BuzzSugar

The Next Food Network Star Keeps a Kid-Friendly Kitchen

LilSugar — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 07:00:35 PDT

There are barely enough hours in the day for moms to get everything done so some cut corners in the kitchen. But, now that The Next Food Network Star, Melissa d'Arabian, a stay-at-home mother, will be cooking up quick, budget friendly recipes to inspire fellow busy women, we may see more parents tying on aprons. The 40-year-old Texas mama explained that her show, which will air next Sunday, focuses on feeding four people a meal for $10 or less. The competition's self-proclaimed dark horse who had no professional culinary experience, used tidbits about cooking for her daughters (like serving raw brussels sprouts so they have the crunch of an apple) to wow the judges in an unconventional way. Prior to winning, Melissa explained why she wanted to be The Next Food Network Star. She said:

I have four kids (aged four and under), but I think the fact that I'm not "supermom" makes me accessible. I want parents across America to breathe a sigh of relief when they see me on TV and to say to themselves, "if she can do it, then so can I."

Yummy Links: From a Vegan's Vengeance to Food Network

partysugar — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 06:45:42 PDT

If you love foodie fiction, check out this crime novel in which a vegan gets his vengeance. - San Francisco Magazine
These cheesecake pops are pretty and delicious. - GlamDish
Check out the new and improved Chow.com. - Chow
Learn everything you need to know about 16 varieties of potatoes.- The Kitchn
In what must be the most absurd announcement of the week, PETA has asked Ben & Jerry to make ice cream with breast milk.- The Epi-Log
Wine wipes will get rid of red wine-stained teeth. - Serious Eats
How to unclog your coffee grinder.- CasaSugar
Food Network's holding casting calls for the fifth season of The Next Food Network Star; do you have what it takes? - Grubstreet

Source

A Hearty Serving of Food Reality Shows

BuzzSugar — Mon, 04 Jun 2007 13:59:17 PDT

I know that you guys - like me - are very excited for Bravo's "Top Chef Miami," which starts on June 13. But if you need some food-centric reality TV to hold you over until then, there is plenty to go around. A sampler:

Chef Gordon Ramsay's "Hell's Kitchen" (pictured) premieres tonight at 9 p.m. on Fox.
Bravo's brilliantly conceived "4 Star All Stars" special, pitting "Top Chef" finalists from seasons 1 and 2 against each other, airs this Wednesday, June 6, at 10 p.m. I'm totally rooting for Harold to kick Ilan's butt.
"The Next Food Network Star" had its two-hour premiere last night, and if Yum's recap is any indication, this season is going to be much better than the last two.

By the way, Yumsugar will also be recapping "Hell's Kitchen" and "Top Chef Miami," so if you're a fan, you can follow all the action over there. For more on tonight's season premiere of "Hell's Kitchen," and to watch a video of the contestants,

read more
I've never gotten into "Hell's Kitchen," but after reading more about it, I'm not sure why I've been avoiding it. It sounds like "Top Chef" with a slightly megalomaniac host (Ramsay) and a very cool prize: The 12 contestants are vying for the job of head chef at a new Italian restaurant at the Green Valley Ranch Resort and Spa in Vegas. Meet the competing chefs below. Photo and video courtesy of Fox

Meet the Cast of Next Food Network Star 7

Susannah Chen — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 15:59:26 PDT

If the conclusion of Top Chef All-Stars has brought about symptoms of foodie reality TV withdrawal, sit tight, because the Food Network's Next Food Network Star is back with a vengeance.

The seventh season, which premieres Sunday, June 5, at 9 p.m., is the network's most star-studded yet and features celebrated figures from Alton Brown to Michael Symon to Ina Garten. Among the challenges? Performing live on the Rachael Ray Show, catering the Guy Fieri-headlined All American Food Festival, and competing head to head in Kitchen Stadium, Iron Chef America-style.

Season seven's challenges aren't the only part of the show that's advanced - the contestants sound like a pretty qualified bunch, too. To see the 15 finalists who'll compete come June, keep reading.

Next Food Network Stars: Where Are They Now?

Susannah Chen — Sun, 05 Jun 2011 03:55:21 PDT

Get excited: Food Network's number one series, Food Network Star, premieres its seventh season tonight at 9 p.m. As we once again count down to more hopefuls competing for their own show (get acquainted with the new cast!), we take a look back at winners and finalists from seasons past and come to a conclusion: what happens on the Food Network stays in the Food Network. To see what we're talking about, keep reading.

