Food Network Star Exit Interview: Judson Todd Allen
The bulk of people who watch trash like Jersey Shore or Operation Repo are, I believe, largely societal parasites – people who don’t work and don’t contribute to their community. They also do not have any disposable income. But they do watch a lot of TV. A lot of shows air trash so that they can attract these viewers just so they can brag about the numbers that watch to potential advertisers.
There are times when blogging Food Network Star that it effects me on a personal level. I am often offended as a longtime fan of the network when they pull ratings stunts to attract new viewers. One day Food Network and more importantly their advertisers will learn that while controversy attracts viewers it does not attract viewers with money.
So when FNS pulls stunts like they did last night it effects me on on a personal level. As a fan I want the rules to be set in stone. If they are not than it isn’t a genuine contest; it’s just another work of fiction. I have long had trust issues with Food Network Star and last night did nothing to help that.
And I’m not alone either. Alton Brown was noticeably upset with the last second rules change. That’s understandable since it certainly appeared to be done simply to trim his team down to three regardless of what happened in the competition.
The Twitterverse certainly had a lot to say about the last minute rules change. Check it out:
There was a point in the Pitch Room after Emily and Justin had been excused that Susie was addressing Martie and Judson. She said, “We like and respect both of you so much.” I am a student of body language and facial expressions. When Susie said that statement her eyes looked up and to the left – a classic sign of deceit. Who is the BS artist again?
There’s another reason last night’s outcome bothered me. Judson is a very good friend of mine. We chat all the time and have hung out together. I can’t see visiting Chicago again without making time to meet up with him for a bite to eat. So I didn’t just see an injustice on a reality TV show, I saw an injustice that had an effect on the life of a very good friend of mine.
But Judson is always a class act and one of the most passionate people I’ve met in this business. He’s far from done. See for yourself.
Is there anything in your life’s experiences that compares to competing on Food Network Star?
Hmm, I would say yes and no. In college I pledged a traditionally black fraternity. Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. We are the first black Greek letter fraternity. I went through the pledging process in college. It was difficult. I told myself that if I can go through this I can go through anything. So I went into the competition thinking I pledged a fraternity; I can do this. Yeah, not so much.
I really wasn’t ready for what Food Network Star brought my way.
What’s the number one thing you have taken away from your experience on the show?
The number one thing that I think I’ve been able to walk away with is knowing my value, embracing my new brand. I didn’t come in with it to the show but I found it at the end of the show. And I recognize that there’s a major, major opportunity for me to touch the lives of millions of people not only in America but around the world.
You know I was pushed into the national spotlight with Food Network Star but the journey has just begun. I think I’m ready now. I’m ready to tell my story, to talk about the struggles.
Weight isn’t something that you’re going to lose and then your home free. It’s an addiction like drugs, It’s an addiction like alcohol. At any point in any given time you can relapse. So it’s something that I have to be cognizant of my whole life. This is a chance for me to really drive home that point. I’m ready to take people on that journey of what I’ve gone through.
What was it like meeting each of the Food Network celebs?
I mean to actually be in the same room with people that I’ve admired and looked up to for a long time, wow. Bobby is like this swagged out cool guy. I think it’s cool because it works for him. If I good get my hands on whoever makes Bobby’s suits, I mean he was always decked out.
How would you describe working with Alton Brown?
How lucky was I to be paired with Alton Brown? I am on record as saying he is one of my favorites on Food Network. You know with my quirkiness it was great working with him. Initially working with Alton Brown was a bit intimidating but the more I got to know his heart the more I began to realize he’s in this for us. There was a genuineness to how he actually valued us as a team.
What’s next for the “Architect of Flavor?”
I’m doing an event on Thursday with the American Cancer Society. It’s an amazing opportunity to raise awareness about stomach cancer. We’re going to have about 500 people in Brooklyn, NY at the Irondale Theater. How cool is it, Macy Gray is our celebrity entertainment? So we’re going to be working together. She’s going to be DJ’ing and performing and I’m going to be the guest chef.
Who is your favorite food blooger to split a pie from Lou Malnati’s with?
Stu of course! I read your blog all the time and I’m telling you it’s some deep stuff. I’m on Team Stu.
