Amy Finley and The Gourmet Next Door
September 27, 2007 by Tracey Thompson
Filed under Recipes
The most recent winner of The Next Food Network Star will be starting her show sometime in October. Currently, The Food Network Site has her on the home page, but only links us to a picture with a small introduction:
Amy is an avid traveler who loves food. She attended culinary school in France (Gregoire Ferrandi’s Ecole Superieure de Cuisine Francaise) and has authored a travel book on Italy. Amy wants to inspire viewers to cook simple, beautiful food. In addition to writing, Amy is a stay-at-home mom and lives with her husband and two children in San Diego, Calif.
If you didn’t notice, according to the write-up, she is still living in San Diego with her hubby and kids.
I took a look at Food Network’s TV schedule in October and didn’t notice her show listed, but they have a few blank spots, so I am sure there will be a big “Ta-Da” promotion when it is going to air. Make a note, that the shows usually air on Sunday mornings. Her concept actually sounded pretty solid. I am looking forward to see what the Food Network does with it.
As for our previous Next Food Network Star winners, The Hearty Boys have pretty much disappeared from view, they are only on Sunday’s at 7:00am, and I think they are re-runs. To be honest, I was glad they won and I liked them, but their show was only ok. Guy Fieri has done much better for himself and I am not surprised. He has the personality that works for what the Food Network is becoming (the good and the bad) and he helps court young males 20-40 (I consider 40 young). His show is hip and fun. I have tried a few dishes, and they are good.
I hope it works out for Amy, and I am looking forward to her teaching me about French Cuisine and using those fancy terms for which the executives gave her grief. I hope the suits don’t make her dumb it down. As soon as I find out more about our Gourmet Next Door, I will let you know.
So… finally. I watched the whole season and was a Jag fan from day one. But we know that didn’t work out. I liked Amy second best and was wondering if her show was ever coming. I never heard of the Hearty Boys. I didn’t watch that season. Does that mean two people won?
Season 1 it was two people, a couple…both males who have a restraunt and run a catering business. Their concept was about entertaining. They were both good on camera, but the show just didn’t work. I watched it a couple of times and that was enough.
I just watched an episode of her new show. It was on the On Demand channel under the food network. So far it seems like your typical cooking show, and she seemed a bit nervous. The episode was a little boring, but the food looked good. Not sure if it will do well or not.
I thought this show would never get started. She needs a new hairstyle and to repair those dentures. I still wish her luck though
We watched her show, and while it wasn’t the most entertaining, her recipes (the potatoes and the flank steak) were fantastic!!! I can’t wait to see what she does next week.
I thought the show was good. I thought she seemed relaxed and I thought she explained those pesky French terms very well.
I thought she was dull and boring, and talked like she was teaching a bunch of 4 year olds, not to mention she makes this face that resembles a Doberman dog.
I watched the show, only to see if FoodNetWork might decide to give us someone with a bit more talent than what they have been airing lately, same boring shows, same boring personalities, same humdrum recipes. Frankly, I am beginning to feel a bit insulted, especially after watching Ms Finley’s show, insipid is the one word that comes to mind, come one Food TV, kick it up a notch, some of us really to know how to cook all ready! Let’s see some Kylie Kwong, Daniel Boulard, Anthony Bourdain, Norman Van Aken, good lord my mother cooked better than most of the low talent hacks on now!
Hoping this will reach Amy Finley…
Hi Amy,
I hope you get this message, I didn’t know another way to reach you. I tried a few ways so we’ll see. First of all, congratulations on winning the show and getting your own cooking show! My Grandmother who still lives in San Diego told my mom, Patti, that she saw a story about you in the local paper. I looked it up and found it was the Amy Finley I grew up with! My mom and you mom were best friends when you and I were kids, we all lived in Normal Heights. You and Casey and I spent a lot of time together.
My mom as hoping to get contact information for your mom, she hasn’t seen her for years. I told her I would try to find a way to write you.
My mom lives in Idaho now, I live in Los Angeles and work in the film industry. My brother Matt still lives in San Diego. My Dad lives near San Francisco.
Hope you are well, I’d love to know how your mom and Casey are too!
Best of luck with your show,
Cathee Wilkins
i watched the show again this week…lets say i was curious if they would fix her hair!!nope..!anyway..amy i am vegetarian so bring on a couple veg. dishes..i’ll be looking out for them!
As regards the new Food Network show “The Gourmet next Door” starring Amy Finley…some of you bloggers are beyond belief! Her hair? Get a grip! If you have nothing positive to say perhaps you can just go back to your normal routine and open a can of soup!!
Amy,
I enjoy your show so much. Your personality shines, you just so easily impart information and the food! Yum! It is interesting to any person who loves food, cooking and entertaining to not only have recipes that are quick and manageable but alos a high end presentation.
My stepson told me one time that every time he was around me he felt hungry! I loved that compliment and I love working your recipes.
You go girl and don’t let envious people detract from the pride and joy you should be feeling!
Moi
yeah, I am curious to see if she will get beyond the meat and potato with dessert concept. Is her hair really that bad? I guess it is a bit, “eh”.
Diane, you’re telling us to open a can of soup just because we have an opinion you don’t care for? you sound just as snotty and stupid as Amy does!! Why don’t you come down off your high horse and join reality with the rest of us.
Keep calm people…Everyone’s opinion matters, but sharing our views can be fun…just remember in the grand scheme of things…it is only a cooking show. Group hug.
I too am very disappointed in the show. My wife and I have seen two episodes and find Amy to be nervous and distracting (she is constantly pointing at the camera with a knife in her hand) and the flow of the show to be disjointed and definitely not up to par with what I look forward to on the food network (i.e. Giada, Ina, Nigella, Ellie). I stopped watching after the second show. Some recipes look very good, however, which is a shame because as you know good recipes need a GREAT personality on this channel in order to garner a return for a second season.
It’s usually the people that leave a little to be desired that make the snottiest comments. Amy’s got a great bod and is cute as heck.
Colleen – jealous some?
I have watched or tried to watch 2 shows. I am sorry but I can’t get by Amy’s hair and clothes. These both make her look dowdy and I can’t even concentrate on the show. This is one show I will not waste my time watching again.
I was overlooking all the hair and outfit thing at first. It was just nice to watch a show without someone’s cleavage hanging out. But this past weekend it started to get to me. To go any further she definitely needs a stylist. Sad, isn’t it? Could you imagine anyone saying to Julia Childs, “Let’s talk appearance dear”. Says a lot about the day wel live in, huh?
Sorry people – but is this a cooking show or a fashion show? Oh right. A COOKING show.
God, you people are so shallow.
Joshua…so true, so true. I think in this visual age we often forget this.
Does any one know why we arent seeing Amy’s second season? I really like her and her show. However I was disappointed with the set and wondered whether the Foodnetwork was skimpy on the budget for the show. Also I think a makeover would be a win-win for both Amy and her loyal fans, like me.
My opinion is really simple…what happened???I thought that she need it more spirit. She was pretty boring and not fun to watch at all. Some of the other show are famous because of how the host interact with the watchers..in this case us…behind the television. I watch the show once, and I felt asleep because it was really dull. She need more connection with us and she need to feel comfortable in front of a camera
I have to agree daniela. I liked her, but it does take a certain personality. The issue is there are a lot of these shows out there. So, you have to have more than a great idea, you also have to a great TV Personality. Well, I hope this at least opens some more doors for her in writing or something.
I have been very disappointed that I never seen Amy Finley take off as a Star like all the other winners have. Amy is still my favorite contestant to this very day.
Amy would have been one of my regulars along with Giada, Ina, and Micheal.
Disappointed…