Grill Em' All Takes Over NYC

This weekend is the Grill Em' All Truck Victory Lap NYC tour. They are the winners of The Great American Food Truck Race on the Food Network.

I got my burger! Yes, the burger I was dreaming about...The Behemoth (pic on the left). It was meaty cheesy goodness. They use 2 grilled cheese sandwiches as buns (Genius!!)...then add smoked cheddar, applewood smoked bacon and beer soaked onions. YUM!! I had the Waste Em' All burger the night before. The marinated green chilies gave the burger an amazing smoky taste. So good!!

I have to mention the delicious Double Dipped Frites with truffle oil (pic on the right). You have to get the these!! And don't forget the chipotle ketchup. I don't know what I'm going to do when I get a craving for these frites. Road Trip! When I go to L.A. you know my first stop will be the Grill Em' All Truck!!

They have more stops today and tomorrow. Get a burger before they leave New York and head back to L.A. Check out burgerconquest.com for all the info. and follow the guys on twitter @GrillEmAllTruck.

Set Your TiVo: The Great Food Truck Race (finale)

The season finale of The Great Food Truck Race airs Sunday, September 19th @ 9/8c on the Food Network. The final two teams are Grill 'Em All and Nom Nom Truck. Both teams are from Los Angeles, CA. The last challenge takes place in New York City. The Nom Nom Truck has won every city of the race but the guys from Grill 'Em All are the underdogs. I wish I could have got one of those Grill 'Em All burgers!!

Check out the team at  http://www.foodnetwork.com.

Set Your TiVo: Aarti Party

Check out the promo for Aarti Paarti (or Aarti Party). As the winner of The Next Food Network Star, Aarti Sequeira will have her new show air on the Food Network this Sunday, August 22 @ noon/11c. I'm looking forward to seeing the show. Maybe I'll learn a few things...or at least talk the hubby into cooking something for me!!

It's Time For An Aarti Party!!!

Congratulations to Aarti Sequeira for winning The Next Food Network Star. Her cooking pulls from her heritage. She was born in India and raised in Dubai. Aarti has an online blog/cooking show called “Aarti Paarti.”

Look for her show coming to the Food Network in just a week. Crazy how fast they are going to push the show out. I really think the show will be good. She has star quality. My pick was Aarti but the if I was going to buy someones cookbook or TiVo the show it would have been Herb. I liked Tom but I would love to see him doing one of those shows that travels to different restaurants. Hopefully we will see all of them on the Food Network (or the Cooking channel).

Set Your TiVo: The Next Food Network Star 6

The Next Food Network Star season 6 two-hour premiere airs Sunday, June 6th @ 9/8c on the Food Network. Meet the 12 chefs competing this season at FoodNetwork.com.

The Food Network's Newest Star

Melissa d'Arabian is The Next Food Network Star!!

The 40 year-old mother of 4 from Keller, Texas will have her own cooking show. Melissa will show everyone how to survive in the kitchen. She beat out Jeffery Saad in the finale. I really liked the idea of Jeffery's show but I thought Melissa's show was something I would actually get a recipe from and cook. I think Jeffery should turn his show into a travel show...maybe the Food Network will pick that up (or the Travel Channel).

The Food Network isn't wasting anytime getting her show out...It will premiere next week. Check out the video of Melissa working on her new show and what she had to say after her big win on Foodnetwork.com.

Set Your TiVo: The Chef Jeff Project Finale

The Chef Jeff Project took six at-risk young adults and attempted to turn their lives around by putting them to work in his catering company, Posh Urban Cuisine. Chef Jeff has armed them with the knowledge, the skills and, ultimately, someone will have the opportunity of a new life time to take their culinary career to the next level.

The Chef Jeff Project Finale airs Sunday, November 16 @ 10pm/9c on the Food Network.

Tonight - The Chef Jeff Project

The Chef Jeff Project

Executive chef and bestselling author Jeff Henderson developed a passion for cooking while incarcerated. In his new show, The Chef Jeff Project, he puts six at-risk youth to work at his catering company to help turn their lives around.

Premieres tonight (10/12/08) @ 10PM on the Food Network.

EVENT: The Food Network New York City Wine & Food Festival

The Food Network New York City Wine & Food Festival presented by Food & Wine magazine is the only festival in New York to bring together both legendary culinary icons from around the globe and America’s most beloved television chefs. Mirroring the charitable component of the Food Network South Beach Wine and Food Festival, the New York City festival will benefit the hunger relief programs Food Bank for New York City and Share Our Strength.

This is my kind of event. All my favorite Food Network Stars will have events during the festival. Some events are sold out...so if you are interested attending, you should get tickets soon.

The Food Network New York City Wine & Food Festival is Thursday, October 9 - Sunday, October 12, 2008. You can purchase tickets at https://www.imgtickets.com/OnlineCustom/default.asp?brand=NYC.

Set Your TiVo - Big Daddy's House

The Food Network isn't wasting anytime rolling out their newest show. Aaron McCargo, Jr., the 2008 winner of the Next Food Network Star, is ready to take his place on the channel. I always liked the concept of Aaron's show. I still do. But when I watched Lisa's show for the final challenge, I actually liked it better.