For more on the Eat, Drink & Be Hopeful event with Judson and Macy Gray visit the web site HERE. To keep up with what’s happening with Judson you can visit his web site HERE. Be sure to check out all of the Star Season 8 Exit Interviews HERE.
Food Network Star Exit Interview: Eric Lee
Eric Lee, 44 (Petaluma, Calif.), graduated with high honors from the Culinary Institute of America, and his kitchen skills, along with his calm confidence, have made him an acclaimed chef in the California wine country. Before going to culinary school, Eric graduated with a degree in sociology from the University of California Los Angeles. For the past 11 years he has served as the executive chef for a Sonoma County winery, where he is well-known for his mastery of food and wine pairing. Eric distinguishes his food by deconstructing and re-creating dishes using alternative ingredients and cooking methods.
Many FNS fans have voiced displeasure that actual cooking is not given more weight on the show. It seems there is a lack of importance placed on actual cooking and food knowledge in general. It’s hard to argue with them.
If someone shows up on set knowing how to cook but they’re bad on camera you can teach them to perform better. You can look no farther than the judge’s table for examples of that. Bobby Flay, by his own admission, was a bit clumsy at times in those early days and the first season of Giada’s Everyday Italian was flat out brutal to watch.
But if someone shows up day one and they cannot cook it doesn’t matter how good they are on camera. They are not going to learn to cook well enough in eleven weeks to justify having a TV show. It’s obvious that the first half of each season should key more on food than personality.
Eric was quite likely the best pure cook this show has ever seen, at least top five. One of the bright spots this season is that every single contestant in the cast is actually qualified to be in the running. We can’t say that about past line-ups. That being said it has got to be hard for the judges to determine a winner. My assessment of lastweek’s show was that Michele and Yven should have been at the bottom. Others had Judson in their bottom two.
It’s just that close at this point and therefore the judges have to nitpick which leads to ridiculous comments like Susie saying Judson’s dish had, “too many crunchy elements to it.” That’s impossible. Crunchy is the most popular texture in cooking and you cannot have too much of it. That’s like saying that something is too cheesy. There is no such thing as too much cheese or too much garlic or too much bacon or too much crunch. But to determine a winner the judges have to be, for lack of a better word, anal. This cast is just that good.
Which cast members are you still friends with?
I love Judson. He’s the man. So Judson obviously, Josh, Kara and Linkie.
What’s the number one thing you have taken away from your experience on Food Network Star?
What is the most important thing in life? That is your family, your friends and your health. The show requires that you be away from them for so long with no contact with them and that by far is what I’ve taken away from that show.
Do you think that the show would benefit from focusing more on determining who can actually cook in the early rounds?
Oh of course. Giada said it at the very beginning, “You have to be able to cook. You have to be able to talk on camera.” I think that cooking is not weighed as heavily as on-camera. Who knows what’ll happen in the future.
A lot has been made on the show about you leaving a long time post to take this shot. Would it be safe to say after seeing you in action that you’ve had an offer or two?
No. Not at all. I am not looking for a restaurant job; I think that if I were looking for a restaurant job things would be different. I’m a chef in the wine country. I love what I do. I love small scale stuff. I’m more of a product ambassador. I have to be totally behind something. Right now I’m a corporate chef for an Italian vacuum packaging and sous vide company. I have to believe in the product.
This show has revitalized my whole thing. Being on this show I realized I can cook really well. There may be a show in the future, maybe a cookbook deal. Who knows what’s going to happen.
To keep up with what’s happening with Eric you can visit his web site (HERE). Be sure to check out all of the Star Season 8 Exit Interviews HERE.
Food Network Star Exit Interview: Josh Lyons
Josh Lyons, 42 (Jupiter, Fla.), has an affinity for food, music and entertaining. After spending years in a rock band and working in restaurants, Josh decided to go to culinary school and loved every minute of it. He is an experienced sushi chef and restaurant consultant, with an expertise in creating unexpected Asian fusion dishes. This multi-talented chef still writes and performs with his band and also has a passion for photography.
Josh was the first member of Team Giada to say goodbye. Some may argue that it happened three weeks too late. Josh didn’t have the best of runs on FNS this year but in light of past seasons it really wasn’t that bad.
