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Photo: Food Network
As The Next Food Network Star winds down its sixth season, we here at Slashfood are taking time to chat with the final contestants about their experience on the show.
Click through for our interview.
This week's eliminated star was Aria Kagan, a working mother and former chef-instructor from Miami, Florida. She started out the season as one of the front-runners, winning the judges over with her bubbly personality and ease in front of the camera. With her "family style" point of view, she seemed a natural fit for the network's audience. But as the weeks wore on, she was criticized for her sometimes over-the-top enthusiasm and lackluster dishes. Last night's Iron Chef challenge didn't play to her strengths. Instead of showcasing her secret ingredient (bacon), she used it as a side dish for a family-style French-toast breakfast and atop a pedestrian Waldorf salad. The judges felt the food wasn't Iron Chef-worthy, and sent her home.
Slashfood spoke with Aria about creating a TV concept, presenting in front of Bobby Flay and her frustrations with the judging process.
So tell me about the day after.
AK: Oh my gosh. It's so funny to be a part of the show and experience the whole challenge and then to see it edited and put together. It was such a whirlwind. I don't remember much of it.
How long has it been since you left the set?
AK: This was all taped earlier in the year. It was springtime when we shot this.
I think people have the perception that you just found out yesterday.
AK: I think that's what the Food Network would like everyone to believe. It's funny, because it was really, really hard to leave. We really did become very close. And I had to go through this whole mourning process and kicking myself for making a bad decision, and now I have to do it all over again, because people are seeing it for the first time. I have to relive it. Not one of my fondest moments, but nonetheless it is what it is.
You had to keep this secret for months.
AK: Yeah! And I had to keep the secret that I was on the show, too! They told me I got the show in November, and then I couldn't tell anyone until the end of April. And I'm not a good secret keeper. If you want someone to know something, you tell me.
They spend the whole season hammering home how important "point of view" is, and then you were sent home for emphasizing your point of view ("Family Style") in the Iron Chef Challenge. Were you surprised?
AK: Part of me was frustrated, because they really did love my food. As much as they didn't show it last night, they really did think a lot of my ideas were new and inventive and fresh. But at the same time they thought I didn't follow through with the challenge properly. Tom, he went another way. He was totally like, "I'm going to do something Iron Chef and crazy" but his food wasn't good. I wanted the judges to feel like they were walking into my house on a Saturday morning and eating what I would make them for breakfast. So, you know, you live and you learn.
And the edit wasn't the kindest.
AK: Right. The edit was very unkind to me. And it was sad to watch because I felt so good when I left, because I did show them the person that I was, and what "family style" was all about. They were so complimentary of my food throughout the whole process, so to see it edited that way was kind of frustrating. But you know, when you sign up for something like this, you have to take the good with the bad.
And how much of a factor were the judges during last night's episode? You were cooking in front of the Iron Chefs and having to chat with Alton. Was that a little intense?
AK: I wasn't really intimidated by them -- to me, they're just people, people who love food the way I love food. Alton was a little intimidating though, and it was very loud, so a couple of times I didn't hear what he said. When I look like I don't know what he's saying, it was often that I just couldn't hear. I was like "What? Is someone talking to me?"
You were definitely painted as a front-runner from the beginning of the season. Do you think that might have hurt you?
AK: I think the judges had a lot of expectations of me, whereas with Tom they didn't. We're all going through the same process of trying to find ourselves. I went out into the first challenge with the attitude, "If they like me, they like me, if they don't, they don't -- but I have to just be myself." But then they didn't like my original show idea, "Farm to Table." So I was trying to reinvent a show that they would enjoy where I could also be myself. I wanted to please them so desperately, and wanted to get the show so badly, that I think I lost my passion along the way.
What made you try out in the first place? This is season six, so you had to kind of know what you were getting into.
AK: You never know what you're getting into. I went into it very blind. I'd always wanted my own cooking show and thought, "here's my chance." I was going back and forth, debating whether to audition for it, and my mom bought me a plane ticket and said, "You're going!" In life, sometimes you need people to believe in you a little bit more than you believe in yourself.
