by Kylene Hamulak

 

It's still early in the season, but so far the most intriguing thing about Next Food Network Star has been whether Danushka will somehow survive another week. I can't decide if it seems more likely that she'd be eliminated from the show by the judges/mentors or if she'll just leave on her own accord because she's just too good for it.

 

You see, Danushka STILL thinks that one of her biggest challenges is getting her personality across. She's funny and quirky, according to Danushka. According to Kylene and most of the comments I've read? She's actually kind of bitchy and not the type of host we'd want to watch. A little bit standoffish is putting it very mildly, Danushka, so good luck getting your "personality" across.

 

Giada isn't around this week, so it's just Alton and Bobby the contestants will have to impress.

 

 

The Mentor Challenge - Each contestant has a black bag with a mystery ingredient inside, which they have 30 minutes to prepare into a dish with that ingredient as the centerpiece. They must become an "authority" in that food.

 

Chris, Bottarga, Bottarga Salad - Yep, don't know anything about this ingredient (dried fish roe), but Chris has been in love with it since 4^th Grade. Well, la dee dah, Your Majesty! Alton says it's a nice salad, but he doesn't think he made the ingredient  the "star" of the dish.

 

Nikki, Cuttlefish, Cuttlefish Salad - The veggie queen keeps getting flesh thrown her way, but she's using the cuttlefish in a salad to keep with both her theme and the challenge. This salad is a little better because Alton at least tastes the ingredient, but he thinks the presentation could use work - it seems like Nikki made a great salad, then added the cuttlefish.

 

Lovely, Rambutan, Rambutan Bread Pudding - Listening to Lovely describe her bread pudding and raspberry champagne sauce has me salivating.  Unfortunately, Alton is less impressed - he thinks the raspberry got in the way of her dish.

 

Stacey, Durian, Durian Custard - Durian is a fruit, and I don't know if it grows on trees or not, but if it does? I don't want any of that hanging over me, all dangling above my head with those spikes! Stacey describes the smell as "rotten trash", but the taste is sweet and delicious. She tells Alton a similar story, which he says is "rambling," but her custard is described as "delightful."

 

Rodney, Bitter Melon, Bitter Melon Fruit Salad - The Pie Guy is making a salad this time around, but it makes sense - his dish isn't far off from what one might find inside an exotic pie, and Alton appreciates the way he thought it through.

 

Russell, Arrowhead Root, Arrowhead Root with Pesto - Though he thought he was making a "simple" dish to feature the arrowhead root, Bobby suggests that the pecan pesto overwhelmed it a bit.

 

Viet, Umeboshi, Umeboshi Vinagarette on Crab & Avocado Salad- Apparently, umeboshi (salted and pickled plum) is a food used in Japanese cooking, and Viet is familiar with it. Unfortunately, he chose to use the umeboshi in a "supporting role," as Bobby tells him, and he would've liked to have seen it featured more.

 

Chad, Salsify, Grilled Salsify Hushpuppy - Confession: I have no idea what salsify (a root vegetable) is, so I had no idea Chad was pronouncing it wrong until Chris got the giggles about it. Bobby corrects him on it right away, and then describes the food as "dense."

 

Danuskha, Dragon Fruit, Shrimp and Dragon Fruit Cup - All Bobby has to say about Danushka's dish is that he would've liked for her to have used it in a more creative way. "I think I'm failing in the food authority category," Danushka says. Also in the personality category, Danushka.

Damaris, Mango Pickle, Mango Pickle and Grilled Vegetables - Damaris can't identify her mystery ingredient until Bobby tells her what it is, but when she realizes it's tastes like bacon, she decides she got the easy ingredient. Bobby calls her dish "really good" and notes that "the flavor goes on and on."

 

Challenge Winners: Alton chooses Rodney as his winner for the challenge, while Bobby chooses Damaris. The contestants will be given an advantage in the Star Challenge, though we don't find out what it will be just yet.

 

Star Challenge: Butcher's block, basket, judges table, clock - it's the Chopped Challenge! The challenge includes Alex Guarnaschelli, Chopped judge and Iron Chef. There will be two challenge heats, with Damaris and Rodney joining the judging panel and safe from elimination.

 

Danushka, by the way, hopes Damaris is ecstatic about winning, since she was such a disaster last week. That's a comment from the contestant who has been in danger for elimination two weeks in a row, by the way.