To be perfectly honest, in other years his performance would have been no worse than middle of the road. That’s a testament to just how talented this year’s cast is and because of that you really have to feel for him. He’s a great guy but it just didn’t seem to come out with the game on the line.
Josh was back home in South Florida today when I caught him between slinging sushi and jamming with his band Fell on Deaf Ears.
How did you occupy your time after elimination?
I spent the remaining time just venturing out into Brooklyn and Manhattan. I have family that live in the city so I took advantage to spend as much time with them as possible, my nephews and my sister.
Which cast members are you still friends with?
I am really tight with Emily. And Ippy, Eric, and Christi, and Justin. I probably speak to all them very consistently. Especially Emily because she’s only about two and a half hours from me. I’m a little further south close to Miami and she’s in Orlando. We actually hooked up a couple of weeks ago and went to the Jane’s Addiction concert.
What’s the number one thing you have taken away from your experience on Food Network Star?
It was definitely an eye-opener as to what I need to concentrate on for myself as an individual. It was a window for me having to work on my confidence and self-worth and also to make sure that I eat properly and get enough sleep. I do not function right when I do not eat and I don’t sleep.
One thing that kind of bothered me was the constant comparisons between music and TV chef. It’s really very, very different. With my music I have time to rehearse, practice and I have guys that I trust behind me. We reinforce our sound and our music. Where this was kind of an unrealistic environment.
What’s your current project?
I am currently involved in opening up a restaurant down here in West Palm Beach it’s a contemporary Asian fusion restaurant called Fuku. I’m also busy with my album release, you know getting it out there, getting the video out there. Aside from those I’m just working on marketing myself as a brand.
To keep up with what’s happening with Josh you can visit his web site (HERE). Be sure to check out all of the Star Season 8 Exit Interviews HERE.
Food Network Star Exit Interview: Kara Sigle
Kara Sigle, 31 (Chicago), has an eclectic culinary style and a strong interest in health and fitness. A family-oriented Midwesterner, Kara attended culinary school but spent time in various other industries before deciding to pursue food as her career. Her fresh take on nostalgic recipes makes for delicious, healthy and accessible dishes that the whole family will enjoy. This avid exercise guru is constantly on the go, running her own catering company and teaching fitness classes. She also hopes to open her own cafe in Chicago someday.
In week one Kara was not featured very much. In week two she was front and center. Unfortunately not for the right reasons. Her Star Challenge performance, though not the worst of the night (that was Josh) was weak enough to warrant having to compete in the Producer’s Challenge. Unfortunately Judson (who was only in the cook-off because of a terrible rule) was just too strong for her to overcome despite having a pretty good performance in the all-Chicago showdown.
Being the second person eliminated from FNS is not always a bad thing. In season 4, Kevin Roberts was eliminated in week two and he has since gone on to host the Taste Award nominated BBQ Pitmasters while Aaron McCargo Jr. who won that year is no longer on the air. Kara is smart, attractive and likeable; I’m sure we haven’t seen the last of her.
How did you occupy your time after elimination?
I basically just started focusing on work I had to do with my catering company back home.
Which cast members do you still have a strong bond with?
Absolutely. Obviously all fifteen of the people were all unique and spectacular in their own ways. Through Facebook I keep in touch with all of them. I really respected and thought that Eric’s food was really above and beyond. I love Michelle’s genuine appeal and how great she was with everybody behind the scenes.
Everybody really had a fantastic personality. It was really cool to see such dynamic people kind of come together. Post-elimination I was able to hang out with some of the other cast members over that time frame some of those bonds were created and remain strong as well.
Were you intimidated when you first met Bobby Flay?
I would say I was just so honored to be around somebody of such incredible caliber. Iron Chef and all that he’s done with his restaurants really working from the ground up to what he is today. It wasn’t so much intimidation but more just honored.
You and Judson are both caterers from Chicago. Did you know each other before the show?
No we did not.
Do you have any projects going on at the moment?
Yes. I also have a project called the Total Body Boot Camp. That’s another company that I work with for conditioning and training people. It’s usually run in the summer but it’s kind of been in a holding pattern because catering has been very busy lately.
Be sure to check out all of the Star Season 8 Exit Interviews HERE.
