Season six of the popular reality show Next Food Network Star kicked off on Sunday June 6, and from the looks of the premiere episode, we are in for a drama-filled treat. And the icing on the proverbial cake is that a handful of bloggers have been invited to interview Food Network’s Bob Tuschman, Vice President, Programming and Production; Susie Fogelson, SVP Marketing, Creative Services and Brand Strategy; and a contestant each Monday following the show. The bloggers, including yours truly, have the opportunity to ask Bob and Susie about the previous night’s episode, and then we speak to one of the eliminated chefs. We are one week into the process, and I am uber-excited for the show and the experience to interact with the Food Network executives. Let’s dive in:
About The Next Food Network Star: Just in case you are not familiar with the show, The Food Network airs a program each Sunday at 9 p.m. PST featuring 12 aspiring celebrity chefs taking on various cooking tasks with a “will they shine on TV?” slant. Each week, one chef is eliminated, and at the end of the season, the winner is awarded his or her own cooking show on The Food Network. Previous winners can be found HERE and HERE.
Q&A with Bob Tuschman:I tell you what, Bob was a really nice guy and fun to interview. Like on the show, he appeared calm, cool and collected (and perfectly on-message!) Here is a snapshot of the conversation:
Q: What are you looking for in a contestant? A: Bob pointed out that this show is “the toughest cooking show on TV” because the chefs not only have to cook, but they have to learn how to perform on-camera. Each contestant has to bring the right level of energy, look natural, share a clear “culinary point of view,” and possess star quality. He reminded us that Food Network receives thousands of pitches a year for new shows, so he needs to find someone who can “consistently deliver great food and great performances.”
Q: Are you worried viewers will lock in on one or two contestants too early? A: This question was top-of-mind because Aria Kagan was a clear stand-out and early favorite on the first episode. Bob said he does worry about viewers favoring a specific contestant early in the show, and then reminds us that no matter what happens in episode one, things can change quickly. Bob continued by saying that the judges need to see constant improvement in order to win, so don’t give up on anyone too early in the series.
Q:What is the biggest challenge contestants face and what is your advice to overcome them? A: Bob reminded us that the contestants really have to listen to the judges who also are there to mentor them. Bob and Susie — along with Bobby Flay and Giada de Laurentiis — provide tips every time the chefs are in front of the camera. (In fact, the judges spend at least 8 hours per episode mentoring the contestants.) They are looking for someone with charisma, and Bob added that charisma is like eye color, you either have it or you don’t… but you can learn to shape your charisma into something that works.
Q&A with Alexis Hernandez: Alexis is a farm-grown chef who likes to teach people the science behind food. Not only will he tell people how to make a vinaigrette, but we will teach you why adding salt can balance the acidity of the dressing. I call Alexis the unexpected farmer, because I know a lot of farmers but had never seen one in a paisley button-down before last week! He seems like a sweet guy, but his insecurities and under-cooked dessert made him the first contestant eliminated from this season. Here’s what he had to say:
Q: What would you differently if you could do the show over again? A: Alexis said he would show more personality on-camera, and share better and more-realistic cooking tips during his segments.
Q: What is the biggest difference from being a contestant and being a viewer? A: Alexis summed it up in two words: it’s overwhelming. He added that is hard to adapt when you want something so badly, when you want to win, but you are out of your element (and your kitchen).
Q: What is your signature dish? A: Alexis said his signature dish is braised beef chuck with red reduction and honey, infused with rosemary; carrot ribbons on top; served on a bed of Ramen noodles or puree of parsnips. (Yes, Ramen noodles like the soup we ate in college!)
Q: What was it like to meet Wolfgang Puck? A: Mr. Puck was a guest judge for one of this week’s challenges, and Alexis called him a “mega-god of food.” He also said that he never in his life expected the opportunity for cook for Puck, and he was so happy to meet his “hero.”
Next Episode: Tune into The Food Network on Sunday night at 9 p.m. PST to watch next week’s episode, and then come back to Laptop TV Mom for another recap!
– LTV Mom
Just trying to squeeze in some television between mothering, working and crashing.
