The BEST episodes of Food Network Star
Every episode of Food Network Star ever, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of Food Network Star!
The Next Food Network Star is a reality television series produced by and aired on the Food Network in the United States which awards the winner his or her own series on the Food Network.
#1 - Savory Baking
Season 11 - Episode 2 - Aired 6/14/2015
The Finalists are tested on their adaptability in the two challenges today. First, they create inspiring dishes using leftovers, which they present to Giada De Laurentiis, Bobby Flay and guest judge Melissa d'Arabian. Then, they serve and present a savory dish inspired by the world of desserts to five of the country's finest pastry chefs. Guest Judge Alex Guarnaschelli will help Giada and Bobby determine which Finalist will be going home.
#2 - Trendy Dinner
Season 11 - Episode 3 - Aired 6/21/2015
It's all about keeping up with the latest food trends when the Finalists first create and photograph their own version of tiny foods, and then create a five-course meal where each course corresponds to a buzzword. The Kitchen's Sunny Anderson and Geoffrey Zakarian join Giada De Laurentiis and Bobby Flay to decide which Finalist failed to trend.
#3 - 4th of July Cookout
Season 11 - Episode 4 - Aired 6/28/2015
The Finalists are split into teams of three, tasked with creating and presenting a cohesive menu to a crowd of hungry families at a 4th of July cookout. Guest judge Bobby Deen joins Giada De Laurentiis and Bobby Flay to determine which team is safe, and which Finalist will be sent home.
#4 - The Perfect Match
Season 11 - Episode 5 - Aired 7/5/2015
In the Mentor Challenge, the Finalists' favorite ingredients are swapped with that of another Finalist for a dish they prepare for Giada De Laurentiis and Bobby Flay. Then, they arrive at Patina Restaurant in downtown Los Angeles where they are paired up to collaborate on a dish that blends their culinary styles, presenting that dish to first-time daters from Match. Anne Burrell and Joachim Splichal, Master Chef of Patina Group, join Giada and Bobby at the judging table.
#5 - Improv
Season 11 - Episode 6 - Aired 7/12/2015
In the Mentor Challenge, the Finalists are tasked with creating and presenting an enticing pizza with kicked-up flavors for Giada De Laurentiis, Bobby Flay, and guest judges Duff Goldman and Darin Harris, CEO of CiCi's Pizza. In the Star Challenge, Bobby and guest David Alan Grier randomly assign each Finalist several criteria for their dishes, which they'll present in a demo for a crowd filled with food and comedy fans. Susie Fogelson and Bob Tuschman assist Giada and Bobby in eliminating the least successful Finalist.
#6 - Food Truck Throwdown
Season 11 - Episode 7 - Aired 7/19/2015
In their first challenge, the Finalists create and present a portable version of their favorite brunch dish to Giada De Laurentiis and Bobby Flay. Then, guest judge Richard Blais pairs the Finalists into teams, who create a social media promo video for their own food trucks. These videos will be shown to food truck enthusiasts, who will get food from the truck they most want to taste.
#7 - Lifestyle Brand
Season 11 - Episode 8 - Aired 7/26/2015
With a focus on their lifestyle brands, the Finalists first create and present a dish that a home cook can prepare in 30 to 45 minutes. Then, they cook and film a video for a dish that reflects a holiday through their culinary point of view. Damaris Phillips serves as guest director for their video presentations, and then joins Giada De Laurentiis, Bobby Flay, Susie Fogelson and Bob Tuschman at the judging table.
#8 - We Have a Winner
Season 11 - Episode 11 - Aired 8/16/2015
The final three are joined by the nine eliminated Finalists to view their pilots, along with Giada De Laurentiis, Bobby Flay, Susie Fogelson and Bob Tuschman. After the screening, the Selection Committee deliberates, and Brooke Johnson, president of Food Network, announces the winner of Food Network Star!
#9 - Food Star Food Festival
Season 11 - Episode 1 - Aired 6/7/2015
The 12 Food Network Star Finalists hit Los Angeles running, tasked with making an introductory video for the food festival being held the following day, where they will serve their signature dish. Along with Mentors Giada De Laurentiis and Bobby Flay, their dishes and presentations will be judged by Food Network executives Bob Tuschman and Susie Fogelson, joined by People Magazine's JD Heyman.
#11 - Live TV
Season 11 - Episode 9 - Aired 8/2/2015
In this week's challenges, the Finalists learn that there are no second takes in live TV. After cooking and demoing a dish based on an assigned theme, the Finalists cook a dish and host their own segment of a live ensemble show. The Kitchen's Jeff Mauro and Katie Lee assist Giada De Laurentiis and Bobby Flay in determining which Finalist had the worst performance.
