Three Down and One to Win: The Next Food Network Star

The Next Food Network Star is dwindling down with just three potential stars left and not much time before that new star is chosen. The tension is thick, the dishes are occasionally ill-prepared, and the food knowledge is off when it should be on. All of the stars seem to have their potential issues, but the judges have attempted to choose the final three that have the most potential.

The Original Contenders (in order of elimination)

Patrick Rolfe – Week One
Vivien Cunha – Week One
Nikki Shaw – Week Two
Colombe Jacobsen-Derstine – Week Three
Thomas Grella Jr. – Week Three
Michael Salmon – Week Four
Adrien Sharp – Week Five
Paul McCullough – Week Six
Joshua Adam Garcia (Jag)
Amy Finley
Rory Schepisi

The final three have been placed in no specific order as they are still competing. The question now becomes who has what it takes to bring home the show. Let’s take a closer look at the people behind the aprons.

Amy Finley

Amy is a freelance writer, freelance caterer, and a stay at home mom. Amy attended culinary school in France and has a point of view, as the gourmet next door. Her food generally offers gourmet flair and she brings a good knowledge of food to the table. However, at times her persona is a little too gourmet for the judges liking. It can be hard to relate to Amy as a home cook when she relates her stories of France and other places she has been.

Of the three remaining chefs, she is generally the most organized. She has that responsible mom thing going on. It’s obvious she can cook and she is refined enough for television, but when in front of the camera to demo she can come off as boring or stuffy. There is no doubt that she’s a great cook. The question is if she has what it takes to make an entertaining show that the home cook can relate to when they watch.

Joshua Adam Garcia

JAG is by far the most passionate chef that has been represented in the original eleven of the third season. A former marine and current chef de cuisine in a French fusion restaurant, no one can argue that JAG has the food chops to win this thing, hands down. His culinary point of view is Latin Fusion.

Unfortunately JAG brings his share of problems, as well. He has a bit of a temper that is uncompromising, if something doesn’t go his way he has to get over it before he is able to move on, and he often creates recipes that seem too complicated for the home cook (at least according to the judges). He also has a tendency to cook like he’s on a restaurant line. When on camera he moves fast and gets the job done. However, that offers little for the home viewer to relate to or catch on to when watching from home and hoping to learn some good cooking tips.

JAG is definitely the chef to beat. He’s only had one truly bad food week, which is far better than most. However, his television presence has not improved in his demos. Will he be able to present his passion and livelihood for the camera where it needs to be the most obvious?

Rory Schepisi

Rory is a graduate of the CIA (Culinary Institute of America) and she currently resides in Vega, Texas where she is building a restaurant. As an animal lover she always has an interesting story to tell and while her food point of view was not known for quite awhile she seems to be settling on blue collar/down home cooking.

Of the three left, Rory is my least favorite. She has the least amount of food knowledge (surprising for a CIA grad) and tends to show a lack of respect at times for the current Chefs she is working with when she is unable to answer their questions. Her food is definitely something the home cook could relate to though her camera presence offers too much talking, not enough cooking, food facts you wouldn’t want, and a scatterbrained type of mentality.

Rory attempts to be entertaining, but more often then not her camera moments seem rehearsed. She also gives off the vibe of someone who has a hard time chewing gum and walking. She is probably the least refined of the three when it comes to her ability (or lack thereof) to host a cooking show.

While all three have their issues, Amy seems too refined, JAG too speedy and complicated, and Rory not refined enough and seemingly unable to multitask. Sunday night one more of them will go home. My bet is on Rory unless Jag or Amy really messes up their challenge, which is doubtful. As for the winner, it’s anyone’s game. I am hoping for JAG, but unless he cleans up his act I am guessing that Amy Finley will be the Next Food Network Star.

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Written by Ashtyn - Visit Website
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Ashtyn Evans is a writer, advocate, free thinker, and all around cynical person. Always quick to find the negative in anything pop culture, she loves being a part of that which she despises. Ashtyn and Dominick own numerous blogs together, as well as a full-time writing business. In her spare time she is a full-time college student studying History and Psychology. She plans to one day give up her freelance career and be a full-time blogger, novelist, and domestic goddess. She can be contacted for writing projects, fan mail, or just to say hi. She really is friendlier than we make her look.