WATCH: Rob Cramps Damiano's Style
Eddy Chen, 2016, Television Food Network, G.P. All Rights Reserved.
Each and every one of the challenges on Food Network Star was important this season, from the finalists' first attempts at cold-open videos in the premiere episode to the holiday parties that took place in Week 9. But Sunday night's very last face-off was indeed the most-crucial one for Damiano, Jernard, Tregaye and Yaku, the competitors still remaining at that point, as Giada told them, "Each of you will have 60 minutes to cook the dish of your life." The mentors would be tasting those dishes and watching their corresponding videos before doling out just three pilot opportunities, so all the finalists realized the higher-than-ever stakes at hand.
All four hopefuls welcomed help from sous chefs as they worked on their dishes, but for Damiano, baking alongside Rob quickly turned into more of a burden than a blessing. He was set on making St. Honoré cake, which he called "the best dessert you can make," and he looked to Rob for assistance in executing it. But thanks to Rob's unfamiliarity with baking, he only managed to cause Damiano stress. "I'm a guy that prides himself on re-creating leftovers and making comfort food. I've never used a scale," Rob declared after Damiano saddled him with taking metric measurements for a series of ingredients. What ensued was a tense — albeit downright hilarious — back-and-forth between Damiano and Rob as they attempted to work together to complete Damiano's dish on time.
Click the play button on the video above to watch Rob test out his baking chops alongside Damiano, and see what happens when Rob is left fumbling in the pantry for an all-important tool.
Tune in to the finale of Food Network Star on Sunday at 9|8c to find out who is crowned Food Network's newest Star.