The Next Food Network Star Review: Did She Really Just Do That???

In this week’s episode of The Next Food Network Star, contestants are given the red carpet treatment, Dzintra’s antics raises brows, and Paul’s snobbery almost gets the best of him.

This week’s Camera Challenge is all about inspiration. Because of course, the Next Food Network Star must be inspired by food and in turn must inspire millions of loyal viewers. And the inspiration this week is classic movie genres. Each contestant is given a genre (such as Mystery, Romance, Horror, and Comedy) that must be the inspiration for their dish. The contestants then have 30 seconds to present their dishes to the camera. DAS’s Foreign dish was uninspired, after all it’s not that hard to make tacos. Tom’s dish was called a disaster, although Serena’s Western pasta was called fabulous. The camera curse struck again as Brad, Aria, Paul, and Herb’s personalities suffered. Aarti seemed to have no such limitations as she won this challenge with both food and camera presentation that were called “flawless.”

For the Star challenge the contestants were taken to the red carpet where guest judge Guy Fieri (filling in for Bobby Flay) would test them on how they handle the spotlight. For the most part, the contestants handled themselves relatively well. Serena and Tom were friendly with the surrounding crowd. But then on the other hand…Paul was obnoxious; Brianna was a DIVA who strutted down the aisle as though it were her due. A sign of things to come for sure, as Brianna’s ‘me, me’ attitude blinds her when she later injures Serena. Charming.

For the second part of the Star challenge, contestants were put into teams of two to prepare three dishes. The first two dishes are solo dishes, while the third dish is a collaboration. The teams are Tom and DAS, Aria and Dzintra, Paul and Serena, Brad and Aarti, and Herb and Brianna. Paul hates that he is teamed with Serena and explains this in the most insulting way possible. He’s a classically trained chef while she is nothing but an at home chef. This explanation becomes even more annoying as he continues in this vein over the next half hour. And while I agree it is unfortunate Serena got stuck with him, such sentiments won’t help in the task at hand.

The chefs will be serving at an after party for singer Colbie Caillat. DAS and Tom seem to flourish together with an easy camaraderie, unfortunately their food does not fare as well; their collaboration dish is so bad that Caillat spit it out. Serena and Paul talk over each other in a presentation that was uncomfortable. In presenting to the judges, Dzintra shushes Aria. This shocks all the judges into silence. This warm feeling is continued in the tasting. Although Aria’s dish fares well, Dzintra’s and the collab dishes are called bad.

At the judging, self-dubbed “Team Sexy” Brianna and Herb win, while Dzintra and Paul find themselves in the bottom two. But in the end, Dzintra is sent home. She leaves quietly and, much to my chagrin, without any fuss.

So, the question is, once again: Which contestant will refuse to go?

Season 6, Episode 3: Grammy Award Celebration (originally aired June 20, 2010)

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Sundays at 9/8c on Food Network

Photographs courtesy of Food Network and Electric Artists.