Food Network Star Season 8

Synopsis

The eighth season of the American reality television series Food Network Star premiered Sunday, May 13, 2012 and consisted of 11 episodes. The format for the eighth season changed to three 5-member teams, each coached by a Food Network host — Alton Brown, Bobby Flay, or Giada De Laurentiis. The members of each team were also announced on the Food Network website. Also this season, viewers have the opportunity to follow the show or their favorite team on Twitter.

Main Cast

Bobby Flay

Himself - Mentor

Age : 59 | Popularity : 8%

Giada De Laurentiis

Herself - Mentor

Age : 53 | Popularity : 4%

Episodes

Episode 1

13 May 2012 - Impossible Beginnings

In the premiere episode of Food Network Star, 15 hopefuls arrive in New York to compete for the ultimate dream job: to host their own show on Food Network. The finalists arrive at the Food Network kitchens to greet their team leaders, Alton Brown, Bobby Flay and Giada De Laurentiis, and meet their rivals for the first time! Special guest Robert Irvine gives the finalists their first Star Challenge: to create their very own Pop-Up restaurant from the ground up - with an extremely limited budget and very little time.

Episode 2

20 May 2012 - NYC on the Go

This week's challenge is a food tour of New York! The finalists are split into three teams and will each take a busload of tourists on a tour of three different New York neighborhoods. How entertaining are they? What landmarks will they highlight? How much food knowledge do they impart? Then each finalist will have to prepare and serve a dish to the judges based on the research they do in the neighborhoods.

Episode 3

27 May 2012 - Dessert Chopping Block

The 13 remaining finalists meet Chopped judges Alex Guarnaschelli, Scott Conant, and Marc Murphy and are given their Star Challenge: desserts. But it's not just any dessert challenge. Each team must use a basket of ingredients to create their best sweet concoction in a head-to-head inter-team battle -- Chopped style!

Episode 4

03 June 2012 - Fashion Week Food Makeover

Bland dishes receive makeovers during New York Fashion Week. Ted Allen is a guest judge.

Episode 5

10 June 2012 - Guy Live

The hopefuls film TV specials based on holidays or special events, with Season 2 winner Guy Fieri providing feedback.

Episode 6

17 June 2012 - Iron Chef Food Court

Iron Chef Geoffrey Zakarian challenges the 10 remaining hopefuls to feed 150 hungry shoppers in a food-court challenge that requires them to cook in a kiosk and incorporate a surprise mystery ingredient into their dishes.

Episode 7

24 June 2012 - Meet the Press-Ure

Nine hopefuls remain, and they're tested on how well they can handle themselves under pressure. First, they film their own promotional videos with no help from their producers. Then, a panel of journalists grills each of them, asking tough questions about their techniques, their personal backgrounds and the show they want to bring to the Food Network.

Episode 8

01 July 2012 - Deen Family Beach Party

The remaining eight go to the Miami South Beach Wine & Food Festival, where Paula Deen is hosting a summer beach party, to cook up the meal. Each chef creates a sophisticated adult dish and a kid-friendly version.

Episode 9

08 July 2012 - Deliciously Unpredictable Demos

The 7 remaining contestants are challenged to do a three-minute live cooking demo at the South Beach Wine Food Festival. They must create their signature dish and demo one step of it to a live audience and the Selection Committee. There is a twist, however; each demo is set up to have some sort of problem meant to test the contestants' main weaknesses. The bottom two people will be up for elimination.

Episode 10

15 July 2012 - Pilot Greenlights

The finalists star in promos; four make the cut.

Episode 11

22 July 2012 - Finale: A Star is Born

The final three are joined by their families and the winner is revealed.

Crew

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