Food Network Star S9 E1
The latest season of Food Network Star premiered tonight and the latest round of wannabe TV chefs have begun their quest. We’ve seen first impressions and heard what the judges think but what the world really wants to know is what I think. Let’s do this.
If you haven’t seen tonight’s episode STOP! Watch it HERE first and then come back.
First off a small confession, I didn’t see it all. I was at a prior engagement (happy birthday Kayleigh!). What I got to see was what the focus panel saw. Based on that I have to think they got the top 3 of Chad, Nikki and Stacey right although one could make the argument for Rodney as well since he had what looked to be the best dish of the night. It is also hard to take exception to the bottom three of Russell, Danushka and Daniela. All three offered little in the first episode. One of the great things about this show is watching someone who bombed early on blossom into a contender.
Now for my take on each:
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The person who will NOT be the next Food Network Star is…
Daniela
Chopped: All Stars Season 2 Contestants Announced
A few months ago a friend within the Food Network family hipped me to who the four Food Network Star participants in Chopped: All Stars would be. So I’ve known since last fall that we’d get to see the charms of Penny Davidi and Chris Nirschel on display once again and have managed to keep it to myself. Even better we also get to see Vic Moea and Justin Balmes cook again.
The talent in this group runs the gamut. Chris is the chef at what many consider a wannabe Olive Garden, Penny is a one trick pony but she does that one trick extremely well and then Vic and Justin are top notch chefs. But these guys make up just one night of Chopped: All Stars. Dig the rest.
Part 1, “Iron Chefs Do Battle” Premieres Sunday, April 8th at 9pm ET/PT Competitors: Iron Chefs Cat Cora, Marc Forgione, Jose Garces and Michael Symon. Judges: Scott Conant, Aaron Sanchez, Geoffrey Zakarian
Part 2, “Prime Time vs. Day Time” Premieres Sunday, April 15th at 9pm ET/PT Competitors: Show hosts Keegan Gerhard (Food Network Challenge), Jeffrey Saad (United Tastes of America, Cooking Channel), Aarti Sequeira (Aarti Party) and Marcela Valladolid (Mexican Made Easy). Judges: Amanda Freitag, Aaron Sanchez, Geoffrey Zakarian
Part 3, “Food Network Star Contestants” Premieres Sunday, April 22nd at 9pm ET/PT Competitors: Food Network Star Season Seven Finalists Justin Balmes, Penny Davidi, Vic “Vegas” Moea and Chris Nirschel. Judges: Scott Conant, Amanda Freitag, Aaron Sanchez
Part 4, “Judge Remix” Premieres Sunday, April 29th at 9pm ET/PT Competitors: Chopped judges Alex Guarnaschelli, Marc Murphy, Marcus Samuelsson and Chris Santos. Judges: Amanda Freitag, Aaron Sanchez, Geoffrey Zakarian
Part 5, “Grand Finale” Premieres Sunday, May 6th at 9pm ET/PT Competitors: Prior episode winners. Judges: Anne Burrell, Amanda Freitag and Aaron Sanchez.
Read full chef bios HERE. Read bios for judges and host Ted Allen HERE.
Read my exclusive interviews with Alex Guarnaschelli (HERE), Scott Conant (HERE), Justin Balmes, (HERE) Penny Davidi (HERE), Chris Nirschel (HERE), Marc Forgione (HERE), Michael Symon (HERE) and Ted Allen (HERE and HERE).
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.
