Game Show NewsNet - The Next Food Network Star: Season 3

"Potluck Dinner/The Wedding in 6 Hours" - June 3

If you know the names Guy Fieri or Dan Smith and Steve McDonough, we are back for Season 3 of the Next Food Network Star. We have 11 new Finalists and America will decide who the winner will be! The challenges will be bigger and along with the chance to be the host of their own new Food Network show...they get to drive off in a brand new 2008 Mercury Mariner SUV!

Well, no more time for talking...let's meet the 11 new candidates...shall we!

--COLOMBE JACOBSEN, a yoga instructor. She is the first to arrive at the Carriage House...which is where the candidates will live.(J-Note--this is a sweet pad.)

--VIVIEN CUNHA, a caterer living in LA, originally from Brazil.

--MICHAEL SALMON(like the fish), a food service manager from NYC in charge of 2 places.

--TOMMY GRELLA, a financial planner with no formal cooking training. He likes the house, but the beds are too small. He is a big man.

--AMY FINLEY, a Stay-at-Home-Mom with French Cooking School attendance. She wants to bring Paris to the kitchens.

--PAUL MCCULLOGH, a caterer to celebrities and semi-celebrities(so he says)

--RORY SCHEPISI, from Texas, who is building a restaurant.

--NIKKI SHAW, a caterer who wants to bring a "hip approach" to cooking.

--JOSHUA A GARCIA(a/k/a JAG), an ex-Marine.

--ADRIEN SHARP, It's his first time in NYC. He couldn't get the time off...so he lost his job and benefits. He is a host in Michigan.

and PARTICK ROLFE, a sous chef from Seattle.

The candidates notice a gourmet Gift Basket and a DVD which they pop in and on the flat screen we see the man...Emeril welcoming them to the contest. He tells them the challenges will be bigger and the van is waiting outside to take them to the 1st challenge.

They have a mixed set of emotions as they walk into the Food Network kitchens as they see Bobby Flay and the selection committee walk out. The committee as in years past is Bob Tuschman, Senior Vice President of the Food Network, and Susie Fogelson, vice President of Marketing.

This year, Marc Summers will not be on camera. Each Food Network Star will be guest host and third committee member. The challenges will be new and different and we are about to get into the first one right now:

CHALLENGE: Each candidate will have to create one dish in a potluck dinner. It will have to showcase who you are. It will show your creativity, taste and personality. You will have to present it to the judge. The course are selected at random by picking the course out of a saucepan. They have one hour to plan and cook the dish.

And it starts...NOW. Amy wants to do Meat on a grill...its a "Bobby Thing." Rory is doing a fish dish, which is hard for her. She is doing Pan Seared Halibut. Nikki got dessert, but nothing she wants is here in the kitchen. Adrien is doing a Brandy Bread Pudding. JAG is doing an appetizer. However, Patrick and JAG are doing the same appetizer, with almost the same ingredients.

Nikki is asked what she is doing. She calls it a "Mango Surprise"--she doesn't know either. Vivien is doing a Chinese Chicken Salad. Colombe is doing the side vegetable which is Squash. Mike is helping Tommy with his Crustini for his soup. And time is up. (But Mike doesn't get the Crustini in time.)

Flay tells everyone to bring their dishes and follow them. JAG is doing the walkign behind Flay thing and they go into Studio A...which is the home of Emeril Live. (J-Note: This is located in Chelsea Market.) They take their place behind the counter. They have 60 seconds to present the dish.

JAG -- Appetizer --SEAFOOD BRUSCHETTA.
PATRICK - Appetizer - SCALLOP & PRAWNS.
TOMMY - Soup - CIOPPINI. Bobby asks where the bread is. He lies and says he doesn't know.
VIVIEN - Salad - ASIAN CHICKEN SALAD.
RORY - Fish - COCONUT CURRY HALIBUT.
COLOMBE - Side Vegetable - ROASTED SQUASH WITH ARUGULA.
PAUL - Vegetable - ORZO WITH TOFU & VEGETABLES.
MICHAEL - Starch Side - POTATO CAKE WITH MUSHROOMS.
RORY - Meat - BAVETTE WITH SHALLOT & MUSHROOMS
ADRIEN - Dessert - BRANDY BREAD PUDDING.
NIKKI - Dessert - MANGO PUFF & STUFF.

After the tasting, they tell the candidates they are now going to have their dinner...as dinner. They leave and as the candidates have wine and toast...the judges discuss their likes and dislikes. Bob says that we are in "for a pretty good fight."

During the dinner, the committee walks back in and surprises the candidates. They are going to let them in on who they thought was the most successful and least successful in their dishes. First, the least--Patrick and Rory.

