The Next Food Network Star Review: Keep On a Truckin’

The search for the Next Food Network Star returned last night and in a 90-minute episode drama ensues as two rival chefs are teamed up in an effort for survival. Will they rise above their differences or will their conflict lead them to defeat? Paula Deen stops by, and not all of your favorite chefs make the grade.

In the camera challenge this week, the remaining 8 contestants had to create a sauce that represents who they are. The purpose of this is to create a product that could be part of their commercial brand. And in the second part of the challenge, the contestants had to do a demo in front of a live audience, the judges, and the cameras. This is major considering how much trouble the contestants have with the cameras alone. In the first part, all of the contestants whip through the cooking part. It’s becoming more and more apparent that the winner of this will be determined by the camera. All of the contestants have the culinary chops to qualify; it’s just that darn camera that keeps tripping them up. This week is no exception.

The contestants have three minutes to create a dish featuring their brand sauce; their objective is to ‘sell’ it to the audience. The vast majority of the contestants do poorly this week; either it’s their timing or the dreaded camera freeze-up that does them in. On stage, Serena seems scattered, while Paul tries to rush it and is really messy. They both run out of time. Brad and Brianna were extremely awkward in front of the crowd. That’s a shame because all the judges loved their sauces. Herb has great pacing and his charm pulls him through, while Aria lacks all personality in her too rehearsed skit. But the shining stars of this round are Aarti and Tom. Aarti just exudes warmth and Tom builds a connection with the audience. They both win.

For the star challenge Paula Deen joins the judges. The contestants are split into teams of two to serve lunch from trucks. The teams are based on the earlier challenge. Because Tom and Aarti won, they are immediately paired up; the same goes for Brianna and Serena who were the losing two. This pairing is straight on the heels of a Brianna/Serena blow-up in which the obnoxious Brianna kicked Serena out of the kitchen for daring to want to help prepare dinner. Brianna dear, you catch more flies with honey…

In spite of all possible odds, the pairing of the two angry chix (Team Name: Chix in a Truck) works. And even though they have their differences they manage to work together beautifully and won. Tom and Aarti come in second. Even though Herb and Paul work well together, their big personalities seemed to put some people off. Brad and Aria are in the bottom because their food was mediocre. Joining them in the bottom is Paul. The judges confer. Even though Brad is tough to watch on camera, and the judges fear that Aria has become one-dimensional, it is Paul, who wavers yet again on his culinary pov who is sent packing.

Season 6, Episode 5: Lunch Trucks with Paula (originally aired July 11, 2010)

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Sundays at 9/8c on Food Network

Photographs courtesy of Food Network.