Tonight on Food Network Star, the remaining contestants first had to use Special K cereals and snacks to make a dish for either breakfast, lunch, or dinner. After that first challenge and the plug for Kellogs products, Robert Irvine showed up for the second challenge. The contestants had to remake failing and outdated dishes on a restaurant menu, with the least successful dish sending somebody home. Robert Irvine already came to Stacey Poon-Kinney's restaurant on Restaurant Impossible, so we will see if that comes up at all during this episode.Continue reading to see who was eliminated from this episode as well as a quick recap of how well the remaining contestants performed:
- Stacey Poon-Kinney - Won the first challenge and got an advantage for the 2nd challenge by picking which dish each contestant had to reinvent. The 2nd challenge pretty much fit right into her POV. The restaurant owners thought that she was fake, which many fans have been saying all season.
- Russell Jackson - Alton liked his dish, but critiqued him for looking around during his presentation. The judges all loved his dish as well as his presentation. They edited in some soothing music to make you want to like it along with them. He had the best dish and was safe from elimination.
- Rodney Henry - Forgot to give a tip during his first presentation. Whatever his 2nd dish was to reinvent of course was going to be a pie, which was a chicken cacciatore pie. Pie style sucka. He didn't fully cook his pie dough in the fryer. Somehow has won over the judges and still hasn't made a good pie.
- Nikki Dinki - Talked trash on Chopped contestants, then ended up sprinkling cereal on top of a salad. Alton actually complimented her salad. On her 2nd dish, the restaurant owner didn't see a star in her. She also couldn't answer a question about what rice pilaf was.
- Damaris Phillips - Did very well on her first presentation and Alton liked her french toast. Everyone liked her presentation for her 2nd dish, but the food was pretty basic
Last week, Nikki picked Stacey and Damaris and said they were great friends. This week Stacey tried to screw Nikki by giving her salmon, which she does not like. Bobby Flay apparently couldn't clear his schedule for this episode as he was not there to judge. Alton Brown was the only judge at the first challenge. You would think with the show being taped, they would be able to have all the judges available to actually judge.
The judges said Russell had the best dish and was safe from elimination. They had the four contestants facing the judges where they decided to eliminate Nikki Dinki. It looks like my suspicions of her being eliminated because she filed a trademark were correct.
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| Photo - Food Network |
Only 1 more episode until we have the final 3, and it comes down to a vote for the winner. Plus all judges plus Bob and Susie are back next week, with Guy Fieri directing the finalists pilots. What were your thoughts on tonight's elimination?
I just can't wait for Rodney to go. No one needs someone to help them make pie 24/7 and we certainly don't need a Guy Fieri 2.0 - the first was bad enough!
ReplyDeletePretty obvious Stacey is already the chosen one. She really sucks though. Fake and boring.
ReplyDeleteStunned with the cut. The pie guy is horrid.
ReplyDeleteDon't get all the folks railing on Stacey. Just about every show on FN is scripted; she's no more scripted than Giada.
I wasn't a fan of Damaris at the start, but she has slowly won me over. I'm sure that when this was filming, FN did not expect to have a void left by Paula Deen, but they do now, and Damaris could fill it. Stacey is not making a connection, and the other two guys are too inconsistent.
ReplyDeleteI don't like Stacey at all. She seems SO fake to me and while her POV is trendy right now, I don't see anything different or fresh about it. I thought Nikki would have made a great show. My second choice would Damaris. Those two guys just aren't very good. I'm not sure why they have made it this far.
ReplyDeleteTo paraphrase Samuel L. Jackson in Pulp Fiction: Say pie style again I dare you I double dare you!
ReplyDeleteStacey still is getting the kid glove treatment but of the 4 that are left I'd watch Russell more than anyone else.
Concur on demaris. She seemed like an early cut, now she could be the front runner.
ReplyDeleteNot what I was expecting tonight and this is a terrible final four. But on the bright side its not like it is very likely we will have to actually watch more than one episode from whoever wins.
ReplyDeleteAm I the last person to figure out that Robert Irvine did a Restaurant Impossible on her restaurant? Loved her plug about making more than a million last year... well, go back to your restaurant.
ReplyDeleteI like Damaris and Russell.
I don't mind Staci - she's not any more fake than most of the personalities that last for more than a day on that Network. I actually preferred Nikki because I thought she had the best idea. But meh. It's not like any of them will get a show that lasts.
ReplyDeleteI do not understand how Russell and Rodney are still on the show. Russell is stilted in almost every video challenge and Rodney appears to only be good at making pie half of the time!!
