The BEST episodes of The Next Food Network Star

#1 - Episode 1

Season 1 - Episode 1 - Aired 6/5/2005

#2 - 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!

#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 - 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.

#5 - Menu: Impossible

Season 9 - Episode 9 - Aired 7/28/2013

Robert Irvine issues a challenge to the remaining contestants, asking them to rework outdated dishes on a restaurant's menu.

#6 - 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.

#7 - 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.

#8 - 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.

#9 - 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.

#10 - 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.

#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 - 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.

#13 - The Newest Food Network Star

Season 13 - Episode 11 - Aired 8/13/2017

It all comes down to the final week, as Giada De Laurentiis and Bobby Flay watch the Food Network pilots for the three finalists. Watch what happens behind the scenes of Food Network Star, and then find out who joins the Food Network family and is crowned the newest Food Network star!

#14 - 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.

#15 - 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.

#16 - 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.

#17 - 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.

#18 - 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.

#19 - 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.

#20 - 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.

#21 - 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.

#22 - 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?

#23 - 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.

#24 - 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.

#25 - Who Wants a Pilot?

Season 13 - Episode 10 - Aired 8/6/2017

The three remaining finalists are in for a shock when they learn that a previously eliminated finalist is reentering the competition after winning Star Salvation on FoodNetwork.com. With the help of former finalists, the last four competitors must cook the dish of their lives for the privilege of making a pilot. Former Food Network Star winner Eddie Jackson is back to help select the three finalists, who then shoot pilots directed by none other than Guy Fieri!