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Archive through August 04, 2009

Reality TVClubHouse Discussions: Other Reality Shows ARCHIVES: Archives for 2009 - 3: The Next Food Network Star! (Season 5): ARCHIVES: Archive through August 04, 2009 users admin

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Smokey
Member

07-08-2003

Monday, August 03, 2009 - 7:00 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Smokey a private message Print Post    
I also liked both pilots. I was happy with the Melissa win and agree with most about Jeff's arrogance.

I loved Melissa's idea of having a base recipe on which you can create many other recipes with simple changes. That appeals to me and probably to a lot of moms.

Once Melissa gets herself under control (the frantic stuff), I think she is really appealing and a natural. She really reminds me of Rachel Ray.

Bluedenim
Member

08-09-2007

Monday, August 03, 2009 - 7:04 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Bluedenim a private message Print Post    
Costa - I agree with you that he blew it when he didn't tell what is in harissa. He just kept saying that name over and over and then finally mentioned when plating the food that he could smell the heat of the harissa. Other than that, I have no idea what it would taste like. If he'd been more descriptive, maybe I'd be more inclined to give it a try.

Also, I agree with the above posts that it was awkward that he did not reciprocate Melissa's well wishes. He wouldn't even make eye contact with her once he made his final words. It made me glad that she won, b/c she came off as the nicer person last night as well as performing well in her pilot.

Hukdonreality
Member

09-29-2003

Monday, August 03, 2009 - 7:09 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Hukdonreality a private message Print Post    
hey hey hey...no dissin my Barefoot Contessa! She is so calming to watch that I generally tape her show because I'm likely to drift off to dreamland while watching her. I love her show!

Knightpatti
Member

12-06-2001

Monday, August 03, 2009 - 7:27 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Knightpatti a private message Print Post    
I love Barefoot Contessa, too, and her recipes seem delicious! Melissa sure look pregnant to me last night. I think Melissa is alot like Rachael Ray in her voice and I can not take another show of that! Melissa was very nice to Jeffrey and she gave him alot of acknowledgement, which he did not return. I was not very excited over either one of their show's concepts. Melissa said she gives her children the bag to shake the chicken. I find that hard to believe since the oldest is 4. I was thinking - great possibility for a big mess in the kitchen!

Lexie_girl
Member

07-30-2004

Monday, August 03, 2009 - 7:57 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Lexie_girl a private message Print Post    


Costacat
Member

07-15-2000

Monday, August 03, 2009 - 6:43 am
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Lex, hon, Amy is the one you're thinking of. And while I don't think they did a good job with her, SHE was the one who decided winning this show wasn't what she wanted. SHE was the one who bailed.


Huhhhh???

Costacat
Member

07-15-2000

Monday, August 03, 2009 - 8:16 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Costacat a private message Print Post    
Er, it wasn't you, it was Reader who mentioned her. Sorry! :-)

Costacat
Member

07-15-2000

Monday, August 03, 2009 - 8:21 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Costacat a private message Print Post    
Knight, if you put the chicken in a zipper bag, the kids can shake all they want and it does NOT make a mess.

I forgot to mention... watching Jeffrey's reactions during the show, both when Melissa gave him kudos and he didn't return 'em and then when she won... the man had a ginormous ego and really thought he would win! He had the most sour expression on his face when Melissa was announced the winner. Whenever the camera cut over to him, he just looked mad. Melissa would never have reacted that way. SHE would have been excited for HIM. Seeing his reaction made me even more glad she won.

I kinda like her idea of four steps and can turn it into 100's of dishes. While I'm a bit limited being a vegetarian (you can only do so much with tofu and soy patties in that type of scenario), she really had a great idea. And to finish the sauce with butter? THAT, in and of itself, is a sign of a well-trained chef. (Not everyone knows that trick and it really does make a sauce velvety and smooth and adds sheen. Just a bit of butter. I use this all the time when I make pasta sauce -- add a bit of the pasta water and butter at the end.)

Babyjaxmom
Member

10-20-2002

Monday, August 03, 2009 - 8:33 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Babyjaxmom a private message Print Post    
DH and I both said if Paula Dean had been making that gravy, she would've put in the whole stick of butter!

Costa said:
Harissa is like sriracha... a staple!

Sorry, I've never heard of either one, but I'm not much of a cook. I do love to eat though. Can I come to dinner at your house, Costa?