Aaron's new show, Big Daddy's House, airs Sunday, August 3rd @ 1:30pm/12:30c on the Food Network. The clip below is a behind the scenes interview on the set of his new show.

Casting Call: Hopeless Cooks

Food Network's Open Call for Hopeless Cooks

Are you a hopeless cook? Or, is someone you know totally incompetent in the kitchen?

Food Network is looking for the most disastrous cooks in the country to participate in a very different culinary competition show! This is the opportunity of a lifetime — to work with the best chefs in the country and learn to cook like a professional. We're seeking outgoing people with a genuine inability to cook, but a need and desire to improve!

Nominate Yourself

• Do your kids beg to eat out, after you've worked hard to make a family meal?
  
• Has your husband/wife told you it was probably better if you ordered take out?
  
• At the big potluck dinner, are you always asked to "just bring the napkins?"

Nominate Someone You Know

• Is someone you know constantly offering you food that you have to turn down?
  
• If you know a mom who can't scramble an egg, a colleague who can't convince anyone to try their culinary creations, or a friend who tries but can't seem to get it together in the kitchen, this is your chance to get them the help you BOTH need!
  **Nominators: you must attend the interview with the person you nominate!

To Apply go to: http://hopelesshomecook.wordpress.com/

Food Network Slip Saves You An Hour

Thanks to one of our readers (next time leave your name so we can give you credit) you don't have to watch The Search for the Next Food Network Star tonight. The winner is Aaron McCargo Jr. from New Jersey. That is who I wanted to win anyway. Well, the Food Network made the slip 3 days before the fianle by posting the exit interviews, winning clip and a sneak peek to Aaron's new show Big Daddy's House (they could have done better with the name). Dmagazine.com posted an article on the major slip. I hope the intern didn't lose his/her job.

The clip below has the screen shots of what was posted on the Food Network site. After the show airs...I'm sure all the video will be back up.

Set Your TiVo - Next Food Network Star

Tomorrow is the finale for The Search for the Next Food Network Star. The remaining 3 finalists (Adam Gertler, Lisa Garza and Aaron McCargo Jr. - pic from Foodnetwork.com) will compete in their last challenge to win a dream job on the Food Network.

I would like to see Aaron win...I think his show will have food I would want to cook. Plus, I would love to finally know what to do with all those spices we have. I like Lisa, but I don't think I would want to take the time to actually make any of her recipes. That show I would just watch while eating fast food. I'm not sure what Adam's show would be like. If he won maybe they could give him one of the show that go on the road and sample food. I think he would be good on a show like that.

The winner will be revealed tomorrow - Sunday, July 27 @ 10pm/9c on the Food Network.

Time To Turn Up The Heat

Last night on the search for the Next Food Network Star, we got to see how things went down during the challenge on the Rachael Ray Show. It was very interesting hearing the judges feedback on each of their performances. Shane had a great dish but didn't include his girl scout helper in the cooking...so he was eliminated. I'm just glad Aaron (photo) and Lisa are still on the show. I really agree with the judges on their critiques about them. I want to know more about them! Adam and Kelsey are the other 2 contestants moving on to the next round. The final 4 head to Vegas for a Throwdown challenge. Special guest will be Food Network Star Paula Deen and Extra’s Dayna Devon. This episode will air July 13th @ 10 PM on the Food Network.

You can check out what Shane had to say after being eliminated on the Food Network website.

Cooking With Rachael Ray

Today the final 5 contestant from The Search for the Next Food Network Star had a cooking challenge on Rachael Ray. Not only did the contestants have to cook on national TV with Rachael Ray and a live studio audience but also work with a girl scout. Here is a clip if Aaron McCargo Jr. making pizza. The winner of this challenge will be announced this Sunday on the new episode of the Next Food Network Star. The four chefs that move on will head to Vegas.

Set Your TiVO - Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives

Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives

Tonight Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives will be at my favorite restaurant - TheBrownstone Diner in NJ. Guy Fieri searches out some of America's greatest breakfasts. You can't beat the meat pancakes (yeah...I said meat) at Brownstone.

My order: Bacon pancakes with a side order of bacon. Double up on the bacon...hummmmm. The show airs Tonight (March 10th) @ 10:00 PM ET/PT on the Food Network.

We have a new Iron Chef

Michael Symon is crowned the new Iron Chef. After weeks of competing against some of the best chefs in country, Chef Symon beat out Chef John Besh for the title. I was hoping Chef Symon would win...He will give Iron Chef America a new spark.

Chef Symon first battle as an Iron Chef will be Nov. 18, 2007 @ 10pm/8c on the Food Network.

Models don't eat...They Cook!

While watching Dinner: Impossible on the Food Network, we spotted former America's Next Top Model finalist Nik cooking with Chef Robert Irvine. Nik (cycle 5) made it to the runway show but was beat out by Nicole. Nik should have won. After working with Chef Irvine maybe she can tryout for Next Food Network Star.