Suzanne Calling

We are down to the end. Who will it be? Aarti, Tom or Herb? I’m pulling for the Big Chef, but I like the concepts presented by Herb and Aarti, and they are both such likeable presences on this competition. The Big Apple, and they’re going to shoot their pilots. We see them walk into the Food Network kitchens while Rachael Ray walks out. She will be directing their pilots, while the production staff will be preparing food for the three pilots. The pilots will be shown to a focus group of Food Network people, who haven’t seen the finalists before Aarti (Aarti Party) wants to make an Indian Pizza on Naan Herb (Cooking Con Sabor) will make a Fritatta with Egg Whites and Sausage Tom (Big Chef) wants to make a Roasted chicken with mushrooms under the skin Herb’s up first and he starts calm, cool and collected-and four and a half minutes over. He has a harder time , but comes up with the brilliant idea of taping pictures of his wife and kids onto the camera and the weeks of jitters ev...

Week Nine The final four are in New York City, where they find a really nice hotel suite. They walk around Manhattan, get hot dogs and Central Park. Tom says “You are all my mortal enemies” and everyone laughs. The next morning, they talk about being nervous and not knowing what the challenge will be. They walk in to smoke, and blue lights and they notice four iron chefs in front of them. The words “I smell fear” are uttered by Alton, and it’s then that they realize that the challenge is Iron Chef! Two one hour challenges, contestant vs. contestant. The Iron Chefs will judge. If you’re not a contestant, you’re a commentator. Aria realizes that Alton is an encyclopedia of food, and he instructs that they should not dismiss this part of the challenge. Herb aptly describes this as the “Super Bowl for foodies.” Then these four are introduced to their sous chefs-Brad, Brianna, Serena and Paul. Tom chooses Brianna, but the other three have to pull from a bucket and the pairings a...

Yes, I know this is very late. I didn't get to watch the episode until Friday night, kept a running Word document-and promptly forgot to post it all weekend long. I knew who'd been eliminated before watching, and it disappointed me a little, so that had something to do with the delay in watching. As far as the most recent episode, I again know who got eliminated and thought I didn't have an episode to watch, but Ed very sweetly remembered to tape it while I was at my event. Anyway, here's the recap for week eight: The show opens in the kitchen and the five are talking about homesickness. They walk into the Food Star Kitchens to Giada and nothing else. They are instructed to take 45 minutes to make a dish that is THEM for the camera challenge. Aria-Anchovies brought in by her son Luca. Aarti-Okra brought in by her husband Tom-White Pepper, brought by his fiancé Brad-Ranch dressing, brought by his brother Alex Herb-Canned Peas brought by his wife and kids They’ve got ...

The show opens at the house Aarti worried about being on the bottom. Tom, says six people left makes things very intense. Food Star Kitchens, Giada is standing in front of a table of six Kellogg’s cereals. Breakfast time? Not quite. To assist Giada, in explaining the challenge, out comes Melissa D’Arabian, winner of last season’s competition. Melissa tells the challengers that her life has changed so much since she’s won NFNS, she’s now a working mom and doesn’t always have the time to shop. This means she has to fashion a meal out of what’s in the pantry and the Camera Challenge today is to make dinner with breakfast. Aria- Crispix-Hopple Popple Frittata with Crispix Potato Pancakes Brad-Rice Krispies Rice Crispies Encrusted Tuna with Cucumber Salad Aarti-All Bran-Quinoa pilaf Tom-Rice Crispies-Corn Flakes and Pecan Crusted Pork Chops Serena-Cocoa Krispies-Pork Meatloaf with Cocoa Crispes Herb-Froot Loops- Froot Loop Encrusted French Toast with Latin Sausage The challenge is tig...

Yes, this is VERY late. I started writing it last Monday with plans to come back to it when I got a moment. The moment did not come. Academic pursuits come first, and the efforts on that front paid off. It's not like you were all blog stalking for what I had to say, right? This week, the contestants comment on their highs and lows before we see them enter into Food Star Kitchens. On the tables, picnic baskets. Bobby explains that before them is a party in a basket. The six find that they'll be making party bites for the event with the ingredients contained in the basket, and they find various events, such as a Bachelorette party, New Year's Eve, A Sweet Sixteen, A child's Birthday party, Poker night, and a Tea party. (Herb's will be added in to this when I review the DVR) Brianna was excited to get a Birthday party, until it was explained that the cheese, mustard and apple juice were for a FIVE year old's birthday. The look on her face would have curdled milk. S...

