Food Network Star Official Finale Voting Begins July 15th
AUDIENCE VOTE TO CROWN FOOD NETWORK STAR WINNER OPENS SUNDAY, JULY 15TH AT 10PM ET, IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING EAST COAST EPISODE PREMIERE
NEW YORK – JUNE 27, 2012 – Food Network is giving viewers the opportunity to choose the next Food Network Star as audience votes will determine which finalist and mentor – Alton Brown, Giada De Laurentiis or Bobby Flay – gets the ultimate prize: the winner’s own show, to be produced by their superstar mentor. Voting information can be found at www.FoodNetwork.com/Star with actual voting opening at the end of the Sunday, July 15th premiere episode at 10pm ET and closing on Tuesday, July 17th at 5pm ET. The winner will be announced during the Food Network Star season finale on Sunday, July 22nd at 9pm ET/PT.
In the season finale, airing Sunday, July 22nd at 9pm ET/PT, the finalists return to the studio, before the winner is announced, with mentors Alton, Bobby and Giada, along with Food Network executives and judges Bob Tuschman and Susie Fogelson to tell all and view never-before-seen footage from the season. Then, the results are in as the audience vote results are announced and the new Food Network Star is crowned.
Food Network Star is produced by CBS EYE Too Productions.
Season 2 of Sweet Genius Premieres March 15th
Beware the Ides of March indeed, Sweet Genius returns. From the Food Network:
NEW YORK — February 14, 2012 — Master Pastry Chef Ron 
Ben-Israel returns to Food Network for the second season of the sugar-packed competition series Sweet Genius, premiering Thursday, March 15th at 10pm ET/PT. Back with more whimsy and wonder, each episode has four of America’s premier pastry chefs competing against one another through three rounds of challenges judged by Ben-Israel, along the way testing their creativity, ingenuity and imagination. The chefs are given surprise ingredients, an inspiration and a limited amount of time; with those three elements as a guide, they must create a delectable chocolate, candy and cake dessert. The winners from each round will advance for a final test, with Ben-Israel crowning the remaining chef Sweet Genius and receiving a $10,000 cash prize.
“Sweet Genius viewers will be on the edge of their seats as we continue to push the limits with inspirations and ingredients, while showcasing the talents of some of the best pastry chefs around,” said Ron Ben-Israel. “As a result, the desserts that the chefs create are truly outrageous.“
Over the thirteen-episode season, the chefs experience a myriad of new inspirations and ingredients, testing their pastry prowess. Whether it is making flamingo-inspired chocolate desserts with pink lemonade; creating candy desserts from rolled fruit snacks and shortbread cookies; or incorporating the inspiration of a music box to bake a cake using avocado and stinky cheese, each pastry chef will prove their imagination and skills worthy, but in the end, there can only be one Sweet Genius!
As Chef-Owner of Ron Ben-Israel Cakes, one of the country’s finest couture cake studios, Ron Ben-Israel’s cakes have been hand-delivered to destinations throughout the continental U.S and abroad. Ron started his confectionery adventures after a fifteen-year career as a professional modern dancer. Upon retiring from performing with companies spanning three continents, he utilized his art training, military background and ballet regime into the discipline of pastry arts. After arriving in New York City, Ron’s cakes were discovered by Martha Stewart while on display in the windows of Mikimoto on Fifth Avenue. In 1999 he established his flagship design studio and bakery in Manhattan’s fashionable SoHo neighborhood. He is a Master Pastry Instructor at the International Culinary Center in New York City, and has been awarded prestigious gold medals for his confectionery achievements.
Sweet Genius Season 2 Premieres Thursday, March 15th at 10pm ET/PT on Food Network.
Review: Hungry Girl
I finally got a little more quality time with the Cooking Channel so I am attempting to review several of the shows I have not seen. This time around Hungry Girl.
Lisa Lillien has lived the food blogger’s dream as well as just about anyone. She has a popular web site, 1M+ news letter subscribers, a best selling book and now the crowning achievement we all strive for, her on TV show. Here’s a blurb from said web site:
Approximately 1,000,000 fans eagerly wait for Hungry Girl’s recipes, tips & tricks each weekday. What started as a daily email to friends and family has turned into a nationwide, multimedia phenomenon! In addition to the almost one million die-hard fans subscribed to her daily emails, Lisa also reaches millions more with weekly columns on WeightWatchers.com and Yahoo!, regular contributions to Redbook magazine and recurring appearances on the television shows like Rachael Ray and Extra.
Lillien’s focus is on low fat, low calorie fare that is easy for the home cook. Think of her as the love child of Rachael Ray and Ellie Krieger with a splash of Melissa D’Arabian. Her energy is understated not unlike Micheal Chiarello but with a definite soccer mom sensibility.
The show is shot in a style that is reminiscent of Food Network in the late 90’s. The set looks like a mash-up of shows such as Sara’s Secrets, Caprial’s Kitchen and the early years of 30 Minute Meals. The cinematography is quite good and each episode packs a lot of information into it. Lillien has a bevy of tips and substitutions that help lower fat and calories while still maintaining food that is appetizing. All though this may not be the kind of show to inspire professional chefs it is a great instructional series for the home cook. It’s the kind of show that sister Food Network was built on.
Lisa is currently doing a book tour in support of her newest release 300 Under 300: 300 Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Dishes Under 300 Calories. To see if Lisa is headed your way check out the tour dates HERE.
