Serious Eats - seriouseats.com

The best Bloody Mary I ever had, bar none was in a restaurant in St. Helena, Ca. Can't remember the name but the secret ingredient was
cocktail sauce, not a lot, just a little, try it!

My cousin's husband used to make mine with Clamato juice. I was surprised at good that was! Horseradish, pickled okra and/or pickled green beans and Frank's hot sauce if no horseradish make it tasty to me. Personally, cilantro is too bitter for my taste.

Aquavit - I agree! but not all the time.

Got off of tabasco - and using Frank's hot sauce now.

Definitely olives -- and please no celery, thank you very much

HORSERADISH---the strength depends on the age. If it's old , it's weak, fresh, it's strong. I feel you should taste it before using! Strong horseradish in a Bloody Mary is what really makes it! Dave

Maybe they need to let them both win so we get the culinary school grad and the "harried housewife" doing a combo show. I doubt I'd watch either one of them, though. Alton Brown has the goods.

Debbie was not an asian chef. She is a southern cook with some vague concepts of Korean cuisine.

outcome was great!!!!!!!!!!! There was no way Debbie could have been a food net star with all her backstabbing and lying

Does it really matter?! Honestly?! What we will end up with when you think about it, is yet another stand and stir (non-cook). Personally I'd like to see the two contestants kick the living hell out of each other for a shot at a show, then kick the hell out of each of the judges who are not chefs. A full contact cooking show... Now I'd watch that!

It pisses me off to hear the dimwitted woman vp of marketing or development (don't know, or give a shit about her name) talking about how marketable the contestants are, and "branding" and what these two idiots could possibly sell. WHAT ABOUT THE DAMNED FOOD YA HOEBAG!? And could somebody please just walk up and punch that smarmy bastard Bob T. in the face?! Hey Bob, let me give you a few words of advice... KISS MY WHOLE ENTIRE ASS! I know that's really not advice Bob, but I feel better about it, and 99% of the shows on your pathetic network SUCK! I don't see how the outcome of this show is going to change that.

I see GeorgieG named a previous contest winner and a runner up... @ GeorgieG, you're two up on me my friend, I couldn't name 1 contestant from any season.

Next Food Network Star is a joke. Last year's winner, Aaron McCargo, Jr, has a show on Sunday afternoons at 1:30PM EST. Adam Gertler, a runner-up, has a show on PRIME TIME. What is the sense of anyone competeing and winning, when the runner-up gets a better gig? Also, Kelsey, one of the other contestants from last year, who never even MADE it to the finals has an internet cooking show that can be accessed through the Food Network's site. AGAIN, what does one REALLY get when they are chosen the WINNER?

@JPEater -- I don't think Melissa said that her mother-in-law created EZPOT, but that she learned it from her mother-in-law. Big difference.

I don't think one needs culinary school to have credibility, but experience in the kitchen. Many of the big names in food today (not only on FN) aren't professional chefs, but experienced cooks who can get a tasty meal on the table and can share that knowledge with others.

I grew to hate Debbie... and then I grew to really dislike being manipulated into hating Debbie.

I'm glad they sent that liar packing! I'm also glad they didn't bring back those losery broheims from the beginning of the show to be sous chefs.

Jeffrey thinks he cooks without borders, but he just travels a lot and likes what he eats when he travels. In reality, he's lending the same spices and techniques to each thing he makes. Not interesting.

Melissa is the only viable option here. She has a great attitude, no drama, is articulate, and offers excellent tips. Also, she's like tofu, she takes to her surroundings well. Notice tonight she got all French suddenly?

amiyrah - I don't know how Debbie lasted - except I'm assuming they edit these episodes after they know who has won, so they of course they show Debbie's worst side. They can't take the chance we're going to think the wrong person wins the whole thing.

Reading Bob T's blog at FN I'm struck that either he's refreshingly honest with his opinions, or his opinions are one more layer in getting us to be content with the winner.