After a week off, NFNS returned with a 90 minute episode. In it, my favorites shone (except for Aria) and the contestants I don't like displayed more of what was unappealing and there were a few surprises in the mix. More details tomorrow morning when I get time to write it all out!

Nine contestants left. This week, the show opens with Brianna saying she needed that win last week. She’s been good at hiding any doubts she may have about her abilities in the contest. Next up, the finalists file into the Food Star kitchens, were they meet up with Bobby and Giada and a table filled with baskets of chili peppers. Bobby explains that he’s made a career out of working and cooking with peppers, and they require an able hand. This week’s camera challenge is to cook with peppers and the winner will have their dish featured on the menu at Bobby’s Mesa Grill locations. Giada instructs them that they will present to camera and since the audience cannot taste their food, it will be the contestant’s job to describe the food in a way that conveys the flavor of the dish and brings it to life. The mad scramble begins as these peppers are first come, first serve. Brianna insists she will be getting the Fresnos, because they are the only red pepper on that table. Serena says...

My apologies, the school work kept me from watching the DVR'ed episode until today. Ihrough a spoiler, I found out who was eliminated, so I wasn't rushing to see the episode. If you, however, have remained in the dark about the contestant who went home, you'll just have to wait a few more paragraphs. The show starts at the house in the hills and Dzintra saying that being in the bottom was 'the worst situation I've been in my life.' Then, we see the remaining ten file into the Food Star Kitchen, with the prep tables lined with movie theatre boxes of popcorn. Giada introduces Season Two winner, Guy, Fieri, who informs the contestants that this week's camera challenge is to create a dish inspired by classic movie genres. Each finalist pulls a card out of the popcorn box and finds what they'll be inspired by. Herb-Mystery Tom-Romance Paul-Drama DAS- Foreign Briana-Comedy Brad-Animation Serena-Western Aarti-Horror Aria-SciFi Dzintra-Action They've ...

Week two, eleven contestants. Still a long way to go, and plenty of challenges to shake down who has what it takes-and who doesn't rise to the occasion. First up this week is a challenge for all eleven finalists at the Food Star kitchens. Giada presents the plan-each of them will have one minute to prepare one part of her vegetable lasagna recipe to camera. If you're going to host a Food Network show, you must cook and talk at the same time. The trick is, if someone doesn't get their part done, the next person has to incorporate that into their challenge. It was surprising that it was done without too many fumbles, but there were some missteps. Dzintra is a frenetic mess, Aarti didn't talk much, Serena talked too fast, DAS spent so much time squeezing liquid out of frozen spinach that Doreen has to catch up and she looks stressed out and mad on camera. Aria is the last and she talks like she's talking to a child. They get good constructive feedback-will they...

It's that time again, Food Network's lineup during the summer includes their reality show, The Next Food Network Star. Those who watch the Network know that one of their biggest stars, Guy Fieri, was the winner of season two-so it can be a good way to find new talent who have great charisma, cooking ability and an idea of their own that's not already on the air. Last night, rather than ending up on the phone with a friend, I got texts-gotta love the technology advances several of us made in the past year. :) Shall we talk about the show? Here's what happened! Bobby Flay introduces the show, what it's about and what the winners will do, then we cut to a house in the Hollywood Hills, where the twelve finalists (up from 10 in previous years) enter the house, a la 'Real World'. They are, in order of arrival: Doreen Fong , who began cooking because she grew tired of her mom only cooking Chinese food. (She looks like Brenda Song, from various Disney Channel s...

Sitting here, watching The Next Food Network Star and enjoying the chance to see what lies ahead on my favorite network. Just like last year, there will be a recap every Monday. However, if you can't wait, Food Network is hosting a Live Chat every Sunday. It was pretty cool to be in it for a while, and have Susie Fogelson answering questions while the show was airing. See you tomorrow!

