by Chandra Clewley

 

 

Dzintra Dzenis is originally from New Jersey and moved to Paris to finish college. She decided she wanted to go back to cooking and ended up at the Cordon Bleu. When she moved back to the US with her husband and daughter, the family moved to Austin, Texas which she loves. She teaches classes, caters and has a supper club there. Last night, Dzintra was eliminated from becoming The Next Food Network Star, but she isn’t “dead yet” as she tells me. Today, Dzintra sat down with Reality Wanted to share her experience with us.

 

Chandra, Reality Wanted: How did it come about that you were cast on the show?

Dzintra: Well, I had auditioned a couple times before that, once in Paris, and then when we moved to Austin and heard there was an audition here it was like a little clue.  I went, they called me back, and called me back, and called me back. When I got the good news, it was like a dream come true! I had been wanting this for such a long time.

 

Chandra, Reality Wanted: It seems like you had more obstacles. What happened with your eye exactly?

Dzintra: I think it was just a piece of Plexiglas or something that flew into my eye. It was new construction where we were, and I was at the right place at the wrong time. It was horrible. After all these times of trying to get on the show, I was ready to go, I am prepared and then this happens. The big debate was do I go to the hospital? When the hospital released me, I couldn’t go into the kitchen and I couldn’t do anything. I had to sit aside and watch everything happen and it was all out of my control. 

 

Chandra, Reality Wanted: What do you think happened with the challenge last night?

Dzintra:  These circumstances are so crazy and there is so much that happens at the same time. One thing that I learned from this whole experience is that you have to bottle the excitement a little bit. You just have to always be on call, like a doctor and be cool about everything. When I get excited about things, especially food, things just sort of pop out of my mouth and sometimes it’s at the wrong time. It wasn’t meant in the bad way, the shush. Aria is such a big personality, and I wanted to be here too.

 

Chandra, Reality Wanted:  After watching the show, and seeing yourself on the show, what would you have done differently?

Dzintra: I would have prayed that nothing goes into my eye! That was the biggest obstacle in the beginning and I think it set the tone for everything else. You always think in hindsight what if something wouldn’t have happened.

 

Chandra, Reality Wanted: What is next for you?

Dzintra:  I am going to keep building my business. I have the supper club that people sign up for. I teach classes! Maybe one day I will get a show on The Cooking Channel! Who knows! I love to speak in metaphors and people love that. I came off as being very excitable all the time I am not really like that. I would rather have that than someone who is monotone all the time. My website is www.platebydzintra.com. It is mostly word of mouth, but people are laughing during my classes and it is fun! 

 

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(Image courtesy of Food Network)

 

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