An Interview With the Winner of Rachael vs. Guy: Celebrity Cook-Off by Joseph Erdos in Shows, February 10th, 2013
The second season of Rachael vs. Guy: Celebrity Cook-Off has been filled with challenges that have gone beyond the call of cooking and has had its share of celebrities pulling any antic at a chance of winning the competition. But tonight, the show has one winner, a very deserving individual who has gone through many ups and downs. FN Dish has the exclusive interview with the champion of Rachael vs. Guy: Celebrity Cook-Off.
Last night’s finale had the competition reduced to just two celebrities: Carnie and Dean. The challenge this time would have them cooking a dinner for 11 special guests made up of celebrity chefs and VIPs. In 90 minutes they would each create a three-course meal, which would be voted upon by the dinner guests. By the end a winner would be declared and a donation of $50,000 would be handed out to his or her charity.
It was an even playing field for both Dean and Carnie. Neither would know what ingredients would be available to them in the kitchen. They did, however, have some time to meet with their mentors to come up with a plan. Guy advised Dean to focus on a lot of proteins that captured the theme of elegance and decadence. Rachael encouraged Carnie not to think about what Dean was making and to stick to the comfort foods she knows. Luckily Dean and Carnie wouldn’t be doing it all alone. Rachael brought in Carnie’s friend Amy and Guy brought in Dean’s friend Scout to help the celebrities get dinner prepped and cooked. Besides some nervousness and anxiousness on the part of the finalists, the dinner went off without a hitch.
Also see:
Finale Recap (Video)
Watch the Full Episode (Video)
Episode 6 Highlights (Photos)
Dean’s Journey to the Win (Photos)
When it came to discussing the dishes, most of the guests agreed that Carnie’s dishes were very flavorful, but sometimes suffered in plating, and Dean’s dishes were overly ambitious and overcomplicated but still flavorful. When it came to announcing the winner, Rachael and Guy surprised the celebrities with the news that the runner-up would also be receiving a donation to his or her charity of $10,000. And to join Dean and Carnie in the announcement would be their families. The result could have gone any which way, because only one vote separated the two contestants. But in the end, Dean was declared the winner (read Carnie’s interview here). Watch Dean’s interview below.
What was your goal in doing this competition?
Dean McDermott: I got into this competition to help a charity near and dear to my heart. Miracle Babies helps families in need of neonatal intensive care. It’s a charity that hits home because my wife and I were trying to prevent a premature birth with our fourth child. I want to help others in need. I’m playing for my wife and my children. The fact that my kids were there at the finale made the moment even more special.
What went through your head when they announced you were the winner?
DM: I wasn’t sure that I heard it right. It seemed too perfect. It felt surreal. I thought the vote would be really close and I didn’t know which way it would go. When they announced I was the winner I was shocked. I couldn’t believe I had won the competition. It was so weird because almost every emotion went out of my body. I was stunned more than anything. I really pushed myself. It was the hardest I’ve ever worked for something. I can’t believe I did it.
You came into the competition calling yourself the Gourmet Dad. How does it feel now to have taken the first step to possibly becoming a celebrity chef like Guy or Rachael?
DM: I started this competition wanting to win for my charity, Miracle Babies. That never changed throughout the competition — that’s what I was here for. But I also realized I was playing for validation. I came to the competition as the Gourmet Dad and I needed to prove myself. I didn’t want to just be a name and not show up with any goods. It was really important that I put my best foot forward, put my head down and do the absolute best I could. The fact that I won for my charity is amazing. But I also won as the Gourmet Dad. I got the validation. I have a passion for this and I want to pursue this. And it’s amazing I’m taking steps toward becoming a Guy Fieri or Rachael Ray. I aspire to have what they have. I have a passion for food and cooking, bringing people together and being the Gourmet Dad. I’ve got some street cred as the Gourmet Dad — now I can go around and say that I’m the Rachael vs. Guy Season-2 Champion.
What have you learned on this journey? How has your level of cooking changed in comparison to when you started?
DM: The journey that I’ve been on in this competition has taken me from a pretty good cook to a great cook with a lot of confidence, who also has a lot more to learn and wants to learn. I’ve cooked for Rachael and Guy, for people with discerning palates and for little kids who are nothing but completely honest. I’ve cooked for restaurant owners, critics and star chefs. The confidence that it has given me is amazing. The mentorship that Guy has given me and his energy, knowledge and inspiration have made me a hundred times better than when I started this competition. It’s made me even thirstier for knowledge. I want to know more. I want to get better. I want to keep going with this. Winning this competition has all signs pointing to “Yes, you are doing the right thing, going down the right path.” I’m in love with cooking now more than ever. I would do this competition all over again.
What’s next for you?
