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Season 4 Cast of "The Next Food Network Star"
Season 4 Cast of "The Next Food Network Star" - © Food Network
14 PICTURES
Teddy Folkman on "The Next Food Network Star" Michael Proietti on "The Next Food Network Star" Melissa d'Arabian on "The Next Food Network Star" The Next Food Network Star Pictures
 
The stakes are higher than ever when "The Next Food Network Star" returns with a star-studded fifth season on Food Network. As television's most challenging food fight, "The Next Food Network Star" provides 10 hopeful TV chefs the chance to compete for the ultimate dream job: his or her own Food Network show. Iron Chef Bobby Flay leads the selection committee that ultimately decides the winner's fate and launches one lucky man or woman into a food and television celebrity. When "The Next Food Network Star" kicks off its fifth season, the finalists cater Food Network's "Sweet 16" party with network talent and media there to judge.

The 10 finalists on season 5 of "The Next Food Network Star" include: Brett August (Washington Heights, New York), Katie Cavuto (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania), Melissa d'Arabian (Keller, Texas), Teddy Folkman (Alexandria, Virginia), Eddie Gilbert (Manhattan Beach, California), Jen Isham (Orlando, Florida), Debbie Lee (West Hollywood, California), Jamika Pessoa (Atlanta, Georgia), Michael Proietti (New York, New York and Jeffrey Saad (Los Angeles, California).

This season's finalists on "The Next Food Network Star" must prove their culinary expertise and star potential through a series of complex challenges. In each episode of "The Next Food Network Star," their cooking chops will be put to the test to see who can handle the pressure and present the most mouth-watering food. Challenges include catering a party for a roomful of Food Network stars, impressing the "Barefoot Contessa" herself in the Hamptons and preparing a comforting meal for returning soldiers on the Intrepid Sea, Air, and Space Museum. "The Next Food Network Star" also flies to sunny Miami for the first time where the finalists must survive a beachside wood-grilling challenge for Red Lobster and create a delicious dinner for a group of culinary elite. Throughout the season on "The Next Food Network Star," they will also have to prove they have star quality and dazzle a variety of media outlets with their personalities, including Access Hollywood, Good Housekeeping, Esquire, Food Network Magazine, and USA Weekend.

Rachael Ray, Giada De Laurentiis, Alton Brown, Guy Fieri, Ina Garten, Emeril Lagasse, Gina and Pat Neely, Masaharu Morimoto, Ted Allen, Tyler Florence, Michael Symon and the season four winner, Aaron McCargo, Jr., will appear throughout the season on "The Next Food Network Star"  to help guide the finalists through the challenges. The selection committee comprised of Flay and Food Network executives, Bob Tuschman (Senior Vice President, Programming and Production) and Susie Fogelson (Vice President, Marketing and Brand Strategy), will narrow the field down until the finale. The winner of "The Next Food Network Star" will receive a six-episode show that will premiere in August 2009.

"The Next Food Network Star" is produced by CBS EYE too Productions.






THE NEXT FOOD NETWORK STAR: FACTS

Network: Food Network
Genre: Reality
Runtime: 60 mins.
Premiere Date: June 5, 2005
Seasons: 5
Production Company: CBS EYE too Productions




THE NEXT FOOD NETWORK STAR: NEWS


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