Next Food Network Star

In case you weren't aware, it looks like you'll be having a sandwich or two in your future: those meat, cheese, and bread creations are stacking up to be pretty hot right now. Last night, Jeff Mauro — aka "The Sandwich King" — was crowned the latest Food Network star. His show, aptly named Sandwich King, teaches viewers how to "turn any meal into a sandwich and any sandwich into a delicious meal." Maybe Tom Colicchio was onto something?

Sandwich chains are all the rage, and they're only going to get bigger. Earlier this Summer, Flip video camera founder Jonathan Kaplan announced a new mobile-driven grilled cheese concept The Melt, with plans to spawn 500 national locations by 2015. If that weren't enough, 100 Montaditos, which is being described as a "Spanish Starbucks for sandwiches," will roll out 4,000 US locations in the next five years.

While there's no denying that the sandwich is essential to American cuisine, it remains to be seen if it can shrug off its brown-bag lunch image and venture into serious dinner territory. Are you excited about the new era of sandwiches — and do you see them being appropriate to eat for every occasion?

Source: Flickr User diekatrin

If the conclusion of Top Chef All-Stars has brought about symptoms of foodie reality TV withdrawal, sit tight, because the Food Network's Next Food Network Star is back with a vengeance.

The seventh season, which premieres Sunday, June 5, at 9 p.m., is the network's most star-studded yet and features celebrated figures from Alton Brown to Michael Symon to Ina Garten. Among the challenges? Performing live on the Rachael Ray Show, catering the Guy Fieri-headlined All American Food Festival, and competing head to head in Kitchen Stadium, Iron Chef America-style.

Season seven's challenges aren't the only part of the show that's advanced — the contestants sound like a pretty qualified bunch, too. To see the 15 finalists who'll compete come June, keep reading.

Food Network's Melissa d'Arabian is at the top of her game. It was only four months ago that she was announced winner of the Next Food Network Star; now her new show, Ten Dollar Dinners with Melissa d'Arabian, has been renewed for a second season.

I spoke with the energetic young mom, who seemed surprisingly grounded in spite of her recent TV success, about her whirlwind year, her show, and her favorite $10 dinner of all. See what she has to say after the jump.

Of all the year's celebrations, Thanksgiving often is the most expensive. In 2008, roughly a quarter of you said you were spending $150 or more. This year, to help you stay well within your budget, we've enlisted the help of Melissa d'Arabian, winner of the Next Food Network Star and host of Ten Dollar Dinners With Melissa d'Arabian.

On her Food Network show, Melissa makes dinner for four for under $10 — and her Thanksgiving is no different. She's partnered with Walmart to come up with a turkey day feast that's only $20, and plans to serve it to her own family this holiday. "My family is really getting the $20 thanksgiving!" she says. Regardless of how much you've got in your wallet, she has some pointers to help you stay under budget. See them when you read more.