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"Stage 3:
If Anything Can Go Wrong, It
WillA Semi-Homemade Challenge" - March 26
Last week, Jess Dang succumbed to
the pressure and became the first one to be eliminated. What
will happen this week as the contestants are now whittled down
to 7?
Guy says that the trip to the
Studio was intense. Reggie lightens up the Green Room with his
Chewbacca impression.
Everyone enters Studio B and talks
to the 7 remaining contestants. He explains that one of the
things that people have to do to promote Food Network shows is
the SMT, or Satellite Media Tour. Various Food Network
personalities including Alton Brown, Mario Batali, Bobby Flay
and others explain what it is. Local TV stations interview the
Stars and have to do the same dish 15 times in a row within a
one to three minute time span. You have to get the message
across and it is very challenging. Batali calls it an
"adrenaline rush".
Carrie Welch, Director of Public
Relations explains to the remaining 7 that they are going to
an SMT to live reporters across the country.
CHALLENGE: Do a
satellite media interview with reporters. You have demo a dish
for the reporters and promote "Next Food Network Star II".
What the contestants don't know is that the selection
committee and the producers are pulling a double prank whammy
on them. Prank #1 is that the interview isn't "live"--it's
being done in the upstairs studio with CBS Saturday Early Show
hosts Tracy Smith and Russ Mitchell as the "reporters". They
are given fake names. Prank #2 is that the demo is going to be
fraught with problems with both technical and kitchen issues
set up by the Food Network. The selection committee will be
watching to see how the contestants handle the pressure.
Reggie is up first. He does a
GRILLED SALMON HASH. His problems included a bad rasp on his
zester and audio interference in his IFB. He just barreled
through. Bob thought he was "antagonistic". Reggie was let in
on the joke and can watch the other demos as they get done. He
called it "fun and happy time".
Before Evette even started the
demo, Russ played an unhappy "sports reporter". She did a
SPINACH, BACON AND POTATO OMELET. Her problems were Japanese
interference on her audio and Russ trying to hit on her while
the demo was going on.
Andy did POACHED EGGS WITH GOAT
CHEESE. His eggs weren't poached, they were hard boiled. He
also had audio interference. Flay thought he "rolled with
everything". Bob thought he "ignored the host".
Carissa did a FRENCH TOAST CREME
BRULEE STICK. Her name was mispronounced, the lights kept
going out and her cooled milk actually was boiling hot. Flay
calls her "the Yummy Chef" due to her overuse of the word
"Yummy". Mark let her in on the joke.
Beth did CREAMY SCRAMBLED EGGS.
Russ calls her "Carissa" many times and the cream she was
supposed to use was curdled.
Nathan did BRAISED APPLES AND
VEGETABLES. Russ was very rude to him and he had audio
interference.
Finally Guy did a LA MARGARITA
FRITTATA. Russ took a cell phone call during the interview.
Guy called this demo "good practice for the real thing."
After the "interview" Stacy and
Russ complimented the finalists on how they did under
pressure.
Next, the finalists are back in
their kitchen whites knowing there is another challenge on the
way. Bob explains that something you have to develop as a chef
is a culinary "point of view". "What part are you going to
own?" People like Giada De Laurentis, Rachael Ray and Paula
Deen all had food philospohies that developed from who they
were. Then more Food Network Stars explain their food
philosophies. Then Mark introduces the star of "Semi-Homemade"
Sandra Lee.
Lee explains her food philosophy
from the Cordon Bleu to home cooking and her "70/30"
philosophy and takes questions from the 7 contestants.
Everyone loves her. This leads to the 2nd challenge of the
episode:
CHALLENGE: YOU WILL
HAVE 45 MINUTES TO CREATE A DISH THAT PRESENTS YOUR CULINARY
"POINT OF VIEW". YOU WILL HAVE TO PRESENT THE DEMO WHICH LASTS
5 MINUTES IN FRONT OF THE COMMITTEE. SANDRA LEE WILL GUEST
JUDGE. YOU WILL USE THE SAME FOOD PANTRY. YOUR POINT OF VIEW
WILL BE SHOWN THROUGH PASTA.
Everyone explains their culinary
point of view and we see the 45 minutes go by in a flash.
We go to the demos with Sandra as
judge.
Reggie goes first with his
MACARONI BLANCO W/SAUSAGES. He did comfort food plated in a
chic way. Susie called it "serious comfort food. Sandra loved
him, but thought he was a bit scattered.
Carissa's philosophy is strictly
"French". She did a PAPPARDELLE NEST W/PANCHETTA, MUSHROOM AND
ONION. When she had to do the swapout, the pasta wasn't there.
So she stirred her uncooked pasta, cooked it as long as she
could, and plated the crunchy pasta. She thought she covered
it "pretty well". She knew it was her fault about the swap out
and is kicking herself. Flay thought the pasta could have been
cooked longer. Susie cut her some slack and said "they weren't
pros yet." Sandra called her "a little hyper."
Guy did a FULL FLAVORED BIRD. Guy
said timing was the hardest part. Sandra said his energy and
flows works for him.
Evette did a PRETTY IN PINK PENNE
PASTA. It was a "Latino-American infused dish". She thought
she talked too fast. Sandra thought she should slow way down.
Bob couldn't taste what was in it. Susie thought the sofrito
wasn't interesting. Bobby joked that they were "sofrito
experts now."
Andy felt vulnerable in this area.
He did a SHITAKE RAVIOLI w/BROWN BUTTER SAUCE. He likes to
work with Brown Butter. He thought his demo went very well.
Sandra thought he was nervous in the beginning but hit his
stride later in the demo.
Beth did a SPICY PASTA PRIMAVERA.
Sandra thought it was way too instructional. She felt like she
wanted it to be over.
Nathan did an OPEN FACED LASAGNA. He felt very comfortable in
front of the camera. When he is cooking his true nature comes
across, Sandra said he was a pleasure to watch. She wanted to
hear more about his niece(which he mentioned in the demo), and
this was his to lose. This made him feel amazing.
Elimination and evaluation time. Reggie said that walk is
tough. Carissa says everyone thinks it "might be me".
Evaluations first:
Guy--by Bobby Flay. He felt lost in his demo half way through.
You need to connect more and keep that in mind.
Nathan--by Susie Fogelman. In the Media Demo, she felt he was
rude and angry to the reporter. You need to Relax and roll
with the punches. But the Sandra Lee Demo was warm and we need
to see more of that in the future.
Evette--by Bob Tischman. She hasn't changed since the
beginning of the competition. She knows what she is, but the
taste of the dishes are not great. She needs to step up her
food game.
Carissa--by Flay. The "Yummy Chef". Her Smile Lights Up the
room. But her talk in the demo wasn't really saying anything.
They liked the flavor of her sauce, but she needs to check her
stations all the time. She admits her mistake again, and
thanks the judges.
Beth--by Susie. In the Media Demo, she was interesting and
quick witted. But in the demo, she was way too quiet and
needed a lot more energy. She needs to bring it out more. Beth
doesn't know if this fits her.
Reggie--by Bob. He feels intimate to the viewer. But the SMT
was very rough, and blew it. He thought he was unflappable,
but he found out Reggie can be flapped.
Andy--by Flay. When you cook, you smile. In the SMT, he didn't
smile. And in the Demo he didn't cook right away. He forgot to
do what he does best.
So who stays and who goes.
Susie calls ANDY and GUY to
stay. Bob calls CARISSA and REGGIE
to stay. That leaves EVETTE, BETH AND NATHAN.
Bobby calls NATHAN to stay. And in the final
two, he says there were 2 different styles and it was a tough
choice but EVETTE stays.
Which means that BETH RAYNOR of Sausalito, CA
is the 2nd candidate eliminated from the competition. She said
that she realizes this may not have been for her, and this
experience shows that maybe I can find something I want to do.
The remaining 6 toast her as we end this episode.
Next week, teamwork lessons from Season 1 winners Dan and
Steve. Also, Giada De Laurentiis does a multiple dish
challenge!
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