I am a Dork: Food Network Star Prediction

Oh my goodness I missed all of you this past week!  I decided to take a week off from the personal blog to get into the groove of my new online writing job(s) and to get organized–which I’m happy to say I did use my time off wisely!  More on that later, though.
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I am often made painfully aware of how much of a dork I am.

Socially awkward.
Non-trendy.  (I am most comfortable in jeans and a t-shirt.)
I tend to make jokes that I obviously think are hilarious but are met with uncomfortable laughter.
Or I start to tell a story and realize the whole room is looking at me, then turn beet red and forget the ending.  Gah.

Dorkiness runs in the family 🙂

Last night I was surrounded by fashionistas including a super-hip fashion blogger and I proudly pointed out my new sparkly shoes (likely intended for a tween) that I bought at Target last week. The response was “Oh, yeah.” 

Awkward.

Sometimes I have to laugh walking away from social situations at how much of a dork I am.  While it can be uncomfortable to realize that I am not super cool and trendy, I have to remind myself that it’s okay! 

Do I really want to conform just to make other people like me?  No!   

All I can do is be me, try my best to be kind to others and pray for the best!  And then go home and read about all of Tina Fey’s awkward life encounters.

I am also a Food Network dork.  For example I am currently obsessed with Food Network Stars. 

I started watching Food Network Stars last season and became slightly addicted.  Last year the foodie contestants who wanted to win their own Food Network show were selected to be a part of one of three teams headed by current Food Network celebs: Team Giada, Team Alton and Team Bobby Flay.

Each team captain selected the people who they thought had the personality, skills and that certain “it” factor to become a permanent part of the Food Network.  Although I adore Giada (we are BFFs…she tweeted me once), I was pretty much on Team Alton since I could relate to their quirky, slightly dorky personalities.

And guess who won?  A totally awesomely dorky foodie from Team Alton! 🙂

This season Food Network for some reason decided to do away with the whole team thing and it seemed to be every man/woman for him/herself.

I got my sister Courtney and brother Josh into the show this year and it has been a way to connect even though I’m living miles away.  We’ve even had a couple of Food Network Stars parties when I’ve traveled back to Omaha where we could be nervous for the contestants together and dish on the awfully awkward performances.  So in a sappy way, the show has been really important to me this season.

Right away I was all for Chad, the BBQ king because of his charming personality and ease in front of the camera.  He seemed to have that “it” factor, although that could have just been my admiration of his dreamy smile.

I also was intrigued by Nikki Dinki who is a food blogger and had a POV (Point of View) of “meat on the side.”  I like her focus on veggies and of course the fact that she is a blogger.  Nikki also does online cooking videos so she has an amazing camera presence.

She reminds me a little of myself (aside from camera presence…I am still trying to convince myself to do my first vlog) since we both grew up picky eaters and have taught ourselves to try new things and to cook through blogging.  She made it really far, but her self-taught cooking apparently made her seem like less than an expert on food.  I cried with her when she was axed and now follow her adorable blog.

Someone who surprised me along the way was Russel Jackson.  He seemed very harsh at first and I wasn’t quite sure what kind of a show he planned on having so I just didn’t see him being a star on my beloved Food Network.  He slowly won me over when he warmed up, smiled and started talking about his seven deadly cooking sins..which involve butter, bacon and chocolate.  Count me in!

After being in the bottom four times, he pulled fought his way through to make it to the final three.

Which brings us to this week.  Each finalist had to create a demo of their show.   

While I like Russel’s personality and POV the best, I could not understand what his show would be about.  He went to an icecream store and used a couple of his “deadly sins” to recreate an item for them…but I just can’t see that show going very far.  I couldn’t picture it, so I feel like I’m not the only one.

I went back and forth with the goofy Damaris Phillips the whole season, but she made it to the final three, so she obviously has some star quality.  She is quite loveable and seems to be a great southern chef (I suppose we need someone to take Paula’s place, eh?).

Her idea for a show I liked the best.  Damaris’ idea is having a show where she teaches gentleman how to cook for their women.  Winning them over with good southern cooking.  Cute, right?  Like I said, the idea was good, but I feel like it came off overly flirty.

Dave even said he was a little uncomfortable watching the pilot.  My brother, however, (a fellow Food Network enthusiast) voted for Damaris, so I could be wrong.

The person that I believe will win Food Network Stars this season is Rodney Henry, or the “pie guy.”  Although he hasn’t been my favorite, he does have that star quality or that “it” factor.  He is who he is and doesn’t apologize for it.  In fact I really could learn from him, huh?

His idea for a show is him going to different restaurants and challenging them to a contest.  He recreates their best dish in the form of a pie and a panel gets to judge which dish they like best.

This guy is hilarious and fairly natural on camera plus the fact that food competitions are all the rage makes me feel like he will be the next Food Network Star.

So is anyone else with me?  Who else is watching tonight??

I will likely be tweeting live, so feel free to get dorky with me and chat about the show!  @SemiHealthNut