Patrick lacked originality and creativity. Rory had hiccups and played the blame game with the kitchen in her presentation.

Bobby announces the most successful and the winner of the challenge...COLOMBE. She doesn't want to get too excited because it's her first day here. Bobby says that she will find out what winning that challenge means later. Bobby says that was the "easiest challenge" they will have. Vivien says there is no room for mistakes.

During the night--we find out Tommy snores and some other people do.

The next day...everyone's chef's coats are laid out and the van takes the 11 finalists to the Roosevelt Hotel in NYC. (J-Note: That Hotel is in midtown.) They are led into the ballroom and they see Duff Goldman from Food Network's "Ace of Cakes".

They are told their next challenge:

CHALLENGE: Decorate a wedding cake in 90 minutes. The most original and creative cake wins. They are told they can use buttercream or Fondon(a malleable marshmallow creation.)

JAG has never worked with it.

As the challenge goes on we see Paul put two men on top of his cake. (laughs).
Vivien does a Brazilian Flag cake. JAG does a Lady/Stars cake and Tommy does an Italian Flag. Michael says if you don't know what you are doing...time goes way too fast. Tommy and a couple of candidates do a shot of Vodka(which is supposed to be used to dilute the frosting.) Amy uses the chandelier and makes the cake look like it has blue crystals. Rory's cake (according to Duff) has a 50/50 frosting to cake ratio. Not good. Nikki's cake reflects her relationship with her husband...dessert, dominos and diamonds. Duff says Vivien doesn't realize what the competition is. The cake is fun, but not a wedding cake. Rory's has way too much frosting.

The challenge ends...and Duff judges AMY'S cake to be the most "wedding cake" cake in the room. What that means..we will find out.

30 seconds after the challenge ends...Chef Robert Irvine from "Dinner Impossible" walks into the room. He lets the teams in on their next challenge:

CHALLENGE: Cater a wedding reception for 100 people. The catch is...you will have to do it in 6 hours.

He asks the candidates..."Are you scared? You should be."

Robert Irvine divides the 11 candidates into 2 teams. Since Amy won the Wedding Cake Challenge and Colombe won the Potluck Challenge they will be team captains(now we see what winning meant)

Amy takes Nikki, Paul, Patrick and Rory.
Colombe takes Michael, Adrien, Josh and Tommy.

Vivien is the cheese standing alone. Her feelings were hurt. Chef Irvine states Vivien will pick the team she wants to go and they will get $500 less than the team with 5 people. Vivien goes with Amy's team.

Amy - $1800
Colombe -$2300 to spend on the wedding for $100 people.

Now they meet the bride and groom. (Yes, this is a real wedding folks. I was shocked that these people had the stones to let them do this. Or they got paid a nice appearance fee...either one.) They are Jennifer and David...who are vegetarians with their ring bearer/pet dog Mr. Foo. The teams ask them questions...

Colombe is the Orange Team Leader, Amy is the Green Team Leader.

Here are the menu plans:

GREEN TEAM MENU:
Summer Rolls
Mango Wontons
Rustic Bruschetta
Porcini Crusted Beef
Thai Curry
Cabbage Slaw
Fruit Cobbler

ORANGE TEAM MENU:
Spinach Puff Pastry
Caviar Corn Cakes
Pepper Corn Beef
Vegetarian Polenta
Fruit Skewers

Green Team--Patrick is on Rory's Nerves. They have one hour to shop. Colombe's team is way worried about money and they go way under budget spending under $800 of the $2300 they had to spend.

We see Amy's team come back from shopping. Nikki needed the alcohol for the team's whipped cream. Rory says when Nikki doesn't get her way, she gets an attitude. Jag was upset that he saw only two bunches of spinach. Michael's recipe got cut in half...he was upset for 10 seconds.

Green Team Menu Assignments:

Summer Rolls - PATRICK
Rustic Bruschetta - RORY
Mango Wontons - PAUL
Veggie Pasta - RORY
Beef Tenderloin - PATRICK
Thai Curry - AMY
Cabbage Slaw - VIVIEN
Fruit Cobbler-Tini - NIKKI

Orange Team Menu Assignments:

Spinach Puff Pastry - JAG
Caviar Corn Cakes - MICHAEL
Peppercorn Beef - ADRIEN
Vegetarian Polenta - TOMMY
Fruit Skewers - COLOMBE

Chef Irvine points out to the Orange Team that they spent $7/Head on food. Tommy says, if you have $2300 to spend...you spend it...not $724 like they did.