This last season of Next Food Network Star had the contestants complete a burger challenge. Several of the contenders looked interesting, but the ultimate winner had me wanting to dive through the TV and grab that Mulberry Street Burger for an evening snack. Of course, never one to follow a recipe to the exact specifications when it can be monkeyed with, I made some burgers inspired by Michael Proietti's winning entry. I started by adding garlic and onion powder to my ground beef and made several very flat patties. Then, instead of Michael's basil leaves, I made a nice basil pesto. Taking two patties, one is placed on the bottom and spread with pesto, topped with mozzarella and then a second patty, then sealed together. Nothing beats a cast iron skillet for putting a good char on a burger, and I put down some sliced onions, too. When it was time for the flip, I scattered the onions around, then put a folded slice of ham atop them. After flipping, the ham and the burger go...

Season five is over and a winner's show will begin on Sunday morning. Who is it? Well, if you haven't seen it or been to the Food Network website, I'm keeping you in the dark for a few more paragraphs! The show starts with a reunion of the ten finalists on stage, with Bobby Flay emceeing. Clips are shown of various finalists and we see how their friendships have developed. Apparently Michael and Katie are now really, really good friends. Next, a glimpse of the two finalists with their families. It was noted that Jeffrey and Melissa were the only contenders with kids and they were asked if that had a factor in their strategies in the competition. Most definitely. Time to make some pilots. Jeffrey and Melissa had a conference with Alton Brown, who would be producing/directing the pilots. Each had a name that Alton shot down, and Melissa's pilot was "Kitchen Survival Tips" and Jeffrey's was "The Ingredient Smuggler" The pilots showcased ea...

And Then There Were Three (or "Suzanne gets a birthday present from the Food Network") This week, the show opens with the final three still in Miami, where they meet up with Emeril at his Miami Beach restaurant. Their challenge is a big one: after viewing an advance screening of "Julie and Julia", Jeffrey, Debbie and Melissa will prepare a three course meal for twenty superstars of the culinary world, putting their "passion for food on a plate". Each is supposed to use the movie as an inspiration for what their menu will be and then will present a live cooking demonstration of one of those courses. As we watch them head off to market, the voiceovers and interviews feature each finalist speaking about their similarities with Julia. They each came up with a different perspective from the movie. Sooo, if you've got $1,000. and are feeding people like Rick Bayless, John Besh, Mosaharu Morimoto, Marcus Samuelsson, Emeril LaGasse, and others, what would ...

There was no recap last week, as we were on the road to Virginia while the show was airing. I got to see 45 minutes of it last night, but there's no sense in recapping right before another episode airs. Alas, Michael was eliminated when Debbie once again lied about how much work she did. This week, as last week, the finalists are at the Eden Roc in Miami. After a dismal team effort preparing appetizers last week, Jeffrey, Jamika, Debbie and Melissa are tasked with a live cooking demonstration-with a twist. Each contestant is sabotaged in some way, to see how they handle the realities of show biz. To me, this would have been a better challenge if each was presented with the same snafus. Instead, it seemed like Debbie had it easy, as the problems she faced were not of the host's doing. She was missing utensils and her fish was substituted with chicken. She easily handled the missing forks and menu change. Melissa encountered a host who kept calling her Debbie Lee (that w...

Week Five: the halfway point of this season's Next Food Network Star. Who has made some improvements and should go on and who should have been left behind? We shall soon find out. The remaining six enter the Food Network kitchens. Now it's crunch time-they need to show that they can cook ON camera. This trips up the most seasoned of contenders. The six watch a video of Rachael Ray to find out challenge one for the week: take something that isn't normally considered kid-friendly and make it so kids will like it. Who better to judge this than kids? Debbie and Katie are given squid to prepare, Jeffrey and Jamika tofu, and Michael and Melissa brussel sprouts. They have two minutes to present to camera on what they did to make their dish appeal to the pickiest palates. A panel of three kids, Rachel and Bobby will taste the food and the team of judges will rate their on camera performances. Not expressly stated, but implied is that the FN panel will be looking for poin...