This is it. The moment we’ve been waiting for all summer long. This Sunday is the final showdown between Jeffrey and Melissa in their toughest challenge yet. The winner will be headlining their own show on Food Network next weekend. Jeffrey or Melissa? See ya Sunday at 9pm/8c.
And, if you have missed any episodes, you can catch our all-day Star marathon starting Sunday at 1pm/12c.
Bob, Great decision! I was impressed by Melissa from the beginning of the contest. I will never miss one of her episodes. I dieing to get her recipe for her pastries as well as other dishes she made during the contest.
I also want to get the Food Network magazine but the web site will not accept my address. I know it's strange but I get many other magazines with no problems. Please have someone contact me so I can order the magazine. Thank You. Jayne Tricinella jktapt@msn.com
BOB WON'T POST MY COMMENTS ABOUT THE NEELY'S. WONDER WHY ??? IF THEIR BARF-B-QUE IS SO GREAT, WHY DON'T THEY GET OFF TV AND COOK IT ??? THEY MAKE ME SICK. LIKE I SAID, ONLY WATCHED IT ONCE, AND SAW TOOOOOO MUCH THEN. I HATE TO PICK ON SOMEONE, BUT THEY NEED IT. THEY SOULD BE ON LATE AT NIGHT – IF AT ALL – SO CHILDREN WHO LOVE TO WATCH FN COULD NOT SEE THEM . GINA COULD NOT BE MORE FAKEY IF SHE TRIED. WHAT'S HIS NAME IS SO HEN-PECKED, HE IS RIDICULOUS. EVEN MY 7 YR. OLD GRAND DAUGHTER THINKS SO. SORRY, NEELEY'S – YOU NEED TO GO, AND JEFFRFEY CAN TAKE YOUR PLACE.
I am so glad that Melissa won and I'll tell you why. Melissa grew so much during the competition! She not only listened to the feedback given to her but she didn't let her ego get in her way. Let's be honest some of those judges were harsh and all the judges were intimidating! She owned her weaknesses and talked about how to fix them — you gotta love that. Melissa knew that everyone was doubting her abilities and she made people take her seriously. While Jeffery is clearly a good chef he's not warm or believeable. Each time he got in front of the camera I felt like I was watching a car salesman in action. I didn't get Zen-master vibe I got a swarmy vibe and I didn't like it AT ALL. Melissa is not as polished as Jeffery but she is so warm and geniune that she's a pleasure to watch! I enjoyed the competition – I enjoyed watching Melissa's 4 step chicken that I couldn't wait to make it and I have to admit I said UMMM with each bite! Judges – job well done!
Did anyone notice during the finale that Jeffrey said that if he won HE would "take the foodnetwork to the next level" with the HELP of Bob, Bobby, and Susan? If he can take a whole network to "the next level", he should be running a network instead of competing for a show.
Throughout the season I thought Jeffrey was arrogant, insincere, and constantly acting. I'm so happy that they picked the right person. Great Job!
I would have watched Jeffrey!!! I won't watch Melissa – ANOTHER nothing but the" basics" show. Any chef/great cook knows everything she does. I LOVED the idea of an interesting NEW ingredient every week…Jeffrey should have won…How about giving him a show anyway!! Please. Let Paula and the Neely's go…EVERY Southern cook knows more than they do!!!
Last year was better. Melissa D'Arabian is lucky she wasn't on last year otherwise she wouldn't have made it into the top 3. She isn't doing anything new. Dinners Under 10 dollars? Snooze fest!!
I just finished watching Melissa's new show. I just loved it! All her recipes look delish. I will continue to watch Melissa!
I too hate Ace of Cakes, its not a cooking show its Arts and Crafts. I am also tired of Un wrapped.
I just watched the new show. This wasn't a dinner, it was a lunch, and there's no way it cost under $10. Melissa said the torte was just over $4. No way – for starters, it used thyme infused cream, of which the fresh thyme alone would cost over a dollar at my supermarket, not to mention the myriad other ingredients in the recipe, including the cream, bacon and Gruyere cheese. Other ingredients in the show included real maple syrup and a bag of salad greens which was apparently on sale at a great price.
