Well Fed Network

Posted by Madeline Miller on Edible TV.

Guy Fieri has come a long way since he won Season Two of The Next Food Network Star, but you wouldn’t know it from talking to him. He’s exactly like you’d expect from watching him on last year’s season and on his two Food Network shows, Guy’s Big Bite and Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives. He laughs easily and just wants to share what he knows without pretense or condescension. In short, he was a pleasure to chat with.

On this Sunday’s episode (June 17) of The Next Food Network Star, Guy gets to jump across to the judging table. He helps the finalists with a challenge, then participates as a guest judge. He is surprised by just how different the competition is this year - the finalists live together and are filmed in their “carriage house,” they all came into the competition after watching at least one season of the show (unlike Guy himself, who didn’t watch season one), and he noted that “everybody’s got a story.” Plus, Guy thinks the challenges were taken to a whole new, never-before-seen level this year.

When he met the finalists, Guy told them “not to lose therr heads” and to “be real about what you want to do, because who you are in the competition defines who you are on the Network.” When Guy competed last season, his Dad gave him similar advice, telling Guy “don’t squeeze too hard on this.” So, Guy decided to just be himself, even when Food Network reps asked him if he really was going to wear shorts all the time. (He told them he would.)

Guy readily admits it was a tough competition, especially since his wife was pregnant at the time, and it was difficult to be away from his family for so long. But, he thinks the show is unique because it’s a show that “is going to change someone’s life.” Even if the finalists don’t win, they get amazing exposure and a “magical” experience while participating in the show and interacting with Food Network stars and staff.

Guy is certainly enjoying his new found fame. He said the only thing better than the life he has now “would be playing guitar for Metallica.” Since he doesn’t actually play guitar, he’s extremely happy to be hanging out with Food Network stars like Bobby Flay and Robert Irvine and sometimes still finds it “trippy.” He’s expanding his popular restaurant with business partner Steve Gruber, Tex Wasabi’s (it recently opened in my town, Sacramento), with possible future locations in Northern California and Las Vegas.

In part 2 of our interview, learn what’s in Guy’s future at the Food Network and about the books he’s currently working on. To tide you over until then, check out Guy’s feedback on each episode of the Food Network Star in his vlog.