ReplyDeleteI'm so OVER Stacy and Rodney! Time to send them home! GO DAMARIS!!
ReplyDeleteCount me in as being puzzled by the "fake" and "lack of connection" bashing for Stacey. Like some others have already said, she reads on camera exactly like Giada, whose OCD and barely suppressed rage are trademarked at this point. Everyone needs a storyline and I guess this is the best FN could do with Stacey. There's nothing wrong with her that a little one-on-one media training couldn't solve. Having to be utterly perfect with no second takes or any rehearsal is punishing.
ReplyDeleteI'm startled that Nikki was sent home over Rodney or Russell. Alton really laid into her and I knew it was over. Okay, the rice pilaf flub was a bad stumble. But no one is an expert on EVERYTHING; she just had a brain fart. Geez, Alton does a ton of research on "Iron Chef America" so he sounds like he knows what he's talking about.
Damaris has really grown on me, but I think the Southern thing has been done-to-DEATH on FN. I'd probably go for Russell if I were voting because "Seven Culinary Sins" sounds like fun.
Here's the thing. Stacey isn't necessarily fake. A fake person is someone that's one way in front of someone & than completely different when the cameras are off. Stacey doesn't seem like she goes home & is a horrible bitch who curses & drinks beer or something. That's fake. I do believe that what she presents is genuinely who she is. Unfortunately that person is afraid to take chances. She always says the right things. She's just super polished & together. That's just who she is & it doesn't work for this particular job.
ReplyDelete"OCD and barely suppressed rage" ahaha. That was funny. Anyways, I disagree about Russell. Russell's problem is that his "7 culinary sins" kind of don't make sense. Veggie-centric food is a clear concept. A modern twist on southern food (vintage in Stacey's case) is. Pie is. Sugary, fatty, gross food doesn't make sense to me. Like what does that really entail? Will he be adding fat & sugar to everything? Or coming up with completely new fatty, sugary food? Will everything be bacon & bourbon? He literally has like 2 food items involved& everything else are just causes of diabetes & heart attacks.There's also a bunch of shows about unhealthy food all over TV, this isn't really special to me & at this point I'm sick of "rebels" with Justin Warner last year. At least his food was original, creative, delicious ( based on their thoughts & reviews of his restaurant) & well-executed. His ideas aren't as original as he thinks. The fact that his product of "sinful rebellion" was candied bacon which is something that's been done many times doesn't make be believe he's as rebellious or original as he thinks he is. Or as good of a chef as he thinks he is. This week he did well doing something simple. When he tries to think out of the box it's all over the place. Some people just have the ability to be creative & make it work. He's not one of those people & that's fine. The problem is that that's who he tries to pass himself off as.
ReplyDeleteIn what way is he horrid? I mean really? Saying he's inconsistent? Sure. Saying he needs to slow down a bit, (which he did do this week) no problem. But horrid? Since when did having a personality become a sin? The guy Fieri 2.0 comments are irrelevant because he's really nothing like Guy, except for the fact that he's lively. Comments about "not needing help with pie 24/7" don't even make sense. If you think it's okay for Jeff Mauro to have an entire show about sandwiches then why is it not okay to have a show about pies//quiches? There are sweet & savory pies. Pies are not a one note thing. If any of you have every watched Food Network where his shop has been featured (like on Best Thing I Ever Ate) or looked up his shop, he does a lot of cool things with pie. It sounds like you take yourselves way too seriously.
ReplyDeleteI didn't like the fact that they were peddling a product. If anything, it makes me not want to buy special K.
ReplyDeleteI live in Baltimore and have been to his shop when in was in Canton and his current location. His pies live up to the name Dangerously Delicious that is for sure. The whole "pie style" thing is just wearing thin on me.
ReplyDeleteThank you for saying this!! My wife and I felt like the first part of the show was an extended Special K commercial.
ReplyDeleteI seriously did NOT see that coming. I thought the three women would be the finalists. After the exploded, undercooked pies, I thought Rodney was a goner. Alton said Russell has nine lives. I think Rodney has eleven.
ReplyDeleteIf Demaris gets the boot next week, it's obvious we're being played (in which case I'm so DONE with watching this)
ReplyDeleteProduct placement on this show is sickening. I agree with everyone who has made comments here that whoever wins will have a six-episode deal and that's it. You'll never see the chef again except when FN runs the six episodes over and over and over.....
ReplyDeleteI don't disagree with most of what you said. It 's just that "Seven Culinary Sins" sounds more interesting to me than yet another Southern cooking show, of which there have been plenty on FN.
ReplyDeleteWell, it was. Kellogg's is paying plenty for product placement. We got Buitoni last week.
