Had it with the Food Channel...

[cassiesmom]

Hey, anyone still watching "next Food Network Star?" Who are you rooting for, if so?

Yep, I am! I'm rooting for Yvan.

[cassiesmom]

I'm happy with the choices made by the network as far as who gets a pilot. Just one disappointment for me. I like the outcome of Alton's team best!

[Karen]

I haven't seen this week's episode yet, but I like most of the folks who are still in the running as of last week!

[Karen]

Okay, I had forgotten that at the end of last week Nikki had not yet been eliminated. I never did like her, she just seemed somehow artificial to me.

I watch a lot of shows on which people can vote, but this is the first time we voted for anyone! (I say "we" because one is allowed 10 votes per day, so Paul voted once).

[cassiesmom]

Is Martie the only remaining finalist who doesn't live in New York City? Talk about a home field advantage... Justin's pilot gave me an impression of him as a "mini-me" of Alton Brown. I wouldn't be too likely to make Caesar salad with aspic and grilled romaine. I liked Yvan's pilot the best because it was about food and his family. Michele's chowder didn't look anything like what she was eating at the restaurant, and since I don't entertain a lot, I'm not likely to watch Martie's show. However, I'm thoroughly biased after two seasons of Chicago's own Sandwich King, Jeff Mauro. He's got such an extroverted personality and such a focused POV that I think he's a tough act to follow, so to speak.

Is "Big Daddy's House" still on? I'm just trying to figure out where the previous winners are now.

[Karen]

Is Martie the only remaining finalist who doesn't live in New York City? Talk about a home field advantage... Justin's pilot gave me an impression of him as a "mini-me" of Alton Brown. I wouldn't be too likely to make Caesar salad with aspic and grilled romaine. I liked Yvan's pilot the best because it was about food and his family. Michele's chowder didn't look anything like what she was eating at the restaurant, and since I don't entertain a lot, I'm not likely to watch Martie's show. However, I'm thoroughly biased after two seasons of Chicago's own Sandwich King, Jeff Mauro. He's got such an extroverted personality and such a focused POV that I think he's a tough act to follow, so to speak.

Is "Big Daddy's House" still on? I'm just trying to figure out where the previous winners are now.

Michelle is not from NYC, further North! I DVR Big Daddy's House whenever it is on, I have not seen it in a while, but I can never tell when one of their "Seasons" is gonna start. We record Melissa D'Arabian's show, and I'll watch it if there's anything she's making that I could maybe eat! Michelle said she was making clams, not chowder.

[cassiesmom]

And the winner is ... not the finalist I wanted to win; but the one I expected would be the winner. That's okay. I'm sure this person will do a great job. I am not going to say who won in case anyone hasn't seen it (Don't look on the FN Web site; they've already shared who it is). I'll do this: The next Food Network Star is (winner's name here)!