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The Next Food Network Star: Episode two recap
The pressure was on for Austin’s “Next Food Network Star” contestants Brad and Dzintra in week two of the show, especially for Dzintra, who escaped elimination in the first episode despite not having competed due to an eye injury. For the first part of the show this week, Giada told everyone that they were going to practice the fundamental skill of hosting food television—cooking and talking at the same time. Last week’s winner, Aria, assigned each contestant one step in a vegetable lasagna recipe to explain on camera.
For the most part, everyone’s performance improved over the awkwardness that was last week. Dzintra was obviously a bit nervous, and rushed through her step. Brad, on the other hand, was very relaxed, except that he used “nice” in describing every step he took, prompting Giada say that “words like nice don’t have any meaning.”
For this week’s “star” challenge, the finalists were introduced to a room of carnival candy, as well as Zoltar machine. Duff Goldman from “Ace of Cakes” walked out and explained they were going to cater a carnival-themed party for his friends with food inspired by carnival snacks. Why the producers didn’t have Duff preside over some entertaining and disastrous cake-baking challenge is unclear.
Almost everyone’s ideas seemed uninspired. Brad, who picked circus peanuts as an inspiration, decided to make a smoked pork dish. Dzintra picked cotton candy, and decided to make a way too ambitious multi-course meal.
The carnival party offered up a lot of the awkwardness we missed early, and then some. It didn’t seem like any of the contestants knew how to interact with the guests. Improv-guy Paul made questionable jokes about how he was white boy making Asian food. Someone said that Dzintra’s personality made her want to walk away, and then she did. Ouch for Dzintra.
Another contestant, Aarti, told the judges that she didn’t have any confidence, despite the fact that her dish was among the best. Dzintra, with her complicated, multi-element dish, couldn’t plate in time when the judges paid her a visit, and she started talking to herself. Ouch again for Dzintra. Doreen made what she called a “pulled pork,” but the pork was just kind of chunky-looking.
When the judges got to Brad, he was overflowing with confidence about his food, but none of the judges liked it at all. Bobby Flay actually said it tasted like burning.
Back in the elimination room, however, he survived, along with Brad, Serena, Aarti, Aria, Daz, Tom, Herb and Brianna. Aarti was the winner for the week. Dzintra, Paul and Doreen are the bottom three. It’s really tough to watch Dzintra freak out when the judges criticize her. The judges even brought up the fact that she talks to herself. She lived to see another week, though, as Doreen was eliminated.
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