by Chandra Clewley

 

 

This week’s Next Food Network Star begins with Giada introducing the Camera Challenge. She brings in special guest Melissa D’Arabian, winner from last season’s show! The challenge will be to create a dinner with Kellogg’s breakfast cereal. The team has 20 minutes to prepare the dish.

 

Serena is assigned with Cocoa Krispies and creates a Pork Meatloaf with Cocoa Krispies. Tom makes Kellogg’s Corn Flakes and Pecan Encrusted Pork Cutlet,  Aria creates a “Hopple Popple” which is a Frittata with Crispix Potato Pancakes. Herb makes Froot Loop Encrusted French Toast with Latin Style Sausage Patty, while Aarti creates a Quinoa and All Bran Pilaf. Brad makes a Rice Krispies Crusted Tuna and Hoison Glaze. The winner is Aarti, and the loser is Aria whose food had no flavor.

 

For the Star Challenge, the stars meet Bobby Flay at Smog Shoppe, a supper club. They will work as a team to create a Supper Club there, and have a little time to create their menu, 30 minutes to shop and one hour to cook their food. Because Aarti won the Camera Challenge she gets to pick the menu, and decides to pick a menu that reflects LA.

 

Aria is assigned Santa Monica which is known for fresh herbs and veggies. She decides to do a carrot soup with fresh herbs such as cardamom. As Aarti introduces the team, Aria interrupts Aarti, which does not go unnoticed. Her soup does not go over well either.

 

Serena takes Beverly Hills and decides to do something classic, which is a Pasta Alla Norma. When she is plating the food, she is frantic and overwhelmed. She has never served 40 people before, let alone 40 foodies. She is nervous, speaks too fast, again.

 

Tom represents Thai Town, and everyone is really excited about the Seared Cod in Asian Broth dish that he is presenting. Once he comes out and presents, he comes off as uncaring. The food is one noted and is overpowered by Soy Sauce. Even Tom knows it, and calls it “ambitious” and “too salty”.

 

Brad is representing Downtown LA, which is high end yet fun, and he presents a Spice Rubbed Lamb, which is cooked perfectly. His presentation is a bit lame.

 

Aarti takes Little India and presents Green Chicken Curry which everyone loves.

 

Herb goes last with his Latin Flan, which ends up getting overcooked because he has the wrong pans. Either way, everyone loves his presentation.

 

At the committee’s table, the judges remind everyone that it is week 7 and they should know their positioning and not be fumbling any longer. Everyone gets reprimanded although Brad and Aarti come in in the top positions, with Aarti, again taking the win.

That means that Tom, Aria, Herb and Serena are on the chopping block and unfortunately because of the lack of experience, the inability to change her nervousness and the lack of range, Serena is eliminated.

 

Catch an all new The Next Food Network Star next Sunday night at 9/8 c on Food Network.

 

(Image courtesy of Food Network)

 

Follow Chandra at http://twitter.com/ChandraClewley

 

For more Next Food Network Star visit Sirlinksalot.net