by Chandra Clewley

 

 

Serena Palumbo showed great promise on The Next Food Network Star.  An Italian American attorney who lives in New York City, Serena was never formerly trained, and has never worked in a commercial kitchen. Mostly, she was taught how to cook by her Italian family, and became known for her homemade and hearty Italian dishes. Throughout the season, Serena had some difficulty slowing down, and her nervousness had a tendency to show through. Last night on The Next Food Network Star, Serena was eliminated as the judges began to question whether her nervous energy would ever disappear. Today, Serena sat down with Reality Wanted to let us know what she thought happened and what she plans on doing next. 

 

Q. Chandra, Reality Wanted: What inspired you to audition for The Next Food Network Star?

A. Serena Palumbo:  I started my Webisodes called “Cooking In Manhattan” more or less about a year and a half ago. It was a very nice outlet for my creativity; it was an amazing experience having people email me on You Tube saying that they really liked my food. I started feeling the way all the celebrity chefs on Food Network feel, the fact that you have people that appreciate and you bring ideas to the table and their memories back. I really enjoyed the interaction and I thought that being on the Food Network is exactly what this would be like. I applied for the audition, and it was hear in New York City. It was absolutely packed and I thought that I had no chance at all, all of the people looked so serious and so committed! Little did I know that I would be the only person from New York City! I was incredibly honored and humbled by being chosen from that huge amount of people that I saw. 

 

Q. Chandra, Reality Wanted: Are you back to your regular day job as an attorney?

A. Serena Palumbo: Yes, I am the In-house Council for the Americas for an Italian bank. It is nice to be back at my desk job, but I am missing the selection committee and my fellow co-finalists. I am not done yet with cooking in front of the camera so you can never tell. 

 

Q. Chandra, Reality Wanted:  What was it like being the only finalist that wasn’t classically or commercially trained in a kitchen?

A. Serena Palumbo: I have to say that not having the culinary education or the classical training, was sometimes very frightening for me. I knew that Brad could chop onions at the speed of light, and that Aarti has that fantastic ability of putting together the best spices. Aria is able to cater for a 100 people in the snap of her fingers. What I had to bring was that I believe in the flavor that I put on the table, I believe in the techniques although I didn’t learn them from a chef, I learned them from maybe (for example) a fish monger in Southern Italy or maybe I learned them from my aunt who is the Goddess of Peppers, or from my grandmother, the Patron Saint of Marinara Sauce. Everyone makes fun of it, but it is amazing to me that I brought those memories to national television in the United States. If my grandmother was still here, she would be incredibly be pleased that I mentioned her. Those are things that I have learned from experience and I think that experience to a certain extent is sometimes better cause, yes all of those people have made dishes millions of times, but can they bring the heart that I bring to it? I am not sure.

 

Q. Chandra, Reality Wanted:  Your dish last night was Pasta Alla Norma. What is Pasta Alla Norma and what would you change about your performance last night?

A. Serena Palumbo:  It is a traditional Sicilian dish. It consists of Penne Pasta, Marinara Sauce and Fried Eggplants. Instead of putting Parmesano, you put a dried Ricotta cheese on it. It is a delightful dish but quite simple. I came up with that idea, because during the brainstorming that you saw, Aarti was our team leader and wanted me to make a vegetarian dish knowing that my mother is a vegetarian. She wanted a pasta dish because she felt I was most comfortable doing that. Initially, I thought about preparing a Seafood Couscous. Tom was not pleased because he was cooking seafood and he specifically asked me not to encroach on his territory and took the idea of the Seafood Couscous off the plate, no pun intended. So, I was kind of forced with that decision. Now after that, I have 20/20 hindsight. I have had many occasions to think of what I would have done differently, and probably right now I would have done something Italian but different. 

 

Q. Chandra, Reality Wanted:  How difficult is it to be judged as a team vs. being judged individually?

A. Serena Palumbo: This was the toughest challenge for me; it was rougher on me because I had to rely on Herb and Aria to serve the tables. I had never done tables, in my life I have been a lawyer so clearly it is very intimidating for me. What I think people did not understand is that, when you are in your element, such as negotiating a document that comes easy. But when you are introducing yourself to these foodies that are naturally more sophisticated in their food knowledge that is a lot more challenging. First, this is not my language, granted I have been speaking it since I was three but there are still times that I am flustered and I think in Italian. And second, I am not really used to presenting in front of a court; I am a transactional lawyer, not a litigator.

 

Q. Chandra, Reality Wanted:  What is next for you?

A. Serena Palumbo: “Cooking In Manhattan” my Webisode on You Tube is back. I am bringing back all of my knowledge of what I learned on The Next Food Network Star. This show is my baby, it’s a homemade show about homemade food, my husband is the Director of Photography and Stage Manager. I am the Producer and Editor. There will be a beautiful adventure with Days of Taste, the American Institute of Wine and Food, and hopefully a lot more things to come. I have a fan page on Facebook and my own website www.serenapalumbo.com. Since I have a day job, I can cherry pick what I want to do and be selective with what I will do in my future. 

 

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

 

(Images courtesy of Food Network)

 

Follow Serena at http://twitter.com/SerenaPalumbo

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

 

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