Food Network Star (season 7)
The seventh season of the renamed American reality television series Food Network Star premiered Sunday, June 5, 2011. Food Network executives, Bob Tuschman and Susie Fogelson, are joined again by Bobby Flay and Giada De Laurentiis as the judges for this season. The series was filmed in Los Angeles, California and New York, New York. After the first episode of this season aired as "The Next Food Network Star", the series was retitled Food Network Star and this name was used from the second episode onward. Contestants Eliminated (In order of elimination) Howie Drummond – Highlands Ranch, Colorado Juba Kali – New Orleans, Louisiana Katy Clark – Long Beach, California Alicia Sanchez – New York, New York Justin Balmes – Marietta, Georgia Justin Davis – Minneapolis, Minnesota Orchid Paulmeier – Bluffton, South Carolina Chris Nirschel – Hoboken, New Jersey Penny Davidi – Los Angeles, California Jyll Everman – Glendora, California Whitney Chen – New York, New York Mary Beth Albright – Washington, D.C. Vic "Vegas" Moea – Las Vegas, Nevada Runner-Up Susie Jimenez – Aspen, Colorado Winner Jeff Mauro – Elmwood Park, Illinois Contestant Progress (WINNER) The contestant won the competition and became the next "Food Network Star". (RUNNER-UP) The contestant made it to the finale, but did not win. (WIN) The contestant won that episode's Star Challenge. (HIGH) The contestant was one of the Selection Committee's favorites for that week, but did not win the Star Challenge. (IN) The contestant was not one of the Selection Committee's favorites nor their least favorites. They were not up for elimination. (LOW) The contestant was one of the Selection Committee's three or four least favorites for that week, but was not eliminated. (LOW) The contestant was one of the Selection Committee's two least favorites for that week, but was not eliminated. (OUT) The contestant was the Selection Committee's least favorite for that week, and was eliminated. Episodes Week One: Lights, Camera, Cook Camera Challenge: The contestants created breakfast dishes representing their culinary points of view and presented them on camera. Winner: Orchid (Breakfast Tortilla) Star Challenge: The contestants were divided into groups of three and got four takes to create promos with Alton Brown. Then, the groups headed to the Food Star Kitchens to create one dish on their own and one collaborative dish. After, they presented their dishes and promos to the Selection Committee, Brown, and special guests, including Extra host Mario Lopez. Winners: Juba (Boil Spiced Shrimp with Whole Tomato Ketchup), Jeff (Chicken Slider on Ciabatta Bread) and Orchid (Hot Asian Pork Skewer with Cole Slaw) (collaborative dish: "Que" Lime Pie with Mango Coulis and Chili Whipped Cream) Eliminated: Howie (Potato Gnocchi with Lemon Zest) Original Air Date: June 5, 2011 Week Two: In the Line of Fire Camera Challenge: The contestants created pizzas that reflected their culinary points of view and presented them on camera. For the first time on Food Network Star, a contestant was eliminated after the Camera Challenge. Winner: Penny (Middle Eastern Pizza with Roasted Eggplant,