Next Food Network Star

I was incredibly surprised while watching last night's season finale of the Next Food Network Star. Going into the finale, I wasn't sure if Lisa, Aaron, or Adam was capable of being a Food Network Star. After seeing them cook on Rachael Ray's set, I was amazed at how well they performed. Each one of them was entertaining and informed during the pilots.

I couldn't help but wonder if it was the editing that lead me to believe none of them were worthy of a Food Network show. However, the most shocking moment, by far, was when they announced the winner.

Did you watch? Were you surprised by the finale?

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This Sunday is the season finale of the Next Food Network Star. For the first time ever, three people — Adam, Lisa, and Aaron — will compete in the finals. Who are you rooting for?

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Last night on the Next Food Network Star the final three had to make a promotional commercial for their show and create an over the top buffet for Las Vegas performers. Former NFNS winner, Guy Fieri, coached the contestants and acted as the guest judge.

While each finalist ran into certain obstacles (Lisa burned her pork, Aaron bombed his introduction, and Adam went smoking crazy), I felt like the promos were totally unfair. Lisa flew through a huge wine cellar and Adam learned a choreographed dance, but Aaron simply walked around a casino.

Did you watch? Whose commercial was the most difficult to shoot?

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Last night on the Next Food Network Star, the final four arrived in Vegas, dined with Paula Deen, and competed in a scaled down version of Bobby Flay's Throwdown. Perky Kelsey was sent home for making dishes that were too complicated. Certain she was a Food Network shoo-in, I was shocked when the judges asked her to leave.

How abut you? What did you think of the elimination?

Last night on the Next Food Network Star the contestants had to perform a live demonstration with children on Rachael Ray's daytime television show. For the first time, I thought all of the contestants did surprisingly well. However, I thought Kelsey, whose interaction with the girl scout was wonderful, performed the best. The judges disagreed and she was in the bottom two. Did you watch?

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Last night Shane and Kelsey shone on the Next Food Network Star. Shane won both challenges and created a simplified version of beef Wellington. The recipe, which was a collaboration between him and Kelsey, will be featured in an upcoming issue of Bon Appetit magazine.

While I was impressed by the youngsters presentation and execution, I wonder if they have what it takes to be the Next Food Network star. Can someone really be an expert at the age of 20 or 23? What do you think? Are Shane and Kelsey too young to be Food Network stars?

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On last night's episode of the Next Food Network Star, the remaining seven contestants faced challenges introduced by Tyler Florence and Iron Chef Michael Symon. With Tyler they had to create a 60 second video in which a culinary technique was explained. While some featured a simple skill like slicing a pineapple or trussing a chicken, others had to perform more difficult tasks like Frenching a rack of lamb and cleaning raw squid. Although I enjoyed the challenge — it clearly highlighted the contestants with culinary training — I couldn't help but wonder if it was a little unfair. What did you think?

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After putting their personal spin on the potato, the contestants on last night's episode of The Next Food Network Star created a branded product to dish out to food buyers. When surprise guest Martha Stewart did some sampling of her own, a few of the cooks were utterly overcome. Seriously, Lisa couldn't stop weeping.

Jeffrey's seasoned salt failed to impress the judges, and he went home. But it was Kelsey, the self-proclaimed "mini Martha Stewart," who dominated this episode with her undercooked pancetta potatoes and ultra-perky delivery. The judges thought she looked and sounded too forced and rehearsed, and I agree. Do you think she can tone it down enough to succeed?

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Last night's interesting episode of the the Next Food Network Star had the contestants running around New York on an ingredient scavenger hunt and cooking Dinner Impossible style on a train. The show started with an appearance by fallen star Robert Irvine and ended with a contestant wanting to quit.

Did you watch? Were you surprised by Lisa's success? Should Kevin or Nipa have been sent home? I was personally annoyed by Nipa's righteous behavior — didn't it take her forever to get ready? — and hoped the judges would eliminate her. How about you?
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