cooking.
Who's Eliminated
Maybe it was the over-cooking, maybe the umpteenth reference to culinary school. "The most important thing I learned in cooking school was how to make Beurre blanc." You could hear judge Bob Tuschman shudder from his seat.
As she packed her bags, Kelsey called cooking on television her destiny. She may have more culinary schools to attend, and more references to culinary school to reference, but you'll see her again. Oh, you will see her. Bob called her a "champ," and Bobby appeared to shed a tear, while Susie Fogelson didn't seem to notice.
Kelsey, You're a Champ, But We're Just Not That Into You
Previously
NFNS, Episode 6 Recap
NFNS, Episode 5 Recap
NFNS, Episode 4 Recap
NFNS, Episode 3 Recap
NFNS, Episode 2 Recap
The Next Food Network Star's Lisa Garza: Love Her or Hate Her?
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13 Comments:
Am I the only one who feels this show is a mess? Many of the contestants barely know the basic ingredients, techniques, or recipes to skate by and most of the challenges are a hodge podge of product placements and food network plugs. I'm not even going to get into the mess that last night's episode was but combining a 'throw-down' with an 'extra' interview with a plug for Caesar's palace was just sad. Even the judge's comments seemed forced and irrelevant.
I want to like this show but it's low production value and overly complicated structure is too much. The Next Food Network Star would do well to take a page out of Top Chef's book.
lwestreich at 5:34PM on 07/14/08
I was surprised Aaron didn't know what a chipotle pepper was. Kind of sad, really. Loved the blatant sponsor product placements.
DJ Dedd at 5:59PM on 07/14/08
Episode 5 Recap? Methinks this was actually episode 7...
pcrackenhead at 6:33PM on 07/14/08
As always, I'm bloggin' the eps until we have a winner.
Annie's New York Eats
http://wwwannienewman.typepad.com
annien at 6:34PM on 07/14/08
I still have a very hard time believing that Bobby Flay is "willing" to be a part of this on-going travesty of a "cooking show". He has too much class, sophistication and a dedicated no-nonsense approach to his craft that watching him partake in this poorly disguised excuse for program and sponsor endorsements is very disturbing. He has to be "under the gun" by TFN, or being paid a huge stipend to participate in this series. I'm sure he wouldn't seriously consider any of the contestants as worthy of stellar employment status in one of his "signature" restaurants. As for Paula, I'm sure she just wants to be a sport about the whole thing and is going along for the ride.
Boscompb at 6:43PM on 07/14/08
What's with all the crying...men and women both? I haven't seen this many tears on a soap.
bessfour at 7:29PM on 07/14/08
I DVR'd this last night and watched it this morning before going to work. I am the "opener" for a pretty nice restaurant. I prep all the lunch and then cook lunch and prep some dinner items. I thought all day about this FN show thinking if they could even survive in a busy restaurant kitchen like mine with 3 different menus and dining rooms. (nevermind it being 90-95 degrees in there) I can't even imaging any of the 3 finalist doing a tv show!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
joanpieroni2 at 11:05PM on 07/14/08
I feel it's rigged. There is no way that Lisa should have made it this far. She is rude, bossy, controlling and unpleasant in every way. If she wins there is no doubt.
rebeccapauline at 11:37PM on 07/14/08
Way 2 go Adam bring home 2 Philly babe.
cattie64 at 2:01AM on 07/15/08
Um, is it me or does Paula Deen get creepier and creepier looking by the minute? I'm just sayin'!
stacylyn at 7:07AM on 07/15/08
You know what is really sad.......the fact that we all vent about the quality of the "new" shows the FN is producing, and yet despite our ramblings.....they just mass produce even more of the same rubbish. They "don't care" about the "quality" of their "recent" offerings or the culinary "talent" of their stars, it's all about drawing an audience and the advertising dollars. I thought Anthony Bourdain's harsh appraisal of the FN was initially uncalled for. NOW I'm his biggest supporter!
Boscompb at 11:52AM on 07/15/08
Oh, I have some serious eatsian theories on this one...my primary theory is that Lisa is going to win this thing, simply because she CAN'T change.
The only thing we love more than a redemption story is a FAILED redemption story.
http://www.happyhoarfrost.blogspot.com/2008/07/next-food-network-starcan-lisa-change.html
I'm tired of things--and people--which are sub-par and utterly contrived being presented as the only options.
HappyHoarfrost at 12:00PM on 07/16/08
Aaron is now the winner and he has Lisa to think. She saved his bacon in the this show by reminding him to do the chicken parm. Funny, because in an earlier show she completely ignored Kelsey's simple question because she didn't want to give any aid to the competition. Maybe this was Lisa trying to soften her image, as the judges kept telling her. If so, she may have shot herself in the foot. Hope Aaron sends her a dozen roses out of his FN salary.
bluepiano at 12:46AM on 08/03/08