ReplyDeleteAnd we haven't seen a Hershey's challenge, but there has been one every season, so there's still one more opportunity.
I've been saying this from the beginning of the season. And I fully expect Damaris to be cut next week. Russell and Rodney have obviously been pushed through as "guaranteed" losers to Stacey in the final viewer vote. And I'd just love it if Russell took the win away. However, I have no faith in Food Network's actually deciding the winner based on viewer input.
ReplyDeleteCan I just point out that Nikki was never on Chopped? Danushka was, and probably some other contestants, but never Nikki.
ReplyDeleteI dont think anyone claimed she was
ReplyDeleteGoing on nothing but the show we've been presented he seems very incoherent to me most of the time and there has been very little of what he has cooked on the show that they didn't have complaints about.
ReplyDelete6 Episodes? That's more than Justin got last year. I don't see anyone left having any staying power, though outside of Guy and maybe Jeff Mauro none of the winners really have.
ReplyDeleteI agree with your comments on Stacey Mikki and Damaris, however I think that Russell is really good. the thing is, Nikki and Russell were best buds almost, and now he has lost his support, I don't think he will win. Stacey is clearly not making it, and I would never vote for her or watch her show. Damaris all the way!
ReplyDeleteStacey is such a backstabber. Nikki helped her out (even though Stacey was her biggest threat) during the charity auction challenge and first chance Stacey gets, she sabotages Nikki by giving her salmon, the one thing she knew she hated. If Stacey goes on to win, I will never, ever watch her show. Her integrity, sincerity and character is as fake as her rehearsed lines.
ReplyDeleteNicely said!
ReplyDeleteI thought the very same thing about Stacy. After such a admirable save by Nikki, It really would have been nice to have returned the favour. Stacy herself said that she would not have made it without her. I do think Stacy is a lot of fake, but UNFortunately, that makes her fit in perfectly with the majority of food network 'stars'.
ReplyDeleteI agree with that totally.However, his spin on it is what keeps me at bay. Maybe with Paula Dean gone Damaris can fill that spot? Lol.
ReplyDeleteTHAT'S actual criticism. Majority of comments he gets is baseless bashing & it's quite disappointing and annoying.
ReplyDeleteWhy though? What's wrong with pie style? For me the only real issue with it is that he doesn't execute pie style so well when it's something he hasn't done before. And lucky you! I'm thinking about driving down to Baltimore just to try the Baltimore Bomb & the Pulled Pork Pie. Which ones did you have?
ReplyDeleteYup. Her cheesecakes wouldn't have even made it all to the plate if Nikki didn't save her. She's an ingrate with no honor. I liked Nikki because she's sincere, genuine and plays fair. She's had some low points in her performances, but when she shines she shows true star potential. They keep saying they had to go back and judge their performances up to this point before making this last cut, yet Rodney and Russell are still there. Russell I can understand since he finally made a good dish that led him to winning a crucial challenge, but Rodney is so god awful and in no way outshined Nikki, EVER.
ReplyDeleteNikki getting cut is absolute crap. She stood out from the beginning and was a consistent and charismatic leader throughout the season. Her POV would have been a a refreshing look that Food Network needs. I think that the judges were far too hard on her and were simply looking for ways to bash her. She certainly did not come across to me as lacking authority or knowledge of food. In fact, I always saw her as polished and radiant. Nevertheless, Rodney and Russell barely scrape by and the judges overlook their mistakes, complementing their outstanding "personalities" instead. As a matter of fact, I think Rodney's the one who lacks culinary knowledge. All in all, I don't think I've ever been so mad or sad to see a contestant go. The Food Network doesn't know a good thing when they see it. You just keep it up Nikki, I'm still rooting for you.
ReplyDeleteFair enough, I tend to save my baseless bashing for political comments anyway :)
ReplyDeleteRodney was on Chopped and Throwdown; Viet was on Extreme Chef and Iron Chef America; Chris was on Great Food Truck Race; and Danushka was also on 24 Hour Restaurant Battle. In addition, Lovely was on Hell's Kitchen, although it's not a Food Network show. In other words, most of this year's crop of contestants are recycled materials.
ReplyDeleteShe isn't my favorite, but for sure the best they got left. Thing is, like a previous poster said, I am pretty sure they will eliminate her next week so that Stacy (aka The FN Chosen One) has a clear win. I am trying to promote people voting for Russel if Damaris is eliminated. Not because he's any great shakes, but because I am furious at the network for being so transparent.
ReplyDeleteI'll probably raked over the coals for this, but it's time for a quick spelling lesson.