#12 - Hollywood Calling
Season 10 - Episode 1 - Aired 6/1/2014
Twelve hopefuls arrive in Los Angeles to compete for the ultimate prize: their own show on Food Network. The finalists meet mentors Alton Brown, Giada De Laurentiis and Bobby Flay, who help prepare the finalists for their big debut at a Hollywood premiere party, where each contestant must prepare and present one party appetizer to Food Network executives Bob Tuschman and Susie Fogelson, as well as Hollywood insiders, including E!'s Ross Mathews, who help decide which contestants have a shot at becoming a Food Network Star. One finalist's dream ends here, and the remaining 11 continue their Star journey.
#13 - A Food Star Is Born
Season 10 - Episode 11 - Aired 8/10/2014
The results are in! America has voted to determine who will be the next Food Network Star. Before the winner is revealed, all of the finalists are back in the studio to tell all and view never-before-seen footage from the season. Bobby Flay, Alton Brown and Giada De Laurentiis each share their favorite moments during an emotional look back at the final three's journey to the finale. Then, suspense rises as the time comes to reveal who will walk away as the new Food Network Star.
#14 - Rachael Ray Show
Season 10 - Episode 9 - Aired 7/27/2014
Testing their abilities to think on their feet and react to any situation thrown at them, the finalists are tasked with solving a culinary problem for a Rachael Ray viewer. They must each create a dish that addresses the viewer's problem, then perform a demo of the dish on the Rachael Ray Show. The Selection Committee watches the action backstage and determines who will continue.
#15 - One-of-a-Kind Experience
Season 10 - Episode 8 - Aired 7/20/2014
As Las Vegas is all about one-of-a-kind experiences, the finalists are divided into two teams, and each must each create a memorable dining experience for the Selection Committee along with special guest Penn Jillette. The team voted least successful lands in the bottom three.
#16 - Vegas Pool Party
Season 10 - Episode 7 - Aired 7/13/2014
The finalists are challenged with creating dishes that represent them, and each finalist must describe his or her dish to guests at a pool party at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. The Selection Committee decides who did the best overall and sends one finalist home.
#17 - Product Commercial
Season 10 - Episode 6 - Aired 7/6/2014
Each finalist is tasked with creating a product that represents his or her unique brand and culinary style. After receiving feedback from the judges, each finalist makes a commercial for his or her product in an unorthodox setting.
#18 - Internet Marketing Video
Season 10 - Episode 4 - Aired 6/22/2014
Today's Food Network Stars must have a multiplatform presence. In the Mentor Challenge, Bobby Flay tests the social-media acumen of the finalists by having them each create a behind-the-scenes video selfie in the Food Star Kitchen. For the Star Challenge, the finalists are teamed up to make an Internet marketing video for a Hershey's candy product. The videos are shot at YouTube's soundstages and judged by two YouTube executives. Whose video will have the judges wanting to hit "forward," and whose will have them "deleted" from the competition?
#19 - America Picks a Star
Season 9 - Episode 11 - Aired 8/11/2013
The Season 9 winner is revealed during a reunion show featuring never-before-seen footage and reflections from the competitors and mentors.
#20 - Network Pitch
Season 9 - Episode 10 - Aired 8/4/2013
The four finalists pitch their ideas for a show to Food Network executives Bob Tuschman and Susie Fogelson, who choose three of the concepts to be made into pilots directed by Guy Fieri.
#21 - Food Stories From The Road
Season 9 - Episode 8 - Aired 7/21/2013
The finalists are divided into teams to film a three minute "food story show" about a pizza joint and a donut shop. Guest judges from The Hollywood Reporter screen and critique the shows, and the least successful team lands in the bottom three.
#22 - Star Charity Auction
Season 9 - Episode 7 - Aired 7/14/2013
The finalists must use an unusual ingredient to create a dish which they will then auction to a roomful of adventurous eaters.
#23 - Product Pitch
Season 9 - Episode 6 - Aired 7/7/2013
Food Network Stars need to communicate big ideas quickly, so this week, each finalist will have to come up with a product representing their unique brand and culinary style and then create, package and pitch the product to a tough panel of successful food executives from Target, Kellogg's and Kraft. The selection committee will decide who did best overall, and who will go home.
#24 - 4th of July Live
Season 9 - Episode 5 - Aired 6/30/2013
Food Network Stars often participate in live TV events where they're required to think on their feet and react to any situation thrown at them. Special guest, Terrence Jenkins, from E! News, will host our finalists as they do live cooking demos — with some curveballs. Then the finalists participate in "4th of July Live," a one-take interactive show that helps the viewers at home with must-have recipes and tips for summer parties.
#25 - Please Try This at Home
Season 10 - Episode 2 - Aired 6/8/2014
A Food Network Star must be able to teach home viewers how to prepare great meals. In the Mentor Challenge, Alton Brown challenges the finalists to teach him a recipe. Then for the Star Challenge, the finalists must create a video demonstrating one of their own dishes for the home viewer. What they don't know is that Chef Alex Guarnaschelli will be playing along, trying to make the dish. After Alex is revealed to the finalists, she helps the Selection Committee decide who will be sent home.