Oh and Costa, DH and I made a great find at Costco a few weeks back: black bean burgers! Yum!!! Made with black beans, corn, peppers and brown rice. They're organic, too, and delish! We're not even vegetarians, but we love them. The leftovers are delicious the next morning with eggs, too (unless you're a vegan).

Costacat
Member

07-15-2000

Monday, August 03, 2009 - 10:18 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Costacat a private message Print Post    
LOL! You're welcome any time!!

I've not see black been burgers at my Costco. They do have veggie patties, though, and I buy 'em every time I go! They are my favorite patties, and are awesome on a salad (I just mix up greens and some veggies with a bit of dressing, sprinkle on some grated cheese, and then top with a veggie patty!). I'll have to see if they have black bean burgers at my Costco (what area are they in in yours?).

Oh, and I'm so NOT a vegan! Shudder... give me real butter and eggs and cheese. MUST.HAVE.CHEESE! :-)

Reader234
Member

08-13-2000

Monday, August 03, 2009 - 12:44 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Reader234 a private message Print Post    
roflol costa!!

Today on chicago's talk radio WGN - they interviewed Jeffery - I didnt realize he was from the Chicago area - one of the ladies (traffic and I cant remember her name - ) was saying how she went to a party to watch the finale with Jeffrey's friends, family - and there was a collective "gasp" when they announced Melissa!!

He had been on the show a few days before the finale and he was so upbeat John, the host, thought he was such a terrible liar - it was so obvious he had won!! LOL

I tried to call in to comment - but it was not to be!!

Babyjaxmom
Member

10-20-2002

Monday, August 03, 2009 - 1:09 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Babyjaxmom a private message Print Post    
DH and I were trying to figure out when they filmed the finale. How do they keep the winner a secret with all those people (including children!) in the studio audience? I know they must have to sign confidentiality agreements, but how does no one let it slip ahead of time?

Costa, the black bean burgers are in a green box in the frozen section. They are by MorningStar Farms and come in a 12-box. "Chipotle Black Bean Burgers" is what it says on the box. We tried them on a lark and loved them. We bake them in the oven, but I think you could also pan fry or grill them, too. Enjoy!

Costacat
Member

07-15-2000

Monday, August 03, 2009 - 3:08 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Costacat a private message Print Post    
Cool. I'll look next time I go. And you should look for the veggie patties. They come in a clear plastic box with a green sleeve, from Don Lee Farms, and are about $8.00 for a box of 14. They are "made with all fresh vegetables" and are vegan. Each patty is 170 cals and has 4 gr of protein. I've never thrown them on the grill. They take only a minute a side in a pan on the stove (non stick pan, no oil or spray) and apparently microwave well although I prefer the slightly crispy crust you get on the stove.

Tntitanfan
Member

08-03-2001

Monday, August 03, 2009 - 3:30 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Tntitanfan a private message Print Post    
If you are eating out, I like Cheeseburger Charlie's black bean burger! I am not a vegetarian but try to stay away from red meats as I have to watch my cholesterol carefully! I try to have four animal product-free days a week! Well, maybe a dab of butter in the olive oil when I am caramelizing the veggie star of the day!

Costacat
Member

07-15-2000

Monday, August 03, 2009 - 3:42 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Costacat a private message Print Post    
I'm pretty sure we don't have a Cheeseburger Charlie's anywhere where I live or work. :-)

Babyjaxmom
Member

10-20-2002

Monday, August 03, 2009 - 7:00 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Babyjaxmom a private message Print Post    
Nope, never heard of that one. I do love a good vegie burger, though, especially if they use brown rice. I'm a brown rice nut!

Texannie
Member

07-16-2001

Monday, August 03, 2009 - 7:38 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Texannie a private message Print Post    
Mom gets a chance to prove she's a Food Network Star
By GREG MORAGO Copyright 2009 Houston Chronicle
Aug. 3, 2009, 5:44PM
.
Food Network
Melissa d'Arabian's new show debuts Sunday.

Before she even had the chance to celebrate or do her first interview as Food Network's newly minted food star, Melissa d'Arabian had to take her daughter to the potty.

Minutes after being chosen as the winner of the nine-week reality show The Next Food Network Star, the former Texas resident found herself in the bathroom with a pre-schooler. “A star? At the end of the day I'm in a toilet stall,” she said with a laugh. “How much more humanizing can that be?”

