by Chandra Clewley

On tonight’s episode of The Next Food Network Star we were left with the final five contestants of the show. Each one has their own separate strength and weaknesses.  Of the final five, there will be four that will travel to New York City to finish the show.  As the contestants walk into the Los Angeles kitchen for one of the last times, Giada is waiting for them. This will be her last show, until the finale, as well.

For the Camera Challenge, she asks the final 5 to makes a dish that represents them and their signature dish. They have 45 minutes to prepare and 1 minute to present. Everyone goes to their station and has the name of their “show” on a plaque, except for Brad, who still is lacking his point of view. As if by chance, he stumbles on what he wants to say and what his point of view will be tonight while he is creating his favorite dish. A few minutes into the challenge, and Giada interrupts the chefs to give them a surprise. They will have to incorporate their most hated food item into this dish and presenting that item is their family and friends that have come to see them! All five start to freak out and there are lots of tears as their families come out on stage.  Herb gets canned peas. Aarti hates Okra, Aria’s item is Anchovies.  Brad gets Ranch Dressing and Tom gets White Pepper.

For the challenge the show theme and dish is as follows:

Brad: Culinary Quest-Bacon and Spinach Risotto with Ranch Dressing.

Aria: Family Style- Mashed Potato Pizza with Onions and Anchovies

Herb: Cooking Con Sabor-Pork Medallions with Rice and Canned Pea Puree

Tom: Big Chef-Poached Salmon with White Pepper Cous Cous Cake

Aarti: Aarti Paarty- Lucia-Lucica Indian Fried Rice with Okra

Brad has finally found his voice, Aria’s pizza is excellent, Herbs food is good but he is nervous and stumbles through, Tom nails it, and Aarti seems to be going backward, with mediocre food. For the Camera Challenge, Aria takes the win.

For the Star Challenge, Giada introduces celebrity chef Todd English, who is the pioneer behind Olives and Eva Longoria’s partner in Beso. The challenge will be to create a dish inspired by emotion and the team selects the emotions they will use. Aria picks Melancholy, Aarti picks Fear, Brad has Surprise, Herb has Joy and Tom gets Jealousy.  Because Aria won, she has the option of switching her emotion, and swaps with Herb for his Joy. This leaves Herb with Melancholy. They will be judges by the committee along with Todd English and Eva Longoria.

Brad, who has finally found a point of view, attempts a “surf and turf” of two of his favorite dishes, both of which surprised him when he first tasted them. He makes Grilled Steak with Mushrooms and Sea Bass over Creamed Leeks. As he presents, Brad falls back into his flat personality, and he even sees it himself. Eva Longoria cracks a joke, which lightens the mood, but his presentation is dry and stiff and no one knows where the Surprise is.

Tom has Jealousy, and tells the tale of two tuna’s that are jealous of each other, when he presents Tuna Tartare with Gala Apples and Seared Tuna with Tomato Puree. Everyone loves the story and Tom nails it.

Aarti, who has been flustered for the entire episode, realizes she has overcooked her rice and is terribly fearful of getting eliminated. Instead of channeling this fear, she presents with a shaking voice, her Lamb Pulao with Mango Raita and Pear Compote, telling a story about when she feels fear, how she thinks of her mother to make it better.  No one buys the story and it’s relation to fear, and her over cooked rice falls flat.

Herb received melancholy, which is against his nature, but he channeled the boyhood feelings he had of being the overweight kid that ate the “weird” stuff like tripe and oxtail when he was a boy while everyone else was eating hamburgers and mac ‘n’ cheese.  He creates a Braised Short Rib with Seared Scallops and Mofongo Cake. The committee does not know what Mofongo cake is, so he explains, and his food goes over great.

Lastly, Aria presents. She is struggling to finish her dish and never has a chance to taste it before serving. She serves Beef Tenderloin Milanese with Potato Gratin, but the Gratin is crunchy and she never mentions the word Joy as she presents with a rather melancholy story.

The winner of the challenge is Tom (for his first win!) with Herb as the runner up. Both are safe and both will be going to New York. The committee then must deliberate between Aarti, Aria and Brad, three very talented people. Susie Fogelson, committee member and Sr. VP of Marketing for Food Network is in tears it is such a hard decision to be made. Aarti is recessing back to her original fearful personality, Aria has been unpredictable at best and Brad’s glowing personality isn’t showing to the camera. In the end, Aarti and Aria are safe, leaving Brad to go home.

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

(Image courtesy of Food Network)

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