The direction of the show was totally baffling. A busy mom making scratch pie crust, emulating recipes from a Parisian cafe? Is this a quick weekday meal, a Sunday brunch? Who knows? Where did all this talk of Paris come from – suddenly Melissa's the Gourmet Next Door. Her stories and her delivery were forced, and at times rushed, as she continued to make the same mistakes she made throughout the Next Food Network Star series.
Rubbing the garlic on the bowl was pointless, the olive oil appeared light, not EV, and she put her mom's initial on the pie crust, of which the recipe came from her mother in law.
This show was all over the map, and just as hard to watch as the demos Melissa did for the Next Food Network Star. I won't be watching this again. If there was any doubt this was the wrong choice, that has now been removed.
Not at all happy about Melissa winning – she's like a cook on speed. To spastic. Guess I'll just have to hope that you'll give Jeffery a show also – sure won't be watching her !!!!
I Like Jeffrey, I Loved Melissa, I Like that Melissa cook foods that i already have on hand, and she makes it so simple for me. Melissa is what food network has been missing, her personality and smile is just so bright, she shines. Jeffrey is someone who i could just watch cook cause he's great to watch even with the sound off. I know Jeffrey will make it as well. I hope food network find place to fit him in, he deserves it. And both of these guys has the most beautiful families. YOU GO GUYS.
I agree with many of the comments before —about them both having a show. I relate more to Mellisa's recipes because it everyday items you have "in the pantry" Jeff has such a great personality too and would also have a great show. They really do cook in such different ways. Totally different types of food. Go for it!!!! Break with tradition and find a show for Jeffrey too.
Well, I watched about 10 mins. of Melissa's new show. What a waste of talent! Really, potatoes & a salad? Foodnetwork, if you can't give her better receipes then this no one will ever watch. I must say I find the whole network rather boring anymore. Let's get some new ideas. Rachel Ray, Sandra Lee and Melissa all had the same type of show one right after another Sunday morning. By the time it got to Melissa I was really bored. . . .and then to see her cook potatoes and make a salad. . . .by the way Sandra Lee also did pototes. Guess I won't be watching the new star.
Watched Melissa's show. Glad she made the potatoe torte. I will make that. Not so much the salad. But I'm not sure about the $10 deal. Last time I priced Gruyere (sp) cheese, it was $12 for a small block. Of course, she didn't use all of it. But still, rather expensive to buy in the first place. And I agree with an earlier post, too much "yummie" and she had to tell us she was going to taste the dish EVERY time. I think we can figure out she's going to taste it. She doesn't have to mention it. (not a big deal, but it just kind of bugged me). And she does that 'in your face' 'eye popping' thing. She's toned it down some, but hopefully, she'll get more comfortable and slow down a bit. Anyway, at least she didn't do chicken. I just wish they wouldn't limit her to $10. And I still think they should sign Jeffrey up for something.
Anyone having trouble getting Bob's Blog "Parting Glances" to come up? For me on two different computers, the blog comes up but no posts will come up. Anyone else?
Also, maybe TPTB are still working out the kinks…but I just posted less than a minute ago and it says I posted 1 hour ago.
I made Melissa's chicken recipe for company the other nite. Everyone raved about the chicken and asked for the recipe. We absolutely loved the flavor and I loved making it. It was awesome. Lorraine, West Bloomfield, Michigan
I watched $10 dinners for the first time today. I will not be watching again. MsD'Arabian was a chatterbox , maded mistakes that could have been edited, she did not wash her hands, I got sick of listening to her brag about HER recipe, HER this and HER that, and I got so tired of listening to her talk about "when I was in Tunisia", and pouring the grease into the sauce actually made me gag, and so on. I could swear that Jeffrey made a North African dish on the last show. So she needs to copy–already–on the second show? This was so bad that I think I will switch channels when the commercial comes on.
I was glad that Melissa won. To me, she got more likeable as the season progressed, and I like her pilot demo – it was very approachable. But, I'm not so sure about her show. One of the things she said on Next Star was that she would have instant credibility with moms across America because that's what she is, but how many U.S. moms have lived in Paris or visited Tunisia? I'm still watching her show, but so far I think she's been a bit elitist.
I really think that Food Network got it it wrong. Jeffrey is so much stronger star and has more potential than Melissa to grow in the role as the next food network star.