You have a young son, and that obviously made things harder. How did you guys keep in touch?
AK: In the beginning, I was able to call, but then around week three, they stopped calls from coming in or going out. One of the producers was able to call and make sure everything was ok and tell them that I was fine, but after that, I didn't have any connection with him until episode eight. [The contestants were reunited with their families on camera as part of a challenge for this episode.]
No wonder everyone was so emotional.
AK: Yeah, we were all dying to see our families.
Last night, when the judges were deliberating, Bobby Flay said you were "born to talk to the lens." It's obvious you have on-camera talent. Are you going to pursue a television career?
AK: Honestly, I would still love to have my own cooking show incorporating the whole farm-to-table idea. I want to show people where their food comes from in a cool, fun, sexy way. I have a blog where I'm going to be documenting a lot of this, and posting recipes. On the show, I'm a character. On any reality show, you have the characters. And I want people to see me for who I am. The Food Network really sets you up. Millions of people have seen me. And I hope someone says, "I've seen her, I like her, let's work with her."
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8-09-2010 @9:07PM yabbi said... Good riddance. Aria was an annoying, blithering airhead. She served boring dishes to the chefs that she had not tasted. She was a waste of a competitive slot.
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8-11-2010 @10:29AM Lloyd said... God am I sick of Food Network contest shows. I'm a foodie and a pretty good cook. I could give a damn about this garbage. What I want is to see cooking demonstrated. Good Eats is good. Emeril and his barking seals at least show us recipes. But, the trial and tribulations of wanna be's is BS.
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8-11-2010 @10:49AM thegrrrr8est said... So help me to understand this, Lloyd -- why do you watch the shows if you hate them? Personally, I find the stories of people who want so much to change their lives uplifting. I love the raw emotions of this show. I love to see the contestants finally get it that it is their authentic selves that sells. I love that so many people are willing to set their egos aside and just go for it. But, that's just me. If I didn't feel that way about it, I think I might be tempted to change the channel.
8-10-2010 @4:42AM ross said... you are so right lloyd. glad someone else realizes the BS of it all besides me
8-09-2010 @9:22PM Reed McEwen said... Everyone knows that the next food network star show hasn't uncovered a true diamond in the rough since season 2 when Guy Fieri came bouncing onto the scene.
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8-09-2010 @9:45PM crabby said... Oh come on Tom is hilarious and super fun.And when he wants to make the effort he is a great chef. I think he is the one I would have the most fun watching.He has that playfulness that Rachael Guy and Emeril all seem to have.Arti seems pleasant but she is a bit boring predictable and Herb is very handsome but he does seem a little bit self conscious in front of the camera.
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8-09-2010 @9:51PM Nancy Woodward said... The guy with the muscles is so full of himself. What a fake smile.
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8-09-2010 @9:57PM Nancy Delancy said... I would prefer the chubby guy to win the next Food Network Star.
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8-09-2010 @10:11PM rose said... I hope Tom wins. Like someone else said, he is fun to watch. Arti... she needs to go, she is boring. Herb isn't too bad but yep, he does not have the confidence, but maybe that will come with time. I hope they are not gearing up Arti to win. I think Tom would be a better host. As for his food... he can just get a recipe book. ;)
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8-11-2010 @12:36PM Gold Digga said... Those two women can't even fry an egg. How embarrassing is that.
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8-09-2010 @10:47PM Gayle said... I never watched this show until last year. I liked Melissa (the winner) then. I've recorded her show a couple of times because it comes on during church. I like all of the three finalists this year. I think Arti will win, though. Does anyone know all the past winners?
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8-09-2010 @10:41PM Scp said... Please don't let that Aarti win. If I hear about her Aarti Party one more time I will scream.
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8-09-2010 @11:22PM Marian said... Are you kidding? Aarti glows on screen. This has been a lovely cast and the finale will be interesting. I must say though, this show pulls a lot out of the competitors and then reduces them down basically to hosts...Melissa D'Arabian is clearly a talented cook with a specific angle but her show reduces her down to the very basics. Day old bread? Dumb, a woman with this kind of talent talking about day old bread and supermarket savings. FN can do way better with their winners.