It was that natural good humor and honesty — not to mention her ability to whip up a fantastic dinner under pressure — that helped the 40-year-old mother of four beat out nine other contestants in the popular food show. The prize? Her own Food Network cooking show, Ten Dollar Dinners With Melissa d'Arabian, that will debut Sunday.

With no formal culinary training, the stay-at-home mom impressed judges with her sincerity, ability to think on her feet and considerable cooking chops. Positioning herself as a home cook with a mother's sensibilities, d'Arabian stated throughout the show that she had instant credibility with the busy working mom. Now she has to prove it with a show on creating tasty meals on a budget.

“The challenge isn't serving hot dogs to a family of four and calling it dinner. The challenge is to make it feel great,” she said.

“Even if you don't have to cook on a budget, you're going to be excited to see my recipes. I have some clever tips and tricks to get your food cheaper.

“I think my show is not only going to give you ideas, but you're going to walk away with techniques you can use. The Melissa twist on budgeting is more than finding an inexpensive meal, it's really about different approaches and solutions.”

D'Arabian was considered a dark horse on the show during which 10 contestants were put through cooking challenges to determine who deserved to star in a show.

In the end, d'Arabian triumphed over the very polished Jeffrey Saad during a nail-biting finale Sunday night.

Throughout the competition d'Arabian's hometown was listed as Keller, a town north of Fort Worth. But a month into the airing of the show, she and her family moved to Kirkland, Wash., for her husband's job. Keller continued to have Sunday night viewing parties to root for d'Arabian, who said she is grateful for her former neighborhood's support, as well as encouragement from fans in Texas.

What did she learn about herself during the competition? “Don't underestimate yourself.”

D'Arabian is now on the roster of Food Network talent that includes Rachael Ray, Bobby Flay, Paula Deen, Tyler Florence, Ina Garten and Giada De Laurentiis.

Costacat
Member

07-15-2000

Tuesday, August 04, 2009 - 6:23 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Costacat a private message Print Post    
"Ten Dollar Dinners?" Hmm... that's much less interesting to me, but I'll give it a chance. I'm too lazy to go look it up... anyone know what time the show airs on Sunday? Morning or evening?

Bombaycat
Member

07-21-2007

Tuesday, August 04, 2009 - 7:18 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Bombaycat a private message Print Post    
Costacat - I just checked my DVR schedule and "Ten Dollar Dinners" doesn't even show up on the schedule. I even went so far as to go thru the entire daily show schedule for FN on Sunday and only the regular shows are listed.

Texannie
Member

07-16-2001

Tuesday, August 04, 2009 - 7:26 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Texannie a private message Print Post    
If she can cook the quality of food she has for $10, I am definitely watching!!!!!

Tntitanfan
Member

08-03-2001

Tuesday, August 04, 2009 - 7:38 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Tntitanfan a private message Print Post    
Our local Wal-Mart Superstore has sriracha, but I didn't see harissa there. We have MANY large and small stores which carry the varied ingredients for a city that is 19% (last census) first generation immigrants. This is a GREAT place to eat out!

Costacat
Member

07-15-2000

Tuesday, August 04, 2009 - 8:04 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Costacat a private message Print Post    
I just went and looked on the Food Network site, and her show premieres Sunday at 12:30 pm (11:30 Central Time).

Tn, I keep sriracha in the house. You never know when you need a dash of heat to boost a dish to another level. :-)

Babyjaxmom
Member

10-20-2002

Tuesday, August 04, 2009 - 8:48 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Babyjaxmom a private message Print Post    
Well, I just searched for "Ten Dollar Dinners" on the DVR and found nothing. I'll keep looking.

Costacat
Member

07-15-2000

Tuesday, August 04, 2009 - 8:56 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Costacat a private message Print Post    
I found it on my DVR guide at 12:30 pm on Sunday. It's under FN Star Winner or something like that.

Babyjaxmom
Member

10-20-2002

Tuesday, August 04, 2009 - 10:39 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Babyjaxmom a private message Print Post    
Okay, I found it. For some reason it's showing at 9:30 a.m. on my system (Eastern time?).

Whoami
Member

08-03-2001

Tuesday, August 04, 2009 - 10:54 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Whoami a private message Print Post    
Still not showing up on my DVR. Oh Well. Give it a few more days and see.