DM: I want to go back to school and get my associate degree. I want to be the Gourmet Dad on Food Network. I want to open restaurants. I’ve always wanted to have a food truck. I think I’ll start with the food truck first and then move up to the restaurant. I found a great friend in Guy Fieri and I want to cultivate that friendship. I think he’s a great guy. I learned so much from him. He’s offered me opportunities that you can’t pass up. He’s invited me to come to his restaurants and work there, in the kitchen, with the manager, the service staff — just to learn everything that there is to learn about the restaurant business in a hands-on environment. Who does that? He’s an amazing guy. He’s the real deal.
You had a stronger relationship with Guy that anyone else on your team. What was your relationship like? Are you guys going to get tattoos together?
DM: I was really excited to meet Guy. I had never met him before. I’ve met Rachael before and she’s amazing. But I was nervous to meet Guy. We have a lot of things in common. We both have tats. We’re both edgy dads. He likes hot rods, I like motorcycles. Because of that we’re very similar guys, except for the hair and that I don’t wear my sunglasses on the back of my head, though I might start. We hit it off right from the start. He’s just a dude, a guy. He’s someone I can relate to. He certainly has made something of himself but he never forgot where he came from. I grew up with nothing and I’ve become successful in my chosen career. And I don’t forget that. I think that if you’re phony, it will catch up with you. He’s a “what you see is what you get” kind of guy and so am I. We connected on that level.
Guy and I made a pact, that if I won we’d have to get some new ink. I’d like to take him to see my tattoo guy and I would love to get R vs. G tattooed somewhere with the date I won the competition and — I know lots of people have it — but a knife and a fork crossed, or a knife and a wrench crossed. I want something cool and culinary.
Guy’s career started on a competition show. Do you think a cooking career might happen for you now?
DM: I hold out a lot of hope. Guy started by winning a Food Network competition show and look at him now — he’s a rock star, the face of the network. I was driving home the other day and I kept seeing Guy on all the billboards. He’s all over. He’s so identifiable with the spiky blonde hair, the glasses, chains and tats. Maybe I could go that same route. I’d love to. He’s so successful and I’m really impressed with how he started. I might be the next Guy Fieri or Deano Fieri.
How does it feel to have won?
DM: I’m so thrilled to have won for so many different reasons. And I’m so happy that I managed to put one up on the scoreboard for Guy. It was looking pretty bad there for a while — it was down to just me, I was the only representative for Team Guy. I didn’t want to be that person who didn’t bring the win home for Guy. I didn’t want to be on the losing team. He so deserves it and I wanted to win it for him. I am the first win for Guy Fieri on Rachael vs. Guy. I wanted to be that guy and now I am.
What is the biggest thing you learned about yourself through all of this?
DM: I’m really proud of myself. Aside from having my children and my beautiful wife, this is one of the most amazing things that I’ve done. I learned so much about myself. I learned to put myself out there and to not be afraid of the outcome, just to try my best. I won for all the people and the reasons I wanted to. And I couldn’t have done it without my teammates and I certainly couldn’t have done it without the love and support of my family.
Donate to Dean’s chosen charity, Miracle Babies.
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More posts from Joseph Erdos.
Tags: Dean McDermott, Exit Interview, Rachael vs. Guy: Celebrity Cook-Off, rvg exit interview
I totally agree with those saying it was pre-determined from the beginning. You could tell week to week who was going to win and Dean came off as very insincere and phony. I think it's pathetic that such a great network allows / promotes such blatant biased outcomes just to promote something or some show Dean probably has coming out on their network soon. They must think we're idiots – actually, I think I'm an idiot for watching the series and believing it would have come out differently. Carnie, Hines, Johnny and all the others were great and kudos to them. Shame on Food Network for such a farce. On the up side, at least the charities were recognized and got some help.
He's an actor – albeit a D-list one. So he seems insincere and phony. . . guess that's why he wants to be a chef. . . can't act to save his bacon.
would LOVE to find some of Carnie's recipes here on the web site…esp. the one from last night–the apple fritters, but ALL I can find is ones from the winner…DEAN!! Totally unfair! There were OTHER contestants that had recipes that we the public were/are interested in AS WELL!! Ones that the average mother has $$$ for and TIME for and that the average FAMILY would have the palate for and look forward to eating for gosh sakes!! Plus…I don't know about anyone else's pantry, but I for one have more of what Carnie has in HER pantry as opposed to what Tori and Dean has in THEIRS!!!
Agreed – Dean was totally overdoing everything. But glad Carnie still earned money for her charity. One sided show.
Read the comment from Dean's interview. Not a great winner – totally about him and his world.
You want Carnie food go to McDonald's or get a random recipe from the back of a box of Velveeta.
You need to get your own recipes!!Of course they would have Deans he WON!! Why would they have the losers recipes??? It makes no difference what someone have in their PANTRY! You put what you want in YOURS!!!!!!!
