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Food Network Star: The Official Insider's Guide to America's Hottest Food Show
Here is the official companion to cable television’s most challenging food fight. Food Network The Official Insider’s Guide to America’s Hottest Food Show is your all-access, behind-the-scenes pass to Food Network’s highest rated series ever—where intense tests of talent and exciting guest stars steer a handful of finalists towards the ultimate dream his or her own Food Network show. Food Network The Official Insider’s Guide to America’s Hottest Food Show brings you all the drama of seasons one through seven—plus winning recipes, candid photographs, revealing bios, trivia, and insider stories about the contestants and celebrity judges, including Bobby Flay, Susie Fogelson, Guy Fieri, Rachael Ray, Wolfgang Puck, Melissa d’Arabian, and Hollywood luminaries like Courtney Cox and Eva Longoria.
- GenresCookbooksNonfiction
368 pages, Paperback
First published August 16, 2011
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
September 3, 2013
A Happy Serving of Food Network Self-Indulgence ... For Diehard Fans Only
This book was reviewed as part of Amazon's Vine program which included a free advance copy of the book.
The Food Network has come from catering to a niche to becoming as mainstream and iconic as ESPN or HBO. While the network has capitalized on competitive cooking shows, The Food Network Star has become the culinary equivalent of American Idol. The FOOD NETWORK STAR OFFICIAL INSIDER'S GUIDE can be interpreted as either a must-have for the diehard fan or, for most, a watered-down cookbook light on recipes and heavy on network aggrandizement.
Having watched the Food Network Star over the last several years, I have seen the show trend from initially being an interesting, exciting, loose and fun program to its current rigid and somewhat arrogant form (complete with name change and network anointed "most watched cable program" accolades). Quite simply, it's not really much different from the majority of the network's other reality programs (Cake Wars, Iron Chef, etc.) and while each season's winner is awarded his or her own network show, only one winner over the last seven years has arguably garnered real fame (Season 2's Guy Fieri). The FOOD NETWORK STAR OFFICIAL INSIDER'S GUIDE tends to characterize the show as being much grander that it actually appears to be.
To the diehard Food Network Star fan, this book is a robust seven-course picture-fest (pun intended) of wannabe cooking celebrities and elaborate recipes with a second helping of face time for the network's iconic stars (Bobby Flay, Giada, Mrs. Deen, Rachel Ray, Alton Brown, etc.). Each chapter in the book represents a season (starting with the first season) and for some odd reason it was deemed necessary to include a chapter on the seventh season which had not finished prior to this book's publishing (you're introduced to the seventh season contestants and basically nothing more). While the chapters outline the general course of the season's challenges (with a results grid at the end), there are plenty of factoids, sidebars and inset interviews that add entertainment value. The factoids alone were educational in that they provide "did you know" information regarding cooking vernacular heard on the show that probably leaves the average viewer clueless as to their meaning. The abundance of photos is tastefully and artistically arranged to depict the seasons as happy and fun events. The pictures of the food/recipes, as expected, are magnificent. Out of fairness, each chapter contains at least one recipe from every competitor (most are recipes that won a particular challenge). While I have not personally attempted to cook any of the provided recipes, they appear to cater to those with more savvy cooking skills. There is also plenty of attention given to the networks actual "stars" with photo highlights from the past season and plenty of text in the form of "Q and A" insets, advice, constructive criticism and highlighted quotes from past seasons. So, for those who can't get enough of Paula Deen's pearly whites or Giada de Laurentiis' refined flare ... this book delivers.
For the casual Food Network Star viewer (like me), the FOOD NETWORK STAR OFFICIAL INSIDER'S GUIDE may come across more as a contrived happy-fest than a true insider's guide. Ironically, the network's weekly promos for almost every season attempt to entice viewers with drama; virtually none of this is represented in the book. In reality, quite a few of the competitors simply did not come across as nice, happy people. Each and every season has moments where competitors lose grip, break down, act like jerks and get scolded by the judges ... the book doesn't go there (and it glosses over the issue of one competitor who flat-out lied about his military service ... and it WAS a big deal at the time). Yes, the book highlights critical moments, but the delivery nowhere near captures the nasty and sarcastic commentary from the judges (who often come across a little arrogant themselves on air) after tasting a particularly unsavory meal prepared by the challengers. While I can't verify it, it would not be surprising to find that a recipe or two in the book was actually subject to such negative scrutiny on the show. While it is perfectly plausible that the network has no intention release a "tell all" book that casts any negativity on its marquis series, the FOOD NETWORK STAR OFFICIAL INSIDER'S GUIDE just strikes as being too squeaky clean and even a little fake. As a subscriber of Food Network Magazine, I could appreciate such an insider's guide presented as a monthly feature in the magazine's summer issues (when the Food Network Star airs) more than a glossy book. Leave the real nitty-gritty "insider's guide" authoring to those not on the company payroll ... a little realistic negativity isn't going to hurt the success of this network or its show.
What the FOOD NETWORK STAR OFFICIAL INSIDER'S GUIDE truly does is market the television program in the manner the network wants it to be showcased ... a friendly competition where everyone is happy, all the time ... and this is fine for some. But, for others, the book may seem to be another hasty and unnecessary method of a big business squeezing quick cash from the corporate cow. Hasty in that the book includes an incomplete chapter on a season that had not yet started. Unnecessary in that one may question whether or not the show actually warrants a book at all.
This book was reviewed as part of Amazon's Vine program which included a free advance copy of the book.
The Food Network has come from catering to a niche to becoming as mainstream and iconic as ESPN or HBO. While the network has capitalized on competitive cooking shows, The Food Network Star has become the culinary equivalent of American Idol. The FOOD NETWORK STAR OFFICIAL INSIDER'S GUIDE can be interpreted as either a must-have for the diehard fan or, for most, a watered-down cookbook light on recipes and heavy on network aggrandizement.
