Tagged: Food Network

Next Food Network Star to return!

I’ve been a fan of Next Food Network Star since season one, when it was called, The Next Iron Chef. So I was happy to post this press release for Food Network when they asked:

NEW YORK – APRIL 7, 2009 – The stakes are higher than ever when The Next Food Network Star returns this summer with a star-studded fifth season on Food Network. As television’s most challenging food fight, the series provides 10 hopeful TV chefs the chance to compete for the ultimate dream job: his or her own Food Network show. Iron Chef Bobby Flay leads the selection committee that ultimately decides the winner’s fate and launches one lucky man or woman into a food and television celebrity. The series kicks off on Sunday, June 7th at 9pm ET/PT as the finalists cater Food Network’s “Sweet 16” party with network talent and media there to judge.

“This season we’ve created the biggest and toughest challenges the show has ever seen,” said Bob Tuschman, Senior Vice President, Programming and Production. “We have an incredibly competitive group of finalists who are hungry to become Food Network stars, and they all came to win.”

The 10 finalists include: Brett August (Washington Heights, N.Y.), Katie Cavuto (Philadelphia, Pa.), Melissa d’Arabian (Keller, Texas), Teddy Folkman (Alexandria, Va.), Eddie Gilbert (Manhattan Beach, Calif.), Jen Isham (Orlando, Fla.), Debbie Lee (West Hollywood, Calif.), Jamika Pessoa (Atlanta, Ga.), Michael Proietti (New York, N.Y.) and Jeffrey Saad (Los Angeles, Calif.).

This season’s finalists must prove their culinary expertise and star potential through a series of complex challenges. In each episode, their cooking chops will be put to the test to see who can handle the pressure and present the most mouth-watering food. Challenges include catering a party for a roomful of Food Network stars, impressing the “Barefoot Contessa” herself in the Hamptons and preparing a comforting meal for returning soldiers on the Intrepid Sea , Air, and Space Museum . The show also flies to sunny Miami – for the first time – where the finalists must survive a beachside wood-grilling challenge for Red Lobster and create a delicious dinner for a group of culinary elite at a screening of Columbia Pictures’ movie Julie & Julia (in theaters August 7). Throughout the season, they will also have to prove they have star quality and dazzle a variety of media outlets with their personalities, including Access Hollywood, Good Housekeeping, Esquire, Food Network Magazine, and USA WEEKEND.

Rachael Ray, Giada De Laurentiis, Alton Brown, Guy Fieri, Ina Garten, Emeril Lagasse, Gina and Pat Neely, Masaharu Morimoto, Ted Allen, Tyler Florence, Michael Symon and the season four winner, Aaron McCargo, Jr., will appear throughout the season to help guide the finalists through the challenges. The selection committee comprised of Flay and Food Network executives, Bob Tuschman (Senior Vice President, Programming and Production) and Susie Fogelson (Vice President, Marketing and Brand Strategy), will narrow the field down until the finale. The winner will be revealed during the series finale on Sunday, August 2nd at 9pm ET/PT, and he or she will receive a six-episode show that will premiere in August 2009. The Next Food Network Star is produced by CBS EYE too Productions.

Of course, I do enjoy the Food Network

Of course, I do enjoy the Food Network, so when I saw this press release, I decided to share it with you all. Take note… sounds like an interesting show!

NEW YORK – March 3, 2009 – Production begins this week on Sandra’s Money Saving Meals, Food Network’s new daytime cooking series hosted by Sandra Lee (Semi-Homemade Cooking with Sandra Lee), which premieres May 10th at 12pm ET/PT. Sandra whips up delicious recipes perfect for every day of the week, all based on her “triple A factor” of accessible, aspirational and affordable. To maximize cost-saving success, she shares unique ideas for savvy supermarket shopping and proper pantry stocking while highlighting each meal’s unbeatable cost per serving. Sandra then prepares clever leftover dishes from each episode called “Round 2 Recipes” – one in the show and another on FoodNetwork.com (www.foodnetwork.com). Renowned for her trademark 70/30 Semi-Homemade cooking style, Sandra makes saving money a breeze for culinary experts and cooking novices alike.

“At this critical economic time, Sandra comes to the rescue by providing our viewers with creative ways to save money and time while cooking great meals at home,” said Bob Tuschman, Senior Vice President, Programming and Production for Food Network. “We appreciate the dedicated passion and in-depth knowledge Sandra brings to this topic, and we look forward to launching this new endeavor with her.”

Acclaimed home and food expert Sandra Lee has revolutionized the term “homemade” as a popular Food Network host, editor-in-chief of Sandra Lee Semi-Homemade magazine, and best-selling author. Sandra’s trademark 70/30 Semi-Homemade philosophy translated to television with Food Network’s Semi-Homemade Cooking with Sandra Lee and to the Internet with SemiHomemade.com. Sandra attended University of Wisconsin – La Crosse , launched several lines of home, garden, and craft products including Kurtain Kraft, worked with QVC, and produced a successful DIY home improvement series. With a commitment to service and charity, Sandra participates in numerous philanthropic organizations including Share Our Strength and God’s Love We Deliver. Since 2002, Sandra has written 16 cookbooks as well as a memoir titled, “Made From Scratch.”