Sorry but women's egos can't let you realize men for the most part are equal or better chefs than women.They only show Deans recipes because, news flash, Dean won….Carnie had some great recipes, but she came in second, as far i'm concerned Carnie should have been gone long ago, she was so panicky and skater brained in the kitchen every show…..That how saw it.
I can't believe how worked up some of you are. It's a celebrity cooking show for CHARITY. Not the Nobel Prize. I like Tori and Dean's shows on Oxygen and I rooted for him – glad he won for a charity close to his heart. And classy of Food Network to give $10K to Carnie's charity as well. The only criticism I have is that if they want to continue these shows they really have to test the celebrities and see if they can actually cook. Don't let their agents speak for them.
I thoroughly enjoyed this season of Rachel vs Guy. Even tho he couldn't cook, Gilbert Gottfried was a hoot. The two teams skits were hilarious. I didn't know much about Johnny Weir, but even looked him up on the internet, only to find he is a world class champion figure skater. But he also added some real fun and over the top camp to the entire first few episodes. Hines was down to earth, and one can easily see why he is already a two time national winner and fan favorite, in both the Superbowl, and Dancing with the starts. I enjoyed Kathy's sophisticated, yet sweet sense of sincerity and her cooking skills. Even the socialite Cornelia Guest, eliminated in the second episode won my respect for her efforts and sincerity. I am no pollyanna to jump on the bandwagon type of person. But Carny, while a bit of a drama queen, certainly was dedicated. And I was hoping Dean would be the final winner, all along. So he has a famous wife, and may not otherwise be very well known. I think he went above and beyond, digging deep to work on his cooking skills and learn as he went along. He was amazing with the kids, and certainly had a well founded dedication to his charity. Whether the winners on these shows are pre-determined, and I have also gotten upset when other's I favored on other shows lost, this time food network gave us contestants with some heart felt values and some wonderfull organizations they were working to support. I don't imagine it is easy to put your self on the line for this many episodes, revealing your strengths and weaknesses, being away from your family. So,if Gibert raised awareness of the problems facing returning vets, if Chili opened some minds about the challenges young women face, if Johnny helped garner some support for GLBTG teens and their plight, if Hines raised awareness that multi-racial teens need support, if Carny raised awareness of the problems faced by autistic kids, and if Dean helped provide support for families with neo-natal babies needing ICU care, I think we all win. If they use their exposure to do more to reach their individual dreams, I fully support their efforts. I, personally, hope Dean does become the Gourmet Dad. And that he and Guy hang out and do a few double triples D's.
Thanks Nancy – your check is in the mail for your glowing response. FN loves to hear from people from you.
Nancy – or should I say Rachel – wonderful clarity on the 'contestants' of this edition of celebrity 'I have nothing to lose or do at the moment' – I'm so glad you had the time to type all that
Acts 2:42-47: And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in.
waaaaaaaaa
wtf.. you saying good or bad???
you got it right babez.. haters gon hate..
Right behind you on this one Mrs. Ray!!!!!!!!
way to go Dean………….
Wow, if you all disliked the show so much and felt it rigged why did you bother watching? I enjoy the competition, love Rachael and Guy and am happy with the outcome. Nothing Carnie made appealed to me personally, but it seems that the judges enjoyed her flavors and that she was a sweet person so good for her and good for her charity for coming in second place and winning ten grand. Unlike The Next Food Network Star, Rachael VS. Guy pits celebrity against celebrity, none of the contestants are "home cooks" in the way they are on TNFNS, they are all already well known and so if this is a spring board for their latest show, cd, whatever, then good for them. Anyway like I said, I really enjoyed the show and can't wait for the next season!
I really thought this was a fix, Dean should have not won Carny is th winner
The show ended on a bad note when FN chose to have foul mouth Kathy Griffin on. why would they chose her, she is a no talent , the only thing she can do is call kids of some politicians names.
Oh Thank GOD, I'm not the only one. Wonder – is there anything lower than the "D List"?
@ Just Saying – lower than D list – that would be Reality Stars
cause you kno.. cause your talk sho an comedy tours sell out.. bs is ovr now game over
From the start, I was hoping it would be one of these two as the winner, so I would have been happy either way. I was not familiar with Dean McDermott before this competition, but admired him almost instantly for his sincerity, generosity, and ease with the other contestants. Carnie feels like a soul mate, and I couldn't help but appreciate the way she overcame panic mode. The only "clinker" in the whole episode, in my opinion, was Rachael fawning over LDP. How many times did she say "we MISS you"? At least three times made it to broadcast….
Why don't cooks wear hats anymore? Are people more comfotable these days with hair in their food? I think not!
and why don't tv cooks wear sleeves – are people comfortable with hair in their food – ICK
Hats are for wimps. Great chef shave!!
Guy wears Bling and Giada wears cleavage.
last time l checked cle@vage don't has hair
some do.. espesialy in glbt land..