 

Heat One: Viet, Chad, Russell, Danushka

Basket Ingredients - Things You Would Find at a Sporting Event: Beer, Hot Dogs, Peanuts, Cotton Candy

 

At the beginning, Heat One seems to have some promising dishes. Don't get me wrong, they mostly sound disgusting, but they're interesting. Viet is doing a beer and hot dog ramen soup (yes, you read that correctly), while Chad is making hot dog peanut waffles with a cotton candy sauce (which sounds like a 6-year-old's dream). Russell's making a dumpling of sin - specifally his sins, aka beer, sugar, salt, and fat. And then Danuskha. She's making a peanut and beer battered hot dog, and she's totally bored about it. She's "employing the purist card" and wants to "keep a hot dog looking and tasting like a hot dog." Ok, we'll see how that works out.

 

Russell, Hot Dog and Tofu Dumpling - Russell's presentation is terrible. He barely spits out anything about his dish. Alex liked his energy while he was cooking, but was confused when he presented. It's not his best dish.

 

Viet, Ramen with Grilled Hot Dogs - When Viet speaks, the content is actually a good presentation, but Bobby tells him to be more passionate about it. Damaris, in her judge role, compliments the dish for being both complex and refined. I'm curious, however, about where the cotton candy was.

 

Chad, Fried Hot Dog and Waffles - Chad has been a frontrunner in the competition, and his pitch tonight is again very strong. Bobby compliments his presentation, while Alton is impressed by the dish.

 

Danushka, Hot Dog Rocket - With her monotone, Danushka describes her "Hot Dog Rocket" and the sauce she made from the cotton candy, which Bobby says might just be the best sauce they've seen in the competition. Damaris, however, notes that her presentation seemed bored, like she's not excited about cooking. Ohhhh gosh. If this was Jersey Shore, someone would have to break these two up, cause Danushka is ready to throw down.

 

 

Heat Two: Chris, Lovely, Nikki, and Stacey

Basket Ingredients - Things Kids Love: Chicken Nuggets, Fruit Leathers, Cheddar Fish Crackers, Apple Juice

 

Stacey's a mom, so she feels like this will be a piece of cake - er, rather, pie, since that's what she's making. Lovely is focusing on making a sophisticated dish out of kids' food. Nikki is making spring rolls, and Chris's dish is buttermilk fried chicken and a sort of sweet and sour sauce.

 

There's a little concern about time for her crust, though, as the dough is still unbaked with 10 minutes left. Chris offers to help her in the last minute, and his effort does not go unnoticed by the panel. Is it enough for Stacey to have a presentable dish plated?

 

Nikki, Cheddar Fish Spring Roll - This challenge makes Nikki seem very polished, a big change from last week. Her presentation is tight, her dish meets the task, and it goes over well with Alex and Rodney especially.

 

Lovely, Stuffed Bell Peppers - Lovely's pitch is pretty good as well, though Alex comments that the dish itself could've used more dimension. Bobby calls her "very smooth" and Alton agrees - though he thinks it may be a little too scripted.

Stacey, Chicken Pot Pie - Stacey has a time issues in this challenge, not only in cooking her food but also in presenting it. Her dish is not well-received, but it's understood that the time was her biggest enemy.

 

Chris, Buttermilk Fried Chicken - After Chris mentions how cooking made his "broken life" more vibrant, Bobby is interested. Sure, Rodney "digs" the dish, but Bobby wants the story. Chris, apparently, had been a substance abuser and considers food as a way to heal himself. The panel is impressed, and so are the other contestants.

 

 

Evaluation

 

The Standouts: Going into Evaluation, we know that Rodney and Damaris are safe, while Chad and Nikki both had very well done dishes that make them safe as well.

 

Also Safe: Viet and Chris are sent to safety after Alton and Bobby acknowledge their growth.

 

Up for Elimination: Russell, Lovely, Stacey, and - SURPRISE - Danushka are at risk for elimination. Bobby notes that the competition got the best of all four of them today. Lovely is sent to safety, but warned that she needs to reveal more of herself. Alton tells Stacey that even if she had had enough time for her dish, it still wouldn't have been any good. Russell had issues with the challenge as well, but Danushka...well, her problem is still Danushka, isn't it? Alton notes that she has an "I don't care" attitude, and that's a problem.

 

Stacey is told she is safe, leaving just Russell and Danushka. I'm sure the entire audience joined me in holding our breath until Alton told Danushka she would NOT be the Next Food Network Star.

 

"Strike three, I'm out," Danushka says.

 

"Don't let the door hit you on the way out," says America.

 

Catch The Next Food Network Star every Sunday at 9/8c on Food Network!

 

(Image courtesy of The Food Network)

 

Follow Kylene on Twitter @keepingupwithky!