Food Network's May 2016 Programming Highlights

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Here are some of the highlights of the Food Network programming scheduled to air on the channel in May:

• The start of Food Network Star: Comeback Kitchen (May 8th) and Food Network Star season 12 (May 22nd).
• The finale of Guy's Grocery Games Redemption Tournament on May 1st with the winner getting a chance at another shopping spree.
• A new series called Buddy's Family Vacation on May 27th that follows around Buddy Valastro and his family on a cross-country road trip.
• The finale of Spring Baking Championship on May 15th with the winner taking home $50,000.
• The start of Kids BBQ Championship starting on Monday, May 23rd at 8pm.
• Celebrity Food Fight, which had a pilot in December 2015, returns for a whole season with Andy Richter hosting.  The show begins on May 29th and will have celebrities such as Tom Arnold, Jonathan Bennett, Richard Blais, Anne Burrell, Kim Coles, Scott Conant, Coolio, Andy Dick, Graham Elliot, Bill Engvall, Jennie Garth, Duff Goldman, Greg Grunberg, Alex Guarnaschelli, Penn Jillette, Kristen Johnston, Kevin Jonas, Christopher Knight, Katie Lee, Tara Lipinksi, Antonia Lofaso, Carlos Mencia, Damaris Phillips, DR. DREW Pinsky, Caroline Rhea, Melissa Rivers, Aarón Sánchez, Jean Smart, Ruben Studdard, and Kendra Wilkinson.
• A new daytime series called Kitchen Sink on May 15th that has the hosts of The Kitchen rotating shows and talking about trendy topics.
• New primetime episodes of Beat Bobby Flay, Cake Masters, Chopped, Chopped Junior, Cutthroat Kitchen, Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives and Restaurant: Impossible.
• New daytime episodes of Brunch @ Bobby’s, Farmhouse Rules, The Kitchen and The Pioneer Woman.

Press Release with episode descriptions and air dates is below:

Watch First Episode of Food Network Star: Comeback Kitchen

Food Network Star: Comeback Kitchen is scheduled to begin on May 8th with seven former finalists competing for a spot on season 12 of Food Network Star.  Despite not premiering until May 8th, you can watch the episode online and On Demand from Xfinity (and I am sure other cable providers).

The online video is below if you want to watch it:

Restaurant Impossible - Factory on 4th (Cray Eatery & Drinkery) Update

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Tonight on Restaurant: Impossible, Robert Irvine and his crew are in Columbus, Ohio to makeover Cray Eatery & Drinkery. In this ambush episode the owner Crystal's friend contacted Restaurant Impossible.  Crystal opened Cray after being inspired by infused liquors from Cambodia and her lack of experience has her in trouble.  She is unable to pay the bills and is asking for free labor from friends.  Robert also discovers the restaurant isn't clean, the service is slow, and the liquor infusions are "nauseating."

During this episode, Robert Irvine decided to rename Cray Eatery & Drinkery to Factory on 4th and they have kept the new name.  As I normally do with Restaurant: Impossible episodes, I searched around the Internet to read stories, comments and reviews about Factory on 4th to get an idea of how the restaurant is doing since Robert Irvine visited, and here is what I found (note - all reviews are post Restaurant: Impossible):

Restaurant Impossible - So Natural Organic Restaurant Update

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Tonight on Restaurant: Impossible, Robert Irvine and his crew are in Harker Heights, Texas to makeover So Natural Organic Restaurant.  In this ambush episode the owners' daughter contacted Restaurant Impossible.  The owners opened the restaurant because they were passionate about healthy food, but did not have any restaurant experience.  They have quickly fallen into debt and can only afford to hire family members to work in the restaurant.  Robert needs to teach the restaurant to make their food taste much better while still being healthy.

