This week on the Next Food Network Star was all about the sea; fish, Red Lobster, and the Coast Guard. I was excited because my dad served in the CG for 22 years, and I was born at the Coast Guard Academy in New London, Connecticut.
Fish and White Chocolate
We get to see the contestants creativity as they had to pick a fish like Tilapia, Mahi Mahi or Cod, and cook it with one funky ingredient like Fruit Loops, marshmallow cream, coffee, or caramel. The winning fish dish would be featured at all Red Lobster restaurants in the US. I must say you really have to be creative to make Fruit Loops work with fish. Kelsey won with her Macadamia Tilapia with White Chocolate Beurre Blanc which you can learn how to make over at Red Lobster head Chef LaDuke's blog.
Tilapia with a side of obesity sauce
I know I'm being rough here, but awhile ago, I asked if the Food Network (in general) is trying to make us all fat and unhealthy because if you notice most of the dishes we see on the FN are loaded with fats, sugars, and frying. Kelsey's Tilapia dish is no exception. Her White Chocolate Beurre Blanc is made with cream, lots of butter, coconut milk, and white chocolate. On top of the Tilapia is toasted Macadamias which has about 21g of fat per 11 nuts, but at least, it's the good mono-unsaturated fat. The health conscious part of me kind of winced at this Tilapia dish because of all the fat and sugar. I did however, enjoy a more toned down Kelsey, although I still think she is still a bit too much like Elle Woods in Stepfordville.
Two fall down: One is lame. The other shows professionalism
This week, Adam's risk taking failed miserably, but at least he's getting it now that he's coming off as a joke instead of funny. Aaron was having a Murphy's Law day. Shane is stepping up. Like the judges, I'm enjoying seeing more of Lisa's humanness, and I totally developed a new respect for her when she fell and had sauce all over herself, but girl did not flinch. She kept going, stay focused and did not complain. That was being a Pro!
It's about time
Finally! Nipa goes home. No more Debbie Downer. The second she tossed that good piece of fish into the garbage, game over. I agree with Chef Michael Symon in that throwing that fish away was insulting, and I might add really disrespectful. Too bad Nipa couldn't get over her Divaness long enough to show us how to fuse Indian spices with everyday foods. I would have enjoyed that very much.
Still with the Kleenex
And, yes, I saved it for last, the crying. We STILL have crying. zOMG! I'm dying here people. Aaron and the story about his son made everyone cry like an after school special, and Jennifer cried not once but oh at least three times during the show, and she even called herself an idiot. That was Jennifer's "perfect girl" side beating herself up.The judges are so right. Jen needs to stop apologizing and just beef up the confidence.