3:00 to go. Chef Irvine didn't like the flavor combinations of Vivien's slaw. We see Amy, Rory and Patrick prepping their parts of the meal.

2:00 to go. Colombe seems to be having trouble with Tommy. Nikki and Chef Irvine get into it over the definition of a pie vs. a cobbler. Nikki -- "I know what I am doing. " Irvine -- "And I don't?"

Nikki and Paul realize a huge mistake has happened...Tommy has used chicken stock in the polenta. Tommy eventually realizes it and they have to make a major change in the menu. JAG calls himself a "bad ass in the kitchen." and they make a vegetarian Napoleon.

Chef Irvine discusses what he thinks of certain candidates with the selection committee. They also have to present the dishes on the microphone as well.

5 minutes to go and the Green Team is ready by their table, but the Orange Team is nowhere to be seen. The Green Team present their appetizers during the cocktail hour. Then the Orange Team. JAG doesnt want to be associated with a drastic failure(as food runs out for their side and Flay helps serve)

Next are the entrees for both teams. Jag says Colombe has no leadership skills. Both teams introduce their entrees, including the Green Team's dish for the dog(nice touch). The committee discusses the dishes. Nikki spills the dessert right on Bobby's suit. He says not to worry. "I'm worried as hell." Orange team is short and runs out of food again.

Amy's cake is the wedding cake used and she is proud.

The teams later on stand before the committee. They are arrnaged by tea. Colombe though there was dysfunction on the tea. JAG said they didn't communicate as a team. Amy's team loved her. Colombe's team has $2300, and spent $724. Amy's team has $1,800 and spent $1,150. Flay asked, "Why wouldnt you go insane and shower people with amazing food. It fell flat. Michael and Colombe discuss the money issue. Amy didnt want to single out a strongest/weakest person and Rory was upset about that because she felt she was strong. Colombe said that Paul didn' t tell Tommy about the chicken stock fiasco. Paul said it was a competition.

They discussed the food. Paul's Mango Wontons were a hit, and JAG Potato Gratin was amazing. Flay said he could cook in his kitchens anytime. However, the orange team was absent of Food/People. Presentations...Vivien was lacking in energy and warmth. Tommy sold it.

The Green Team won the Wedding Challenge. Amy being team leader is automatically safe from elimination. But she needs to refine her point of view. They will be brought down for individual eliminations in a moment.

When everyone is upstairs, they call Paul on his lack of telling Tommy about the Polenta. He apologized, but they said, "It was for a wedding...competition had to come second."

Committee calls down Adrien, Paul, Nikki, Tommy and Michael.

Bob said Tommy had a genial presence, but needs to control his nerves.

Susie said Paul gets A for effort, but has the brightest personality, but can you bring the food? He says, I can.

Bobby said Nikki comes on strong, and that can be intimidating. There has to be something sweeter below it.

Bob said Adrien played it safe. He needs to punch up the Food and the Personality.

Susie said Michael Salmon (LIKE THE FISH) shouldn't use that anymore and needs to break through.

They are all safe. The rest go downstairs and Colombe, Rory and Vivien are all nervous...

JAG's food tasted really good. Bob said he needs not to scowl...you can't be angry...that isn't welcoming. Vivien has a sweetness and charm and the food credibility, but the wedding had ANOTHER salad. She needs to be bold and not a wall flower. Susie said Rory has a great personality but is Calamity Jane. The Halibut was flavor challenged and the Texas Cake was a disaster. When Rory tried to explain herself she said that was off-putting and stop being so defensvive. Colombe(Bobby said) was up and down...the food was delicious but had zero command of the kitchen. Being authoritative was important...if not the viewer wont believe you. Susie said Patrick's food and personality wasn't coming through.

Bob shocks the 5 left and tells them that 2 are leaving. Bob and Susie let JAG and RORY stay leaving Colombe, Patrick and Vivien left. Bob says this is the toughest one because it is the most unfair...but in TV you have a short time to make a big impression.

Patrick is asked to leave. As he goes upstairs, the rest of the cast is shocked. It's now down to Vivien and Colombe...and Vivien leaves. Colombe stays. Vivien thanks everyone.

When they come upstairs...Nikki goes "They did two?" Paul said it broke his heart. JAG was shocked that Colombe stayed. Patrick said he thought his personality shined through, but it shows the high standards of the Food Network. This was the longest flight of steps he walked. Vivien was disappointed. Everyone gives a group hug and pep talk, but Jag says this...

"It's a competition...and I am here to win."

Next time, Giada De Laurentiis takes the remaining 9 through a recipe and someone gets the opportunity of a lifetime! Tune in to find out who and what...on the "Next Food Network Star 3"...