Food Network Star – Episode 7-3 Review

Reviews, Shows

Again, I repeat that Food Network Star should not be ninety minutes. For the most part, the episode kept up a steady pace, but that second half hour kitchen scene dragged to the point where I honestly wondered if I would be able to take a whole season of this.  Hopefully the show will be back to its normal hour-long episodes next season.

Anyway, for the Camera Challenge, where the contestants had to turn a “Hershey product” into a savory dish. Total sponsor promotion, but effective – I did want a candy bar while they were assigning chocolate. Anyway, Vic covered asparagus in chocolate, which the judges found to be gross. Oh-so-genius Chris actually wrote notes on his hand, which of course were totally obvious when he presented. And as usual, Alicia sounded like she was about to cry.

Despite her eye-rolling ‘Jyllicious’ catchphrase, Jyll won the challenge with her delicious candy-and-coconut crusted shrimp. (Jeff and Mary Beth also had great presentations.) Like Penny the week before, her reward was to pick teams, with Chef Duff Goldman and Chef Robert Irvine as team captains. I was surprised to see Duff guest-star this season since his show was canceled, but Food Network must plan on keeping him around. Really though, this would’ve been better suited for a Chef Anne Burrell guest appearance, so she and Robert could have yet another rematch.

I also question Jyll’s decision to so quickly pick Alicia, when she said in her interview that she didn’t want any drama on her team. Um, hello? You don’t want drama, so you pick Alicia, queen of nervous breakdowns in the kitchen?! I can see wanting to pick Alicia for the pastry background she supposedly has, but…really?

Team Duff

Jyll-Alicia-Orchid-Whitney-Susie-Mary Beth

Team Robert

Penny-Justin B.-Justin D.-Vic-Chris-Jeff

Quick highlights from the way-too-long scene where they make dessert for the 150 guests. Chris is his usual douchey self, trying to be the leader when all he does is annoy everyone, including the girls in the other side of the kitchen. Based on the chaos among the other team, the girls think they’ve got a sure win, until things start to go wrong and they never assigned a leader. Meanwhile, Chef Robert storms in and demotes team leader Chris, replacing him with a much more effective leader, Justin B., who is loudly nominated by unusually supportive Penny. I can’t tell if she genuinely respects him, or if she just doesn’t consider him a threat because of his lacking personality.

After serving the guests, the judges stopped at each team’s display table. They loved the girls’ enthusiasm and charm, but actually the girls seemed like they were drunk, laughing way too loud and trying way too hard. It was painfully obvious they were worried about their messed-up dishes, as they should’ve been, because half their dishes were near inedible. Namely Alicia’s terrible cupcake lollipop. On the other hand, the guys did not do well during their presentation, but most of their dishes managed to impress.

Chris is very lucky that his team won, otherwise there is no doubt in my mind that he would’ve gone home. Not only was he constantly annoying, his dish was the worst of his team. On a personal note, again I was amazed at his douchiness when he actually told a party guest to tell the judges that she thought the girls’ cupcake lollipop was disgusting. Yeah, it’s a competition, but he did not need to say that when I’m sure the judges were capable of getting enough feedback on their own.

In elimination, the bottom three were Alicia, Mary Beth, and Susie. Mary Beth’s “milkshake” was awful, but Susie’s competence as a chef was called into question thanks to her “chocolate-covered churro pancake.” Alicia was the one sent home this week. I sure won’t miss her constant crying.

No matter what happens, I’m pretty sure Chris is going home next, unless he happens to be on a winning team again. Then maybe Susie, since she has yet to stand out aside from her churro disaster. Vic seems to have nine lives, as no matter how many times he ends up in the bottom three, he continues to survive elimination. If he really messes up one more presentation or dish he’s definitely going home.