All Photos Courtesy of Food Network

Chiarello, Burrell, Samuelsson to Compete on Next Iron Chef 4

Katie Sweeney — Tue, 19 Apr 2011 08:50:18 PDT

Although it's barely been six months since Marc Forgione was named winner of the Next Iron Chef, the Food Network has already announced the cast of the next round of competitors - and it's more star-studded than ever!

Instead of featuring established restaurant chefs hoping to increase their profiles, the participants consist of well-known Food Network stars and Top Cheffers like Michael Chiarello, Anne Burrell, and Spike Mendelsohn. Even Top Chef Masters winner Marcus Samuelsson is getting competitive.

To see the complete list of chefs who will duke it out to win the title of Iron Chef come Oct. 30, keep reading.

Will You Watch the Latest Cooking Reality TV Shows?

Susannah Chen — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 04:12:29 PDT

Many of you said that when it comes to food reality TV shows, the novelty has completely worn off. But this type of culinary programming hasn't let up; last night was the premiere of Food Network Star, and tonight Gordon Ramsay, Graham Elliott, and Joe Bastianich will return for the second series kickoff of Masterchef. Will you watch these two new cooking shows?

Photo courtesy of Fox

Geoffrey Zakarian on Winning The Next Iron Chef: Super Chefs

Susannah Chen — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 16:50:31 PST

Those of you who've tuned into the Food Network at all in recent days might have heard that the last season of The Next Iron Chef: Super Chefs has just wrapped, and a new champion has emerged victorious out of the star-studded (and highly competitive) lineup.

That would be Geoffrey Zakarian, guest judge of Food Network's Chopped and chef and owner of The National and The Lambs Club in New York City and Tudor House in Miami.

I had a chance to catch up with the chef over the phone, where he revealed his thoughts on why he won, how he hopes to set himself apart from the others on Iron Chef America, and what he always makes for the holidays.

YumSugar: You had a very serious expression on your face when the final outcome was revealed. What was your first thought when they announced you as the winner?
Geoffrey Zakarian: Well, they actually didn't call my name, which was sort of confusing, because whenever anyone got kicked off, they would actually say, "You will not be the next Iron Chef." But I was stunned, shocked, and relieved; there was a real sense of accomplishment.

Zakarian on his toughest Next Iron Chef moments, and his upcoming Kitchen Stadium challenges, after the jump.

Sandwiches: So Hot Right Now

Susannah Chen — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 11:04:53 PDT

In case you weren't aware, it looks like you'll be having a sandwich or two in your future: those meat, cheese, and bread creations are stacking up to be pretty hot right now. Last night, Jeff Mauro - aka "The Sandwich King" - was crowned the latest Food Network star. His show, aptly named Sandwich King, teaches viewers how to "turn any meal into a sandwich and any sandwich into a delicious meal." Maybe Tom Colicchio was onto something?

Sandwich chains are all the rage, and they're only going to get bigger. Earlier this Summer, Flip video camera founder Jonathan Kaplan announced a new mobile-driven grilled cheese concept The Melt, with plans to spawn 500 national locations by 2015. If that weren't enough, 100 Montaditos, which is being described as a "Spanish Starbucks for sandwiches," will roll out 4,000 US locations in the next five years.

While there's no denying that the sandwich is essential to American cuisine, it remains to be seen if it can shrug off its brown-bag lunch image and venture into serious dinner territory. Are you excited about the new era of sandwiches - and do you see them being appropriate to eat for every occasion?

Source: Flickr User diekatrin

Alton Brown Plays a Bigger Role in The Next Iron Chef Than You Might Think

Susannah Chen — Sat, 29 Oct 2011 09:14:49 PDT

Since day one, Alton Brown's been host of the competition The Next Iron Chef, and this star-studded season, which premieres tomorrow night at 9 p.m., the Food Network favorite will be back and bigger than ever.

Earlier this month, I ran into Alton at the New York City Wine & Food Festival, where he talked about what makes The Next Iron Chef: Super Chefs different from previous seasons, and why he's not just any old TV host.

More on the show - including his opinion of the final outcome! - when you read ahead.