Earlier axed contestant Amy Finley recovered from the seventh week elimination, got reinstated and ultimately won as The Next Food Network Star yesterday, July 22.  The 33-year-old native of San Diego, California got the most number of votes, consequently beating Rory Schepisi, a 31-year-old native of Vega, Texas.

After contestant Joshua Adam "JAG" Garcia withdrew from the competition due to false claims and forged records about his education and military background, Finley, who was eliminated in week seven, got reinstated for the America Vote finale.

The third season of Next Food Network Star began on June 3 and featured 11 contestants who lived in a shared house in New York City as they endure cooking challenges and weekly eliminations.  Some of the challenges included cooking concession food for a NBA game and a mini version of Iron Chef America.  Although other guest judges like Bobby Flay and Cat Cora graced the competition, the regular selection committee always included Food Network executives Bob Tuschman and Susie Fogelson.

Marc Summers, who hosted the previous seasons, returned to host the final episode of the season. Much of the show explored season three finalists as they reminisce about their experiences on the show and featured behind the scene footages before finally announcing the winner.

As the champ of Next Food Network Star season three, Finley will receive a six-episode show that will premiere this fall on Food Network.

Viewers came to know Finley as a stay at home mother of two children who loves to cook and travel. She attended culinary school in France and worked as a freelance caterer. Additionally, she also worked as a freelance writer. Although she claims that her food specialty is Indian food, she was able to excel with recipes such as "Goat Cheese and Mushroom Stuffed Chicken Breasts" and" Eggs en Cocotte with a Basque Piperade Du Puy Lentils with Carrots."


-Kris De Leon, BuddyTV Staff Columnist
Source: Food Network
(Image courtesy of Food Network)