Melissa d’Arabian of Keller will be contestant on fifth season of Next Food Network Star

by PegNews wire

KELLER — The Next Food Network Star returns this summer on Food Network with a local named Melissa d’Arabian as one of the 10 contestants. Highlights from the release are as follows:

Melissa d'Arabian

The series premieres on Sunday, June 7 at 8 p.m. ... The 10 finalists include: Brett August (Washington Heights, N.Y.), Katie Cavuto (Philadelphia, Pa.), Melissa d’Arabian (Keller, Texas), Teddy Folkman (Alexandria, Va.), Eddie Gilbert (Manhattan Beach, Calif.), Jen Isham (Orlando, Fla.), Debbie Lee (West Hollywood, Calif.), Jamika Pessoa (Atlanta, Ga.), Michael Proietti (New York, N.Y.) and Jeffrey Saad (Los Angeles, Calif.).

Challenges include catering a party for a roomful of Food Network stars; impressing the “Barefoot Contessa” in the Hamptons; and preparing a meal for returning soldiers on the Intrepid Sea, Air, and Space Museum. The show does a marketing tie-in with Red Lobster and a movie tie-in with Julie & Julia. All sorts of desperate, failing media outlets jump on board, including Access Hollywood, Good Housekeeping, Esquire, Food Network Magazine, and USA WEEKEND.

Food Network stars who've been roped into making cameos include Rachael Ray, Giada De Laurentiis, Alton Brown, Guy Fieri, Ina Garten, Emeril Lagasse, Gina and Pat Neely, Masaharu Morimoto, Ted Allen, Tyler Florence, Michael Symon, and season four winner, Aaron McCargo, Jr. Judges include Bobby Flay, and lifeless Food Network execs Bob Tuschman and Susie Fogelson. The winner is announced on Sunday August 2.

Melissa's bio:

Melissa, 40 (Keller, Texas), pairs her varied culinary and life experiences to provide food lifestyle solutions and approachable recipes for today's families. As a stay-at-home mom to four young daughters, she efficiently budgets time and money to prepare the finest in fresh, home-cooked meals every day. Melissa finds culinary inspiration in family, friends, cooking classes, and world travels.

She is married to Philippe, whom she met working in Paris. She has four daughters: Valentine just turned 4; Charlotte just turned 3; Margaux and Oceane are the twins and are 18 months. She was born in Anaheim, Calif. She moved to Keller, Texas, in June 2006 with her family.

Posted by T.G.

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luniz says:

she won't make it. Two major shortcomings.

Anonymous

7 months, 2 weeks ago
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TLS says:

I don't want to be rude but I will be. Does she have more culinary experience that isn't noted here? I don't see how making food for your kids qualifies you to have a cooking show. Heck, those kids are so young they aren't even eating tricked up foods yet. Maybe she is so overwhelmed with 4 kids under the age of 4 she escaped to FN.

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7 months, 2 weeks ago
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Pavel Lishin says:

She doesn't get to have a show, she gets to appear on a show.

And it's not like she's running for office. Pretty sure TV is there to entertain us, and if everyone were on the same level, it probably wouldn't be as interesting.

I lost all interest in the eating channel after I realized they had a show about making food that looks good but is completely inedible, much like Discovery is dead to me after hosting ghost-hunting crap.

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7 months, 2 weeks ago
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joannrobb says:

Congratulations Melissa! We are so excited to watch the new season especially since you will be on it. I'm sure it was a wonderful experience!! I also have to say that we were lucky enough to have tasted your cooking before. It was WONDERFUL! Great for kids and adults! We will definitely be cheering you on here in Keller Texas!

The Robb Family

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7 months, 1 week ago
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CatDance says:

Folks need to lighten up. I'm from NC. Don't care where the contestants are from. I enjoy the show each year and find it interesting entertainment. It's really an on air job interview and ultimately the Food TV producers have to have somebody that has skill/ability, is good on camera, has a marketable niche, and is good to work with. I think some of the contestants get weeded out because of their integrity or lack thereof. I think that was Debbie's downfall. Too many excuses and she's otherwise so good with words that I didn't buy her excuses. I personally like Melissa, maybe because she was somewhat of the underdog. As for her culinary expertise. Paula Deen and Rachael Ray are also self-made cooks. Jeffrey is good too, but I am less clear about what he might bring to TV that is unique. Melissa being the stay-at-home mom would be more unique to Food TV. Anyway, I have watched every episode and both Melissa and Jeffrey are at least educated, use good grammar, and I would tune in to the show whichever one wins (already won). Overall though, I was less impressed with the candidates this year. Don't know if the pickins were really that slim or what. As good as both Melissa and Jeffrey were though, maybe they will both end up with their own show. Only one can emerge the winner here, but sometimes Food TV remembers the close call losers and maybe depending on their character they exhibited during this show challenge they remember the runner-ups who might be better than some of the past winners.