Having watched the Food Network Star over the last several years, I have seen the show trend from initially being an interesting, exciting, loose and fun program to its current rigid and somewhat arrogant form (complete with name change and network anointed "most watched cable program" accolades). Quite simply, it's not really much different from the majority of the network's other reality programs (Cake Wars, Iron Chef, etc.) and while each season's winner is awarded his or her own network show, only one winner over the last seven years has arguably garnered real fame (Season 2's Guy Fieri). The FOOD NETWORK STAR OFFICIAL INSIDER'S GUIDE tends to characterize the show as being much grander that it actually appears to be.
To the diehard Food Network Star fan, this book is a robust seven-course picture-fest (pun intended) of wannabe cooking celebrities and elaborate recipes with a second helping of face time for the network's iconic stars (Bobby Flay, Giada, Mrs. Deen, Rachel Ray, Alton Brown, etc.). Each chapter in the book represents a season (starting with the first season) and for some odd reason it was deemed necessary to include a chapter on the seventh season which had not finished prior to this book's publishing (you're introduced to the seventh season contestants and basically nothing more). While the chapters outline the general course of the season's challenges (with a results grid at the end), there are plenty of factoids, sidebars and inset interviews that add entertainment value. The factoids alone were educational in that they provide "did you know" information regarding cooking vernacular heard on the show that probably leaves the average viewer clueless as to their meaning. The abundance of photos is tastefully and artistically arranged to depict the seasons as happy and fun events. The pictures of the food/recipes, as expected, are magnificent. Out of fairness, each chapter contains at least one recipe from every competitor (most are recipes that won a particular challenge). While I have not personally attempted to cook any of the provided recipes, they appear to cater to those with more savvy cooking skills. There is also plenty of attention given to the networks actual "stars" with photo highlights from the past season and plenty of text in the form of "Q and A" insets, advice, constructive criticism and highlighted quotes from past seasons. So, for those who can't get enough of Paula Deen's pearly whites or Giada de Laurentiis' refined flare ... this book delivers.
For the casual Food Network Star viewer (like me), the FOOD NETWORK STAR OFFICIAL INSIDER'S GUIDE may come across more as a contrived happy-fest than a true insider's guide. Ironically, the network's weekly promos for almost every season attempt to entice viewers with drama; virtually none of this is represented in the book. In reality, quite a few of the competitors simply did not come across as nice, happy people. Each and every season has moments where competitors lose grip, break down, act like jerks and get scolded by the judges ... the book doesn't go there (and it glosses over the issue of one competitor who flat-out lied about his military service ... and it WAS a big deal at the time). Yes, the book highlights critical moments, but the delivery nowhere near captures the nasty and sarcastic commentary from the judges (who often come across a little arrogant themselves on air) after tasting a particularly unsavory meal prepared by the challengers. While I can't verify it, it would not be surprising to find that a recipe or two in the book was actually subject to such negative scrutiny on the show. While it is perfectly plausible that the network has no intention release a "tell all" book that casts any negativity on its marquis series, the FOOD NETWORK STAR OFFICIAL INSIDER'S GUIDE just strikes as being too squeaky clean and even a little fake. As a subscriber of Food Network Magazine, I could appreciate such an insider's guide presented as a monthly feature in the magazine's summer issues (when the Food Network Star airs) more than a glossy book. Leave the real nitty-gritty "insider's guide" authoring to those not on the company payroll ... a little realistic negativity isn't going to hurt the success of this network or its show.
What the FOOD NETWORK STAR OFFICIAL INSIDER'S GUIDE truly does is market the television program in the manner the network wants it to be showcased ... a friendly competition where everyone is happy, all the time ... and this is fine for some. But, for others, the book may seem to be another hasty and unnecessary method of a big business squeezing quick cash from the corporate cow. Hasty in that the book includes an incomplete chapter on a season that had not yet started. Unnecessary in that one may question whether or not the show actually warrants a book at all.
June 4, 2012
It's funny: I used to make fun of my dad watching this new channel on TV about cooking...I mean, how dumb is it to watch people cook??
Well, here I am, writing about reading a book about watching people cook on TV!
Yes, I've thoroughly become like my dad: I love watching the Food Network! And this book *really* grabbed me! I didn't watch the series from the beginning...I think I started watching around the third or fourth season...but I really got hooked! This book brings back all the highlights and throws in some awesome recipes to boot. Yeah...someday I'll prolly try making some of these great recipes...if I ever have a big enough kitchen to actually cook! Until then, I'll have fun with the highlights :)
Well, here I am, writing about reading a book about watching people cook on TV!
Yes, I've thoroughly become like my dad: I love watching the Food Network! And this book *really* grabbed me! I didn't watch the series from the beginning...I think I started watching around the third or fourth season...but I really got hooked! This book brings back all the highlights and throws in some awesome recipes to boot. Yeah...someday I'll prolly try making some of these great recipes...if I ever have a big enough kitchen to actually cook! Until then, I'll have fun with the highlights :)
November 28, 2012
I'd like to give this a higher rating, but I am not that well versed in previous seasons of this show, so a lot of the "insights" didn't mean anything to me,and the two seasons I would be interested in,could not make this book. For fans of the show, I think that they will love this, and I did like a few things, like interviews with A. Brown and the like.
August 25, 2011
Interesting interviews. Nice recipes. But no great revelations. Basically commercial for Food Network.
January 18, 2012
Just a fun read about a show I like to watch.
October 29, 2016
It was alright.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews