We start this episode with some
early memories of the contestants. Guy had a pretzel stand
in 6th grade. Andy's first memory of food was lamb at his
grandmother's house. Reggie is an amateur photographer.
Carissa was going to be an attorney. Nathan was a hand,
print and runway model with flowing blond hair. Evette got
pregnant at 15, but was proud to finish night school.
The remaining 6 finalists enter
Studio B. Reggie has no clue whats happening next. They are
introduced to Dan and Steve, winners of the first "Next Food
Network Star". They explain that along with their show
"Party Line with the Hearty Boys", they continue to run a
restaurant and a successful catering business. They explain
that being a successful duo means that neither one's ego
gets in the way. They have been looking forward to this
challenge for weeks. They joke they are not "ready to
give of up their crown."
Reggie is ready for this.
Other Food Network stars like Alton Brown, Emeril Lagasse,
Bobby Flay and others explain that the Food Network stars
are like family. Going on another show is fun, relaxing and
a lot of times inspirational. They like to go on each
other's show.
Evette says that teamwork is a
good thing to learn. Dan and Steve call this "TV Boot Camp." To
be a great duo you have to interact. It makes better TV. You
have to know when to be with the person or go away. They
demo two dishes, a grilled flank steak and a corn, jicama
and mango salad. Reggie says they were very good showing
information and complementing each other. Guy also noted
they work well together. Carissa saw that if you dont work
well together, it doesn't come across well. This leads into
the "Share The Spotlight" challenge:
CHALLENGE: TEAMS
OF TWO WILL HAVE 20 MINUTES TO REHEARSE IN THE GREEN ROOM
WHERE THEY WILL HAVE TO DEMO 2 RECIPES IN 7 MINUTES. YOU
WILL DEMO IT IN FRONT OF THE SELECTION COMMITTEE. THIS
CHALLENGE WILL SHOW HOW YOU WORK TOGETHER.
Guy and Nathan are team #1.
Nathan says Guy's energy is off the chain. They did a demo
of Smothered Chicken and Cornbread. Guy had to taste baked
eggs, which he despises.
Dan and Steve's critique: You
were talking over each other.
Flay said that the different
personalities together was interesting.
Reggie and Andy are team #2.
They did a Thai Shrimp and Rice Soup with Pork Satay. Reggie
said that Andy took over when he didn't know about the
Lemongrass. They were the "laid back" and chill team. But
they didn't finish the demo in time.
Flay said the ending was rough.
Dan and Steve thought the Lemon Grass bit was fun to watch.
Evette and Carissa were the
final team. Nathan was nervous for them because their
styles(French vs. Home) clashed. They really didn't want to
work with each other, but wanted to work with Guy.
They did a Tiramisu Rapido and
Salmon w/Orange and Fennel. In the demo, the only thing they
did together was sprinkle the salt on the fish. It was
disorganized from the beginning. Carissa said she was more
of an "individual" chef. They didn't finish the demo.
Flay--"I couldn't believe the comments they were making. "
He wanted to see more generosity. He told Carissa you cant
be negative about other chef's dishes...and Evette should
not have told she used mascarpone cheese once. Dan and Steve
felt the demo was too separate.
The next demo was in the Food
Network Kitchen. They were in their kitchen whites, so they
knew it was competition time. One of the keys to any
successful kitchen chef is multitasking. And to explain this
is the host of "Everyday Italian", the smoking hot Giada De
Laurentiis. She explains her keys to success, her flavors
and her simple dishes with less than 10 ingredients. Evette
says she is even more cute in person. Giada demos two
dishes, gives lessons in multitasking and takes questions
from the finalists. Which leads into the "Multitasking"
challenge:
CHALLENGE: THE
FOOD NETWORK STAFF HAS BROKEN DOWN TWO OF YOUR APPETIZER
RECIPES INTO 1 DEMO. YOU WILL HAVE 45 MINUTES TO PREP AND 7
MINUTES TO DEMO THE DISHES. GIADA WILL BE THE SPECIAL GUEST
JUDGE IN PLACE OF BOBBY FLAY.
