On the first episode of The Next Food Network Star’s latest season, we saw comedian Corey Kahaney, who has been on the reality series Last Comic Standing, was sent home after her team-up with Jeffrey resulted to cooking disasters.  By the end of the first episode, it was down to Corey and Lisa Garza, but it was Corey who was sent home.

Now that The Next Food Network Star’s newest season is well underway, let’s put the spotlight back on our host, Bobby Flay, who is featured in the June 2008 issue of Guideposts magazine.

This month’s issue of Guideposts magazine reveals the story of Bobby Flay, who is also seen on the cover.  Inside, the renowned chef and restaurateur talks about his father’s sound advice, which Flay has been following since he began a career in the culinary arts.  He also admits to not having a great career start.  In fact, he had dropped out of high school and it was his father who encouraged him to go and get a real job.

The first job that Flay landed was a restaurant busboy, but he eventually landed kitchen jobs.  Later on, he entered cooking school, where he realized how much he enjoyed the art.  After graduating, Flay worked in some of New York’s most innovative kitchens and later on was able to open up his own restaurants.  He credits his father for all the advice and guidance he gave during his journey to discovering his dreams.

Moreover, Flay says that his experiences on public vocational school cooking classes has helped him realize that it was one good way of spreading the word and helping other people realize their culinary aspirations.  Similarly, being a host on The Next Food Network star helps him reach out to these contestants who also aspire to hone their culinary skills.

Flay recently spoke to TV Guide to reveal his thoughts on the fourth season of the reality series.

"They're never ready for how intense it is," Flay says of the contenders of the show.  "This is what's great about these finalists — they are so passionate and they want it so badly that it gets really competitive."

Moreover, he says that when he judges these contestants, "Being critical without being hurtful us the best way to go."

When it comes to his favorite flavors, though, he says he likes "Big, bold, exciting flavors."  In fact, his favorite ingredient to work with is chili peppers because "there's such a range of them and they're such a big part of my flavor palate, so that's the thing that I reach for first."

So what's so great about having this job?

"It helps me get in lots of restaurants," Bobby Flay says enthusiastically.

Check out Flay and the rest of the kitchen crew in the fourth season of The Next Food Network Star, Sundays at 10pm.


-Valerie Anne del Castillo, BuddyTV Staff Columnist
Source: Business Wire, TV Guide
(Photo courtesy of WireImage)