The final four are in their
kitchen whites. Carissa thinks food is sexy. Guy has been
working with food for 25 years. My wife and son let me do
this. "2nd place is the first loser." Reggie said "food is
my life. I am just having a good time." Nathan is always
upbeat. "Being outside makes me happy. I never get sick. I
love teaching people how to cook."
Mark asks, "How would you handle
intense pressure?" To answer that question, we welcome back
the host of "Good Deal", Dave Lieberman. Dave explains there
are 2 tables, one table where you can only visit once, and
one where you can visit as many times as you like. However
you can only take 8 ingredients and you have 5 minutes to
decide. Everyone chooses their ingredients and Dave is about
to explain the challenge when Mark interrupts Dave and drops
a bombshell. He tells everyone to move one station to the
left. So now, you have someone else's ingredients to work
with. (That was harsh.) And now to the challenge:
CHALLENGE: USING
THE INGREDIENTS IN FRONT OF YOU, YOU WILL HAVE ONE HOUR TO
COMPLETE AT LEAST 2 DISHES. YOU WILL DEMO THE DISHES IN
FRONT OF THE SELECTION COMMITTEE. YOU HAVE 6 MINUTES.
Everyone was a little shocked at
their ingredients, but they got through it. We see the prep
and the eventual countdown. We see the final 4 head to
Studio B and Guy is first. He needs to tone it down a notch.
He does a FILET WRAPPED IN BACON W/A GINGER AND POMEGRANATE
REDUCTION with a VEGETABLE SCALLOPED POTATO w/CARAMELIZED
FENNEL. He sacrificed plating for tempo. Flay said it was
"controlled chaos. And the food tasted good." Susie said it
was a really nice job. Guy said it was his best demo.
Carissa is next...she needs to
improve on time. She does a "simply French" ROASTED CHICKEN
and an ASPARAGUS FRICASSEE. Flay liked the dishes. Susie
liked the "Simply French" concept. Bob said you "need to
sell the dish through personality." Carissa said she has a
lot of work to do.
Reggie did a shrimp dish with
CREAMED CORN W/WARM BEAN SALAD. He said the challenges are
getting harder. Flay said his start was good, but he got a
lil lost. He said it was 85%. But "85% may not be good
enough." Reggie is concerned.
Nathan felt confident. He did a
RED SNAPPER "en papillotte" (in paper) Guy said Nathan's
educated tone might be "cocky". He misinterpreted the
directions. He felt really good, but dropped the ball at the
end. Flay said he puts way too many ingredients in every
dish. "If you didn't put as many ingredients, you might have
gotten to the end." Susie said " Don't be as ambitious." Bob
said it was like a boring cooking class.
The next day, we are going to
the Food Network Space at Chelsea Market. The next challenge
will be a "meet and eat."
CHALLENGE: YOU
WILL PREPARE AN APPETIZER TO PRESENT TO THE EDITORIAL STAFF
OF TV GUIDE. THEN YOU WILL DEMO A SIGNATURE DRINK AND DISH
FOR THE TV GUIDE PRESS. YOU MUST PROMO THE SHOW AS WELL.
The appetizers are being
presented at individual table. Nathan liked that so he can
talk to the press. Reggie did ARUGULA IN CHEESE CUPS. Nathan
did a PORK TENDERLOIN CROSTINI. Carissa did SHRIMP PUFFS.
Guy did CHICKEN AVOCADO EGG ROLLS.
Reggie is first and introduced
by Carrie Welsh of the Food Network. He does a CHICKEN POT
PIE and a RASPBERRY LEMONTINI. Carol Dittenbrenner of TV
Guide called Reggie a "Warm Blanket". Michael Ausiello
called him "entertaining". Lisa Welch said he did well.
During the demo...Susie whispered.."He's so delightful." Bob
responded "I agree. He's so engaging and comfortable." But
Reggie is upset he didn't promote the show. He knows he is
going to get penalized for it.