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8-09-2010 @11:40PM Linda said... I don't think the Next Food Network star is working. It looks like Arti is a shoe in and that's a shame. She is good in front of the camera but even when her food is awful, they still just love her. I don't care for her much and I think that she needs to explain more about Indian cooking, which I think is what FN is looking for with her. She gives no information about the spices she is using at all. I agree with Marian that they are doing Melissa a complete disservice by putting her on this budget cooking show. She is way more talented than that. I don't like many of the winners either. Gourmet next door was a COMPLETE flop. Big Daddy I can take it or leave it. Guy Fieri is ok but I went to his restaurant in Santa Rosa and the food sucked. So I hope they make the right choice this time. I think either Tom or Herb would be a good choice but Arti's Party - no thanks!
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8-09-2010 @11:41PM Judith said... I love this show. I'm particularly impressed with the dignity and professionalism of the judges...so unlike other reality shows. They treat the contestants with courtesy and truly encourage them to be ready for this type of presentation. I thought Aria, at first was very good. I'm disappointed that she sounds a bit like a poor sport in the comments above. She really just didn't or couldn't (at this point in her life or style) rise to the level that is needed.
I agree that Guy Fieri is the absolute standout of all seasons.
Can't wait to see who rises above the others to have this incredible opportunity to become..the next Food Network star. I love the network. I was a non-cook, but during a convalescent period in my life I found the network and learned how to cook. I enjoy watching the different people they have on the network. Each program brings a bit of humaniy and talent and I appreciate that it is intelligent respectful and artistic. Very different than mainstay television. Congrats to the the winner - and all the participants.And a BIG THANK YOU to the network itself for producing quality television.
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8-10-2010 @12:06AM A. G. said... THIS ARTICLE, LIKE foodtv SUCKED AND WAS VERY DISAPPOINTING!
I never watch it anymore...other than Giada and Alton, I can't stand any of them...no talent morons and their pets...rude, obnoxious, boobie flay-ed and retched rachal rey-tard suck the most
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8-10-2010 @12:13AM karen said... I am so sorry to see that Aria was let go.........I think that it should have been Tom or Herb........I loved Aria........I so hope she gets a food show.........maybe on Cooking Channel..........I do agree with the judges.........iron chef is about the ingredient.........having said that Tom's dish sucked?????.........he should have been let go...........I do love the foodnetwork it is usually the channel that my tv is on most of the day and the evening...........I love it........
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8-10-2010 @12:18AM Sue said... We, my son,daughter-in-law, daughter, son-in-law, hubby, all love this show. We find it very entertaining and honest. We liked Aria at first but after she was so catty and cut off the girl in front of the judges .. we sorta changed our minds. We did like Brad, but he just couldn't come up with it in front of the camera. Artie is too one dimensional... Indian cuisine... Herb lacks confidence. Like Tom in front of camera, but can he pull off the cooking end? Last year we picked Michael. I don't like last years winners show at all. When we get bored with other TV shows we always turn to the FN.
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8-10-2010 @12:35AM Jane said... This type of show is wearing out pretty fast. Too many on this band wagon and it is no longer entertaining. I like the Vegas Pawn Brokers show and the American Pickers. Something different each episode. Very Americana.
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8-10-2010 @2:50AM augiedoggie said... I agree these shows are wearing pretty thin. Food Network? Should be named Cheesy Competitions Network. Where's the information on food and nutrition and cooking techniques that the channel used to be about? Alton Brown's is the only show with any substance anymore. Guy may be the best of the lot so far, but who wants to fool with 300 ingredients in every dish and 299 of 'em are things no normal pantry has in it. And I'm sick of all the repeats. Speaking of repeats - Ina needs to come up with something new besides 2 minutes of even-I-can-answer-that answers. Melissa D'Arabian is too much like Sandra Lee. They may be great cooks, but who'd know from watching their shows? Dumb and dumber. Been done. I was excited about the new Cooking Channel until I realized all they did was move the old FN shows over and add 2 fat ladies and a galloping gourmet. Now we have 2 food channels that suck. Bring back East Meets West!