ReplyDeleteIt's Stacey, not Stacy or Staci
It's Russell, not Russel
It's Damaris, not Demaris or DeMaris
It was Nikki, not Nicki
And so on. However, no one has ever spelled Rodney's name wrong, although some posters don't seem able to distinguish him from Russell. After all, all guys whose first names start with R are the same.
Both the "R" guys are annoying, though :)
ReplyDeleteRobert Irvine has it going for Stacy. He brought up this Star Salvation as her safety net and Nikki (the strongest person) is the first person he bashes down. Its clear who he's betting on.
ReplyDeleteNikki had authority! Just because its not the authority the 3 of THEM LIKE doesn't mean the rest of america wont like it. And i've been trying to incorporate veggie dishes in my meals for the longest time now. Meat everyday of the week hasnt been healthy for my family. Nikki would have been the perfect slot for that on FN.
We're a growing obese country, the last thing i would want are pies and food sins. Damaris has southern food which is okay i guess since Paulas gone. But Stacy?! - omg EVERYONE on FN is a Stacy! A lot of them have families and can cook a well balanced meals already. WHY IS SHE HERE? There is nothing special about Stacy that FN doesnt already have! If i want to watch a Stacy show - id watch Rachel Ray.
Had this show not been rigged, i feel like Nikki would have had it. We need healthier alternatives to eating. Not another show about meat and potatos with some green beans on the side. Seriously, a lot of these FN are starting to blend together.
The only difference between Stacy and Giada is that one is Italian.
The thing I hate even more than this is the fact that she was on restaurant impossible.
ReplyDeleteSo Rodney gave an interview with a local radio station today and was telling people to vote for him in the final. Not sure what to make of that
ReplyDeleteThanks for the info... I haven't been able to find that interview online though.
ReplyDeleteHe was on 98 Rock in Baltimore
ReplyDeleteYes yes yes. The entire Star Salvation was created by Food Network to keep Stacey safe. Do you realize how ridiculous that sounds? You just sound bitter. You're not bringing up valid points. When someone doesn't know what makes a rice pilaf a rice pilaf, then no, they don't have autority. That's not someone who knows what they're cooking. That isn't the first instance of her lack of knowledge either. You're telling them not to speak for us, YOU don't need to speak for us.
ReplyDelete(Excluding Danushka from all of this) You do realize those are cooking competition shows right? I could see if they were on Flavor or Love or something & then came here, but they're chefs... They were on other Food Network cooking competitions. It's not a big deal. Relax.
ReplyDeleteHow do you guys figure she's "The FN chosen one"? Am I the only one watching this show? I mean seriously. They bash her every week. EVERY WEEK they tell her she's fake. EVERY WEEK they say she lacks spontaneity. EVERY WEEK they say she doesn't connect. What in your mind is connecting those comments to "FN chosen one"? Come on now.
ReplyDeleteYes. The judges slam her every week, And yet, she's still here! They give her challenges that are TAILOR MADE for her and she still fails, and she still stays.
ReplyDeleteThe whole pie style thing to be seems to be a buzzword with no substance. I can understand Rodney just fine, then again I'm a Baltimorean like him hon :)
ReplyDeleteI LOVE the Chocolate Chess pie! That and the Mobtown Brown are really good.
This Season is BORING! Loved the format of last Season better and the Contestants were much more original and real! I don't know that I would watch a show from any of the remaining Contestants. Still waiting for Justin Warner's show!
ReplyDeleteDamaris was on a local news station here in Louisville. http://www.wave3.com/story/23023418/culinary-teacher-may-get-network-cooking-show
ReplyDeleteI don't like any of the remaining contestants. Don't think I can watch Rodney who cannot speak the language of food or Stacey who is a little pompous about the million she said her diner earned. Also, she's too rigid and fake. Russell's presentations are choppy and he doesn't sound Ike he knows food that much at all. Demaris is nice enough but could she keep a show interesting?
ReplyDeleteToo bad Nikki got eliminated. They're making big mistakes this season.
100 percent correct!!!!
ReplyDeleteJust watched the episode. Let me say this: FOOD NETWORK WOULD NEVER DO A SHOW ON JUST PIES. So I don't know why they put Rodney through when its obvious he would never win. I also HATED how FN edited Stacey to be a devil on this episode, made me sick. Damarius has always been my favorite this season, & it seems like the odds are on her side
ReplyDeleteWhile I liked the contestants more last season, the format was terrible & predictable.
ReplyDeleteJeff's show is doing well, ratings wise, in the mornings.
ReplyDeleteThis episode also crushed my dreams of an All Female finale... It would have been epic
ReplyDelete