Carissa is next. She plugs the
show right away. She did a DOUBLE DOUBLE BACON QUICHE. She
thought the press was a little tough on her. But it didn't
phase her. The press was laughing at her retorts. She did
her MOM'S SPICY BLOODY MARY. She called her demo a "tribute
to Mom."
Nathan is up next. He did a
CHICKEN PAILLARD W/OLIVE TAPENADE. Guy said he "forgets more
than I will ever learn." Michael wanted to see more
personality than teeth. His drink was "VANILLA ROUGE." He
put down Reggie a little bit when asked about his
competition. He felt he was among friends.
Guy is last. He did his GRAPE
APE BOWLA first and then his non-sushi JACKASS ROLL. He
promos the show right away. He rolled with the questions.
They were "Nothing compared to the cracks he gets at work."
One press member said, "He warmed me over". Guy asked the
question, "Can they see me next to Rachael Ray and Paula
Deen?" The press were impressed by all of the finalists.
But it's elimination time.
Reggie's evaluation is first.
Susie liked his performance at the meet & eat but didn't
mention the show. Flay liked the food, but didn't finish the
demo. He needs to be organized at the stove. Bob said Reggie
had his mojo back. He was entertaining to watch, but his
jokes were overworked. Reggie didn't think so, but we see
clips that he may have.
Nathan is next. Flay said 14
ingredients on a crouton is way too much. You are confusing
complexity and sophistication. Susie said the press liked
him, but you stepped on your teammates to get yourself over.
He said he didn't (but we see clips that he did). Bob said
he had good looks and healthy, but you start stories and not
finish them.
Carissa is next. Susie said she
brought her A game to the press. Flay said he loved her food
and she can really cook. Carissa was shocked that Flay loved
her food. Bob honestly thought she wouldn't be here at this
stage of the game. He tells her not to stop moving forward.
Guy is last. Susie said he
knocked it out of the park with the press. Flay loved his
prioritizing(getting the press drinking first and on his
side.) Bob said he handled the pressure demo like a seasoned
pro. "But are you the right guy for us? We don't know yet."
Bobby Flay keeps CARISSA.
Bob keeps "a guy named GUY." And Susie
calls Nathan and Reggie both "stars to us". But she keeps
REGGIE and NATHAN LYON is
the 5th out on the show. He said "I totally understand.
Being eliminated is difficult and but I left knowing the
three people left are very good. I am the most fortunate
person that you know."
"From 4 to 2"--Part II
We are down to the final three
and we review the eliminations of Jess, Beth, Evette, Andy
and Nathan.
Guy is blesses to have his
family by his side meaning his wife Lori, son Hunter and new
son Ryder coming in 3 weeks.
Carissa was taught by her mom
that it is "not ok to lose."
Reggie is proud to be part of
this process.
The Van rolls past the Food
Network studio. Reggie jokes about the voiceover "and the
finalists didn't know where they were going!" Reggie said
the show should be called "The Next Food Network SURPRISE!"
They joke about where they are going like Dave Lieberman's
house, but they head uptown and go to the CBS Early Show
studios.
This is the next challenge:
CHALLENGE: YOU
ARE GOING TO DO AN EARLY SHOW SPOT WITH THE HOST JULIE CHEN.
YOU HAVE 6 1/2 MINUTES TO PREP A 3 COURSE ROMANTIC MEAL. THE
SELECTION COMMITTEE WILL BE WATCHING IN THE CONTROL ROOM.
Guy Fieri is first. He does
GUIDO'S ARTICHOKES, HAVANA PRAWNS AND GINGER POACHED PEARS.
Chen asked about the pear and Guy had no clue about the
pear. He wanted to make up a new name for it. Guy said
through his mind was "the scary Bobby Flay face" when he
forgot it. Bob said it wasn't his best performance. Guy knew
he could have done better.
