Next food network star winners

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The Next Food Network Star finale aired Sunday evening, and ended with the crowning of 2010's champion. A trio of talented finalists, including comeback kid Tom Pizzica, consistent Aarti Sequeira and family-focused Herb Mesa, taped pilot episodes and then anxiously watched as a focus group viewed their final offerings. At hour's end, Aarti rose to the top and became the Next Food Network Star winner. Here's the play-by-play. The finale opened with the three contestants awaking and sharing their thoughts on what's to come. All seemed jittery but excited by the prospect of shooting their own pilots for the Food Network. They made their way to the Food Network kitchens and were greeted by none other than Rachael Ray, who shared that she'd be directing their pilot episodes. She also let them know that their pilots would be shown to not only the selection committee, but also a focus group comprised of Food Network viewers. Aarti was immediately intimidated by the notion of being judged by complete strangers.



Next Food Network Star 2010 Winner: Aarti Sequeira – Update: Aarti Sequeira and her magical recipes have won the competition, beating fellow contestants Tom Pizzica and Herb Mesa. Herb Mesa used to be an overweight child, and claims that he really knows cuisine. He has had a hard time coming into his own in front of the camera, but over the course of the last few episodes he has really been able to figure out the type of show that he would like to run and hone his skills. Tom Pizzica has a big personality in front of the camera. He has been the front-runner for most of the show to receive his own show on Food Network, and going into the final week his victory will depend on his final performance and the pilot for the show that he would like to make. Aarti Sequira, a popular food blogger, brings her Indian-style cuisine together with an American taste that has made her the favorite of many viewers. It will be interesting to see what the pilot of her episode looks like. The fact that she specializes in Indian cuisine could potentially limit her fan base.

This week's eliminated star was Aria Kagan, a working mother and former chef-instructor from Miami, Florida. She started out the season as one of the front-runners, winning the judges over with her bubbly personality and ease in front of the camera. With her "family style" point of view, she seemed a natural fit for the network's audience. But as the weeks wore on, she was criticized for her sometimes over-the-top enthusiasm and lackluster dishes. Last night's Iron Chef challenge didn't play to her strengths. Instead of showcasing her secret ingredient (bacon), she used it as a side dish for a family-style French-toast breakfast and atop a pedestrian Waldorf salad. The judges felt the food wasn't Iron Chef-worthy, and sent her home. Slash spoke with Aria about creating a TV concept, presenting in front of Bobby Flay and her frustrations with the judging process.