As I normally do with Restaurant: Impossible episodes, I searched around the Internet to read stories, comments and reviews about So Natural Organic Restaurant to get an idea of how the restaurant is doing since Robert Irvine visited, and here is what I found (note - all reviews are post Restaurant: Impossible):

Restaurant Impossible - SiP Bistro Update

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Tonight on Restaurant: Impossible, Robert Irvine and his crew are in Holly Springs, North Carolina to makeover SiP Bistro. SiP Bistro was opened just three years ago by husband and wife Justin and Sarah and it is already struggling.  Justin is demeaning to the staff and doesn't let Sarah make many decisions despite her background in hotel and restaurant management.  Robert needs to mend their relationship, makeover the dining room, and determine how to make their small kitchen efficient.

As I normally do with Restaurant: Impossible episodes, I searched around the Internet to read stories, comments and reviews about SiP Bistro to get an idea of how the restaurant is doing since Robert Irvine visited, and here is what I found (note - all reviews are post Restaurant: Impossible):

Eddie Jackson To Host Kids BBQ Championship

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A new series will begin on Food Network starting on Monday, May 23rd called Kids BBQ Championship where kids will compete to win a prize of $20,000 and a feature in Food Network Magazine.  The series will be six episodes long and eight kids will be competing by showing off their BBQ skills and creativity on the grill.

The show will be co-hosted by Food Network Star season 11 winner Eddie Jackson and Camila Alves.  Camila Alves is a model/designer who also has a lifestyle website.  She is probably most known for being married to actor Matthew McConaughey.

So it looks like Food Network Star Eddie Jackson has found another gig related to BBQ, but it remains to be seen if BBQ Blitz will come back for another season.  It seems like Food Network prefers Eddie as a host rather having him cook on a show.  Also, Kids BBQ Championship follows the trend of Food Network having more kids programming as well as more celebrities on the network.

Here is the full press release about the show along with links to the episode descriptions from Multivu.

Natasha Clement Wins All-Star Academy Season 2

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Tonight on Food Network was the season finale of All-Star Academy where the three remaining contestants competed for the $50,000 prize.  The three remaining contestants were Lee Abbott with Alex Guarnaschelli, Natasha Clement with Robert Irvine, and Zoe Kelly with Andrew Zimmern.

In the first challenge, the mentors had to make an updated version of meatloaf to gain an advantage for their cook in the next round, and that challenge was won by Alex Guarnaschelli.  The advantage seemed to work as Lee went on to the final two to compete against Natasha.

In the final challenge, Lee and Natasha had to create the dish of their lives in hopes of winning the $50,000 prize.  Curtis Stone determined that Natasha Clement made the better dish and she won the $50,000.

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Bobby Flay was the winning mentor of season 1 of All-Star Academy, but he was not a mentor on this season.  When the show was called America's Best Cook, Michael Symon was the winning mentor.  This was Robert Irvine's first time mentoring on the show, so we will see if a victory means he will return for another season.  Alex Guarnaschelli has mentored on all three seasons, but has yet to mentor a winner.

Food Network Star Alumni Return For Season 12 Of Food Network Star In 'Comeback Kitchen'

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Food Network Star is returning for season 12 on Sunday, May 22nd but before the show starts a three week series called Comeback Kitchen will air on Sunday nights in the same time slot.  Comeback Kitchen starts on May 8th and seven former Food Network Star finalists will compete with the winner earning a spot on season 12 of Food Network Star.

The contestants that will compete on Comeback Kitchen are:

• Penny Davidi (season 7)
• Matthew Grunwald (season 11)
• Martita Jara (season 8)
• Brianna Jenkins (season 6)
• Chris Kyler (season 10)
• Michele Ragussis (season 8)
• Dominick Tesoriero (season 11)

Comeback Kitchen will be hosted by Tyler Florence and Valerie Bertinelli and in the first episode the contestants have to redeem their downfall dish that eliminated them in their season. Contestants will also have to film a "Where are they now?" video that updates viewers on what they have done since the show.

The winner of Comeback Kitchen will appear on the season 12 premiere of Food Network Star on May 22nd and will compete with the 12 new contestants on the season.

People have been wanting a season where former contestants compete, so this somewhat satisfies what they wanted.  It seems some of the contestants returning were cast for being villains, while others were cast for being fan favorites.  Who do you think will make it through?

I will have a few more posts on the upcoming season of Food Network Star, so stay tuned.