Carissa is next. She was ready
to go. She did a CREAM OF PUMPKIN SOUP WITH GRUYERE
CROUTONS. She asked her to ladle the soup in and Flay said
"She got her involved." She did a PORK TENDERLOIN WITH
ASIAGO CHEESE AND PROSCIUTTO. She knew her timing was off.
Her dessert was PEACH COBBLER. She didn't plate everything
and it was a "mishmash".
Reggie was last. He first did a
MESCALINE GREEN SALAD WITH FIGS AND PEARS. Flay said "Great
Description. Next was a GRILLED TUNA STEAK W/WARMED WHITE
BEAN SALAD. Last was Fruit with two sauces which you can
"feed to each other!" Bob said once the camera light was on
he hit it out of the park.
Julie was asked about
each finalist. Carissa had hearty food, Guy had a clear
script and Reggie was charming. They asked her who
would she send home, and she starts to respond...but we
don't see it on camera.
On the van ride home, Guy knew
there was an elimination, Carissa was stunned there was one.
Bob said "They each could have
a shot, but we only can pick 2." Flay called it the toughest
elimination so far.
Reggie's last evaluation is
first, Bob said he hit it out of the park, but you have to
dole out the schtick a little less. Flay said his food has
to have the same sass as him. Susie said he didn't promo the
show. Reggie said the message is clear.
Carissa is next. Susie also
didn't like that she didn't promo the show. Flay said the
food was mouthwatering. Bob said this was a teeny step
backward. She didn't get her footing and she said she needs
to be "more me".
Guy is last. Susie felt that
Chen was a willing host to your co, but you didn't get her
involved as much as you should have. Flay said that you need
to have the "total package. An artichoke with Mayo didn't
suit you." Bob saw Less Guy that ever before...it was
"Mini-Guy".
So who makes into the FINAL 2
and get to shoot their own pilot? Bob picks GUY FIERI as the
first finalist. And we hear Bobby Flay's pick(after a long
intro praising both chef and their styles along with a
commercial break) of REGGIE SUTHERLAND. CARISSA SEWARD is
gone. Carissa kicks herself for not being better at the
times when she needed to be. Bob said they really struggled
with the decision. Reggie felt for her. Guy said the way she
handled herself was classy and shows that is an incredible
woman. Carissa says she let herself down and disappointed in
herself.
They meet in Studio A. Reggie
said this was the real deal. And to help with their
pilots...they meet the "Deen" of Southern cooking...Ms.
Paula Deen herself. Reggie was beside himself. Guy would
love to hang with her and talk food. Reggie said "I love
watching her and hearing her voice throughout the house."
Paula jokingly beats Reggie up about his show concept and
talks to Guy about his show. Paula says "You have to take
that camera and look at it as your friends. You have to be
true to who you are and what you are. Paula makes a Tomato
Tart for them. Guy said she is intoxicating. And in this
commercial Guy and Reggie joke that they talked to the other
finalist and said "you should vote for me". (Cute.)
Reggie is first. We see the selection committee watching. We
see Reggie walk through with Harriet Siew and rehearse with
the producer. His pilot segments are shown which is called
"Reggie Sutherland is Simply Spectacular." He cooks a ROAST
BALSAMIC CHICKEN w/ FENNEL and a "RASPBERRY POPPED TART". He
felt he did the best he could...and the crowd applauded.
Guy is next. He calls his show a combination of
"Jackass/American Chopper and Emeril". We see his rehearsal
and walk through. And then we see COOKING OFF THE HOOK with
Guy Fieri. He does his TEQUILA TURKEY FETTUCCINI and "BREATH
MINT PIE." The Pilot is "60% of who I am. I hope I can
evolve and get the chance to do it."
Paula said Guy is a cross between Mario and Emeril. But
Reggie is Unique. "Both of them have star quailty." And as
we toast the finalists...it's up to you!
Go to foodnetwork.com through April 20th at 9AM and vote for
Guy or Reggie (once per day) and you can text 36636 and put
Reggie or Guy in your text. Next week, we find out who
becomes the Next Food Network Star!
