Next Food Network Star - Episode 3

Episode 3 has come and go. They all seems to be getting better all the time which is good, but it is only making the worst look EVEN WORSE!

I am pretty damn happy that Dzintra got the boot. Seriously I would love to see her audition tape just to see what she did so well that got her on the show.

OK, on to the good stuff. THE FOOD!

The challenge was based on MOVIE TYPES. With my lovely wife by my side she bravely picked HORROR! Thank god that she picked one that fit me to a T!


Bloody Rib(eye) with Braised Asparagus Spears

Get whatever cherry products that they have in the kitchen and get them on the stove to get reducing so once the steak is cooked it can get a nice glaze over it. Not so much that it would cloud the yumminess that IS a steak but enough to get a sour coat on it.


I think the sauce and plating would have been good enough to keep me moving on. For something I love so much, it was really hard to get this one together. Weird. The STAR CHALLENGE was walking the Red Carpet and they were SO ANNOYING, Aarti did the best. She is annoying and I wouldn't watch her show but she did well. At the end of the carpet they received a "swag bag" with an ingredient in it. Amanda chose BRAD, whom she thinks has a good chance at taking this thing. What he got was CHOCOLATE. Then you were partnered up with someone else bag and had to make a dual dish.

Individual Dish:
Dark Chocolate Chipotle Dusted Scallops with a Sweet Potato Puree

Super easy, super quick so you can get on to the dual dish. Grind the chocolate and dry chipotle peppers to make a nice powder. Get the potatoes in the water and boiling like crazy. Cook them until they are mega tender. Get the potatoes out and into a food mill and fine mesh strainer and hit it with some salt and cinnamon. WIN!

The dual dish challenge came with Telagio cheese. YIKES. Chocolate and cheese DO work really well together but WOW, not easy but:

Dual Dish
Chocolate Heavy "mole" BBQ Chicken breast with a Telagio Truffled Mac and Cheese

The Mole would have to get on ASAP because even if it is a FAKE, it is still going to need to meld together. Cloves, garlic, ancho, tomato, citrus zest, etc and of course dark chocolate. The nicely seasoned and seared chicken breast would get sliced for saucing later.

The mac and cheese would be a no brainer. Telagio Bechamel and a fresh garlic breadcrumb to get you some crunch in there. It would take a bit of some other creamy white cheese like brie or maybe a La Tor. The truffle could get in there by coating the cooked pasta with truffle oil or if you were lucky enough to get some real truffle just shave some on top of your portion. But this ain't Top Chef, so I am going to go with the oil.

All in all, compared to the other dishes, I think this would have won it. What do YOU think? I look forward to your opinions!