Episode Descriptions Revealed for New Season of NEXT FOOD NETWORK STAR
By: Caryn Robbins May. 01, 2015
Food Network competition series FOOD NETWORK STAR returns for an eleventh season this summer, with a cast of twelve talented hopefuls competing to become the next new face in food television. Food superstars Giada De Laurentiis and Bobby Flay are back as mentors/judges, joined this season by a roster of top-notch special guests and judges.
FOOD NETWORK STAR Season 11 - Episode Descriptions: Premiering Sunday, June 7th at 9pm (all times ET/PT) - SEASON PREMIERE!
"Food Network Star Festival"
In the season premiere, the twelve hopefuls arrive in Los Angeles and are introduced to food icons Giada and Bobby. Each finalist must produce a 30-second introductory video and make their signature dish for a food festival to be held the next day. At the festival, attended by a crowd of Food Network fans, each video is screened and signature dish tasted by a judging panel including Giada, Bobby, Food Network executives Susie Fogelson and Bob Tuschman, and People Deputy Editor J.D. Heyman. For one finalist, their dream ends, while the remaining eleven continue on their journey.
"Savory Baking"
Knowledge and the ability to adapt are key qualities to becoming a star, and the finalists must create an inspiring dish using only ingredients and leftovers that can be found in an average family's refrigerator then perform a camera challenge for Giada, Bobby and guest judge Melissa d'Arabian. Then the finalists use their imaginations to create a savory dish inspired by the world of desserts, with Iron Chef Alex Guarnaschelli joining Giada and Bobby at the judge's table. Premiering Sunday, June 21st at 9pm
"Trendy Dinner"
Keeping up with the latest food trends is imperative, so the contestants are tasked to create and photograph trendy "tiny" foods. They are then split up into two teams for a challenge to create a five-course meal where each course corresponds with a buzzword. Sunny Anderson and Geoffrey Zakarian join the selection committee this week to decide who will be go home.
"Fourth of July Cookout"
A FOOD NETWORK STAR has to be able to win over a crowd - so to celebrate the Fourth of July, the finalists are split into teams to develop a cohesive menu, shop for ingredients and feed a crowd of hungry families at a holiday cookout. Guest judge Bobby Deen joins Bobby and Giada to determine which team has the best performance, and one finalist from the lowest performing team is sent home. Premiering Sunday, July 5th at 9pm
"The Perfect Match"
Familiarity with a wide variety of ingredients and culinary styles and the ability to blend them with your own repertoire is important for a Food Network Star. The finalists must swap their favorite ingredients and use them to make a dish for Bobby and Giada. The contestants are then paired up to blend their styles and collaborate on dishes to serve 40 first-time daters from Match. Anne Burrell and Joachim Splichal, Master Chef of Patina Group, join Bobby and Giada to decide who will be going home. Premiering Sunday, July 12th at 9pm
"Improv"
The finalists need to be ready for anything and learn to expect the unexpected. Each is tasked with creating and presenting an enticing pizza with "kicked up flavors" for Bobby, Giada and guest judges Duff Goldman and CEO of Cici's Pizza Darin Harris, and the winner's pizza will inspire an item to be featured on an upcoming Cici's menu. Then guest MC David Alan Grier joins Bobby to randomly assign dish requirements to finalists, who must then perform a four-minute live demo for food and comedy fans. Bobby and Giada are joined by Bob and Susie to determine who will stay and who will go home. Premiering Sunday, July 19th at 9pm
"Food Truck Throwdown"
Social media is very important to a Food Network Star, and is also used extensively in the food truck business. The remaining finalists create and present a portable version of their favorite dish to Bobby and Giada, and then guest judge Richard Blais pairs them up to operate their own food truck. Each duo must create a social media promo video to be screened by food truck enthusiasts, who will use the videos to decide which team's dish to sample. The most successful contestants will be safe, and one finalist will be eliminated. Premiering Sunday, July 26th at 9pm ET/PT
"Lifestyle Brand"
Today more than ever, it's important for stars to create a lifestyle brand based on their style and culinary point of view. In the first challenge, the finalists must do a video presentation showcasing a dish that can easily be recreated by a home cook in a short amount of time. Then guest Damaris Phillips directs the finalists in a holiday-themed, on-camera presentation that reflects their point of view. Damaris also joins Bobby, Giada, Bob and Susie at the judging table. Premiering Sunday, August 2nd at 9pm ET/PT
"Live TV"
In live television, there are no second takes - so this challenge is do-or-die. The finalists are assigned a theme and must demo a dish reflecting that theme, all live to-camera. Jeff Mauro and Katie Lee then join Bobby and Giada to view the contestants hosting their own segment of a live ensemble show. The least successful performer is sent home. Premiering Sunday, August 9th at 9pm ET/PT
"Dish of a Lifetime and Pilots"
The winner of Star Salvation rejoins the competition, while the final four choose a sous chef from the eliminated contestants to help them cook the single best dish of their life. They each have one take to present the dish on-camera, and Bobby, Giada, Bob and Susie choose the final three that will each film a pilot directed by special guest Rachael Ray. Premiering Sunday, August 16th at 9pm ET/PT - SEASON FINALE!
"We Have a Winner"
The nine eliminated finalists return to view the pilots along with Bobby, Giada, Susie and Bob. Each pilot is screened and after the selection committee deliberates, Food Network President Brooke Johnson announces the winner - the next Food Network Star.
Photo courtesy of Food Network
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