Food Network

Chef Amanda Freitag may look and act tough as nails on Food Network's Chopped and Iron Chef America, but in person, she's all smiles and infectious giggles. Fun fact: she and POPSUGAR LIVE host Matthew Rodrigues worked together on the set of Iron Chef America, so right away, she was happy to chat with another member of the family. I caught up with her after her cooking demonstration at the San Francisco Chipotle Cultivate Festival, where we talked about her life as a judge, chef competitor, and most recently, restaurant owner.

POPSUGAR: You are so bubbly and warm, but your personality on Chopped is so different! How is that?
Amanda Freitag: It is. I get totally edited. I'm funny behind the scenes. I'm funny sometimes with the chefs. I think they capture those moments when I'm being stern. That's only one part of me. The other fun-loving, playful part is the other 80 percent. It's hard. I have to be a judge; I have to be intimidating and serious.

PS: What have been some of your favorite moments as a judge on Chopped?
AF: Oh my . . . how much time do we have? Wonderful moments like when the lunch ladies competed, which we now call them "school chefs." There was not a dry eye in the house. Sam Kass was our guest judge who works with Michelle Obama on the White House food movement. These women, what they're doing and how they make those kids feel normal and feed them, as a chef, it's something I hope I can do someday. It was so moving.

Aside from the moments when people burn themselves, cut themselves, fall down, put nothing on a plate, Madison Cowan was a memorable chef for me, because he came on Chopped and blew us away. He made the most incredible, delicate, elegant food with a humble background and story. We were all blown away. That doesn't happen often.

PS: More often than not, is it judging the least disastrous of the bunch?
AF: Not always disastrous. It's a tough environment. Everyone is a little flustered. I've competed in that kitchen a couple of times. I can say it's incredibly hard — harder than Iron Chef for me. Chopped is 30 minutes. There is very little equipment, very limited pantry.

Keep reading to learn more about Chef Freitag's new restaurant.

Jeff Mauro, better known as the Sandwich King on Food Network, spent a little time away from his set (and his hectic schedule as spokesperson for Cracker Barrel Cheese) to talk to us about the meats and breads that are currently trending in the sandwich world (surprise: they're actually domestic!) and one classic American dish he's proud to have sandwich-ized.

POPSUGAR: What sandwich trends are you seeing this year?
Jeff Mauro: I am seeing a lot of bologna out there, a lot of grilled bologna. I did a grilled bologna burger last episode on the show that kind of prompted that. I did a really thick cut — I think a half-inch-thick cut — of grilled bologna. A lot of places in Chicago are doing grilled bologna with a fried egg and onions. I guess people want the nostalgia. That is where a lot of great trends come from, harking back to being a kid and eating grilled bologna. I am going to say that is going to explode even further.

PS: Pretzel buns are all the rage. We can't wait to make your homemade version this Summer. What's the ultimate way to fill 'em?
JM: I’ll tell you three things: a robust cheddar, pickled jalapeños, and ham. That’s all you need; it is the best of everything. It is like a ballpark in your mouth. You get the soft pretzel with the cheddar, so it’s almost like a nacho. It's unbelievable.

Keep reading to learn more, including Jeff's favorite sandwich creation from this year.

Anne Burrell is known for a lot more than just her spicy blond hair and mismatched socks. She's an esteemed chef who worked in some of the top restaurants in NYC, battled it out on Iron Chef as Mario Batali's sous chef, and now keeps her schedule packed with several Food Network shows: her cooking show Secrets of a Restaurant Chef as well as two reality shows, Chef Wanted and Worst Cooks in America. A few years back she published her first cookbook, Cook Like a Rock Star and she has plans to release another one this Fall. Keep reading to learn more about Chef Burrell's rewarding moments on TV, the most amazing thing she's eaten lately, and tidbits about her new book.

Alton Brown's Good Eats days are over, but he's nowhere near throwing in the towel. Alton claims he's on camera more days this year than ever between hosting Iron Chef America and launching a new show on the Food Network this coming Spring. But that's not all that's on Alton's plate: he's also the proud mentor of Food Network Star winner Justin Warner and is the executive producer of Justin's forthcoming show.

I chatted with Alton to discuss all the juicy details of his latest Food Network project, Justin's new show, and The Next Iron Chef: Redemption, which premieres Nov. 4.

YumSugar: What can we expect from The Next Iron Chef: Redemption?

Keep reading for the latest from Alton.

Last night, Justin Warner became the next Food Network Star. This 27-year-old Brooklynite, chef, and owner of Do or Dine restaurant has the attention of the young and old alike for his offbeat personality and even odder culinary concoctions.

His new show, Rebel With a Culinary Cause, is slated to air this Fall on the Food Network. Prepare for funky fusion dishes like Nippon nachos, a pork wonton dumpling smothered in melted chipotle gouda and a traditional Mexican salsa. He's remixing old-school favorites, too: for the pilot episode, Justin revamped a classic Caesar salad, whipping up a grilled chicken Caesar salad with an aspic Caesar dressing that dissolves into the hot, charred lettuce hearts.

I spoke to the rebel himself only hours after the finale of Food Network Star aired. The quirky chef discussed his love-me-or-leave-me attitude, the mentors in his life, and an illegal ingredient he can't wait to get his hands on. Take a look at what he had to say.

The votes have already been cast for season eight's Food Network Star. Before the winner is announced on the finale this Sunday at 9 p.m./8c, we spoke to Giada De Laurentiis on her experience as a mentor, her favorite recipe from the season, and who she's betting will win.

YumSugar: What's it like being a mentor on Food Network Star?
Giada De Laurentiis: In the past we have said that I was a mentor, but truly, I didn't really get a chance to mentor these folks. I think I learned a lot, and I feel emotionally invested in the show. I think you'll find that's what it was like for Bobby Flay and Alton Brown, as well. I really felt like [the people on my team] were almost my kids. I felt so emotionally invested in their future and in their performances.

YS: What was the most important lesson you learned from your team?
GDL: I think that one of the most important lessons I have learned from my team is that sometimes we try desperately to turn someone into something that we think they should be, when really we need to let them grow on their own. I learned that 10 weeks isn't always enough to polish that gem. It's important that [the contestants] stay true to who they are. As much as I want to make them grow and move faster, the experience of turning them into these stars takes time, and I need to be more patient.

Find out Giada's favorite recipe from the show and who she thinks will win.