We see the craziness of the 45
minute prep with Mark and Giada asking questions of
different finalists...and the prep and demo is done.
Nathan goes first. His dishes
are Salmon Tartare and Roast Robacha Squash. He didn't plate
anything in the 7 minutes. Giada said you needed to time out
better. Bob liked the natural reaction of when the squash
was "hot". But Nathan's first mistake was to tell the camera
"My reaction was fake--the squash was ice cold.It's acting
baby!" He then goes back to the green room and tells the
other finalists, "My only way of getting through elimination
is if f**king sofrito f*cks up!" Reggie says "You are on
your own on that one." Memo to Nathan...you have just kissed
your show goodbye.
Evette is rattled by
this--didn't get all the prep done in time. She did
Alcaparia and Beef Cocktail Franks. Her dishes were too
complex for time allotted. Giada comments under her
breath--"Is she going to cook?" Her critique was brutal. She
didn't multitask or cook. She needs to streamline. Giada
comments that the root vegetable was raw and doesn't stick
to your teeth when coooked.
Andy was next. His energy was
low. He did a Beggar's Purse with Mesclan Greens with
Artichokes. He felt he was too focused on the technical. He
did finish on time, but didn't think he was going to. His
critique was that he lost the fun he had in the duo demo.
Bob said he went into teacher mode. He needs to show more of
himself.
Reggie is up. He did a Salmon
Salad with a tomato jam with Crostini. He was more worried
about the food processor. His critique was that he "didn't
cook", but Susan he was very open to sharing information.
Bob under his breath said, "He made a couple of mistakes,
but I didn't mind." Giada: "Me neither, and when I tasted
the food I was happier."
Guy does his Waka Waka Salad and
Rhode Island Calamari. He loves being high energy. He uses
his restaurant terms, and he is going to his product
out...restaurant terms or not. His critique is that the food
was really delicious, but this time you were talking to the
home viewer. Susie says you have to think about who you are
talking to.
Carissa is last. She does a Shut
Your Pie Hole Clams and Dill Dip in a bread bowl. The words
and the mouth didn't go together. She was trying not to rely
on her catch phrases. She wasn't sure how she was coming
across. The 7 minutes flew by. Giada said she worked clean
and the jewelry was a big turn off. Susie thought Carissa
was at her most nervous.
Elimination time. Reggie was
nervous. Giada was excited about being a judge. Carissa is
hoping it isn't her. But we have evaluations first:
Carissa(by Bob): "The grains of
sand are flowing fast. It's now or never. The duo was like
watching 2 separate shows. There wasn't any passion. Carissa
comments with tears in her eyes, "I am kind of on the way
out."
Reggie(by Susie): You were kind
with Andy your duo partner, but your expertise has to be
higher. Reggie says he is scared of being the joke guy when
he doesn't have the skill.
Andy(by Giada): The duo with
Reggie was kind and generous, but your multitask demo you
closed up. You weren't excited. Andy said he "Needs to bring
more of Andy."
Evette(by Susie) There wasn't
much integration in the duo with Carissa. She cooked one
dish instead of two. And she didn't show how to cook them.
Evette:"I didn't do what they wanted to me to do."
Nathan(by Bob): You had the
ideal partner in Guy, but looked annoyed. You didn't
multitask and you didn't plate the food. They wanted to
taste it, because it looked good. They didn't. Nathan is
upset that he was the only one who didn't plate ANYTHING.
Guy(by Giada): You are still
talking to chefs, not consumers. You need to tone it down.
Guy is going to change his mode from professional to
domestic.
Ok..who stays and who goes?
Giada keeps ANDY.
Susie keeps REGGIE. Bob keeps
GUY. Giada keeps NATHAN.
Susie says she's all about the
girl power. It was tough, but CARISSA stays
and EVETTE RODRIGUEZ of Port St. Lucie, FL
is the third woman and third contestant to be eliminated.
She jokes no one will forget Sofrito. The rest of the final
5 toast "Sofrito" as we end this episode.
Next week, the final 5 do a demo
in front of a live crowd and Dave Lieberman.And with the
help of Alton Brown they pitch their show in front of the
selection committee. Tune in to see who makes the final 4!
