The Next Food Network Star 2008: 1, 2 and 3

I have been keeping up with the Next Food Network Star, but I admit my heart has not been into it.  I watched the first episode and thought, “eh”.  I watched the second episode with more, “eh” and a little, “whatever” thrown in.  Last night…I feel that either I and/or the show have gotten are groove back.

I am not sure if I was just still focusing on Top Chef or if the NFNS episodes to-date were all , “eh”, but now I feel like I actually have something to write about.  I do think that it takes a few episodes to really get into these shows, because you are trying to get to know each competitor.

These first three episodes have had some interesting challenges from Culinary Points-of-View to Cooking on a Train.  Last night was a little strange I thought.  The first challenge was to make a dish showing, once again, their culinary point-of-view by using a potato.  This was actually a very good challenge.  Making a dish that tells your story and presenting it in front of a camera.  That is what the Food Network is about.  I was thrown by Kelsy the “recent culinary school graduate” under-cooking a potato and bacon gratin and by Jennifer’s “kid friendly” dish of grilled mashed potato pizza….ewww.  I think that this challenge really let you know who can cook and who has potential in front of the camera.

Now, the next challenge I thought was ridiculous, but I was amazed how some of our competitors really stepped-up to the plate.  The challenge of having them come up with a unique and marketable food product was, to me, absurd. 

A lot of Food Network Stars have food products.  These products have been under-development for probably years and product development and branding for each star has been done by a team of experts.  None of these FN Stars had 30 minutes to come up with an idea, pick-up a jar and slap on a label.  This was more than absurd, this was I think a sad show about what the Food Network is becoming.  They now have a marketing strategy and they want to own a piece of you.  Their insatiable need to dominate the market with pictures of FN Stars on every shelf and kitchen products with that Food Network logo glaring at each customer has become almost comical.

That said, kudos to these guys for stepping-up and doing quite well.  A few of them crashed and burned, but they were headed in that direction probably from the beginning.  I loved watching Martha Stewart attend each table and each competitor sweating it out.  I felt really sorry for some of them. It at times was like waiting for a train wreck.  Martha is the goddess of branding and the first to do it successfully.  I loved each of her short but pointed comments and her pursed lips as she tasted with her mini-fork.  I was sad to see Jeffrey go this week.  I don’t think he was ready to be the winner, but he was a genuine nice guy and I wish him well.

Nipa actually has a very unique and solid culinary point-of-view, but her weaknesses go beyond lack of energy in front of the camera.  With her Indian food comes some hardcore vocabulary for the home cook.  Now, I don’t think that French or Italian terms are that far removed from your average cook, but Indian terminology most definitely is.  I do not think she should completely refrain from using the authentic names of dishes, but then she needs to make it simple for the unindoctrinated and add a recipe title using some basic English words.  My other issue with Nipa is her attitude.  I thought her food product was lame and her decision to purchase all the cayenne pepper, even though she didn’t need it was a disappointing showing.  To top this off, her hissy fit and subsequent march-out of the Judge’s table last week was high drama at its worst.  I want to believe that she is better then all this and the stress is getting the best of her, but stress is a huge part of what this competition is about.

Jennifer’s clock is counting down.  I wish that she had more there.  I love her Kid Friendly idea and I have actually thought that at good show pitch would not only be about kid friendly food but about cooking with kids and for kids.  Not dumbing food down, but inviting them in the kitchen to learn, be a part of their meals and expand their taste buds.  I wish I had the skill to jump into the competition fire, but talk about a train wreck!  Jennifer’s food to date has been not very interesting, in some cases disgusting and she just doesn’t have what it takes on camera.  Someone is going to have to blow it big for her to be around next week.

Lisa is hysterical and I know she doesn’t mean to be.  It was easy to pick her as a huge Martha Stewart fan.  I wasn’t sure what to think of her during Episode 1 with her concept…deconstructing fine dining with the “3 C’s:  cooking, community outreach and the culinary crafts…..huh??  I did know where she was wanting to go with this, but whoa…she has been making it far too complicated.  I just love watching this former beauty queen (no surprise there) maneuver like a hurricane in her high heels and pristine attire.  I don’t think that I have ever seen her break a sweat.  I don’t know yet if I would watch her show, but I look forward to seeing her continue on.

My favorite so far is Aaron.  I love his personality and his food does not appear to have missed a beat yet.  I just wish he was cooking at our community hospital.  Of course, I doubt they serve bacon wrapped potatoes.

To those that are left, who are your favorites and who are you just counting the days until they are shown the door?