It feels like yesterday when Aarti Sequeira won Season 6′s Food Network Star title. I actually just watched her last night on TV as one of the judges in another Food Network show, CHOPPED. I have to admit though that I’ve only seen one episode of her show Arrti Party. I haven’t set her show’s schedule in my memory yet. But I sure am going to remember when Food Network Star Returns In June.
Food Network Star season 7 premieres on June 5th at 9PM ET/PT with a new set of talented 15 contestants vying for the title and a coveted cooking show in Food Network. Giada de Laurentiis comes back as Bobby Flay’s co-host, and co-judge for this new season. The 15 finalists are Justin Davis (Minneapolis), Howie Drummond (Highlands Ranch, Colo.), Jyll Everman (Glendora, Calif.), Susie Jimenez (Carbondale, Colo.), Juba Kali (New Orleans), Jeff Mauro (Elmwood Park, Ill.), Vic “Vegas” Moea (Las Vegas), Chris Nirschel (Hoboken, N.J.), Orchid Paulmeier (Bluffton, S.C.), Alicia Sanchez (New York), Mary Beth Albright (Washington, D.C.), Justin Balmes (Marietta, Ga.), Whitney Chen (New York), Katy Clark (Long Beach, Calif.), and Penny Davidi (Los Angeles).
The first episode will feature the 15 finalists cooking a breakfast dish which will highligh their individual culinary style for the initial challenge. They will then be divided into 5 groups of 3 to create a 4-course meal for an on-air promo which will be judged by Mario Lopez (Extra), Hal Rubenstein (InStyle) and Jess Cagle (Entertainment Weekly). The show culminates on August 14 for the season finale with a twist. Instead of the usual 3 finalists filming their signature pilot episodes, only 2 will be selected this time around. A surprise guest will direct the pilot videos which will be judged and deliberated by the judges.
