Kelsey Nixon On TONIGHT'S Premiere of 'Chefs vs. City'

Are you going to watch tonight's premiere of Chefs vs. City? (Well, it's Friday, so you know I'll be TiVoing it. I've hard a hard week and need a drink, yo.)

In tonight's ep, Aarón Sánchez and Chris Cosentino battle Claire Robinson of 5 Ingredient Fix and Food 2’s Kelsey Nixon of Kelsey & Spike Cook. They'll be hitting up Dylan’s Candy Bar, Russ & Daughters, and The Brick Lane Curry House to "devour the hottest dish in the world."

Food Network Addict got an exclusive statement from Kelsey Nixon on the experience:
Taping the show was the best of times and the worst of times. Don't get me wrong...I had an absolute blast! But I did things that I never would have done if it weren't for being put on the spot, on television, on Food Network. (Claire and I were willing to do anything to win!) Being the Amazing Race fan that I am, this was the perfect way for me to channel my inner competitor and take on the food scene in NYC like it was nobody's business. I have no doubt that this show will be a huge primetime hit. It is a privilege to be part of the series kickoff and I can't wait to watch the success of Chefs vs City unfold.

Chefs vs. City premieres TONIGHT at 10pm ET.

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Thanks Kelsey! I'll be watching... eventually. Have a great weekend everyone! I'll be back tomorrow, though, with a review of the first episode of Melissa d'Arabian's new show Ten Dollar Dinners.

Food2 Open House at Spike's Good Stuff Eatery

I had a great time on Tuesday over at the Food2 open house, held at Spike Mendelsohn's Good Stuff Eatery. I'd been meaning to check it out ever since my blogging friend Jordan Baker wrote her begrudgingly positive review of the place.

So burgers, shakes, & Kelsey Nixon are promised? I'm in.


I ran into Kelsey the last time I was in New York and got to chat with her for a minute, but it was great actually spending some time talking about what's going on with her at Food2, her life, and what she thinks of this season of The Next Food Network Star.

Kelsey let me know they'll be shooting new webisodes of her show with Spike for Food2 very soon, this time in the close-to-DC Silver Spring, Md. (perhaps to accommodate Spike's need to be close to his restaurant?).

She's also living in New York now with her husband, doing spokesperson gigs for Pyrex and Smuckers, and still generally trying to "define her brand," a phrase she said with kind of a knowing eye-roll, realizing the inherent silliness in the statement--to think of yourself as a brand and not an actual person.

Let me tell you this, though: after talking with Kelsey twice now, I can assure you that she's definitely not the overly perky, hyper person brand you saw on last season of The Next Food Network Star. She's friendly and warm, but doesn't seem to take anything too seriously. She's not breaking down and crying over the slightest thing (like she may have appeared to do on the show).

What else we talked about:
The Next Food Network Star - Season 5
Kelsey was surprised by how many people were throwing others "under the bus," saying that with her cast they all made a conscious decision to not do any of that stuff in front of the camera. "All of our reputations were on the line," said Kelsey.

Kelsey also likes Melissa D'Arabian (but doesn't think she'll win), and was glad to see her assert herself in last week's episode, proving "she deserves to be there."

What's next for Kelsey?
Her contract with Food Network expires at the end of July, so she'll be open to a lot more offers. Food Network has a first right of refusal contract with all contestants for one year after the final episode airs. So when those offers from competitors start coming in right after the show, Food Network has the ability to prevent you from doing any of them... which can obviously lead to a loss of income, which isn't helped by the fact that none of the contestants on The Next Food Network Star receive any type of payment at all.

Sooooooo I really am hoping lots of good things come to Kelsey Nixon now (the soon-to-be contract-free Kelsey). I may have written some harsh things about "her" in the past, but even when I've done that I knew it was just the "brand" producers were giving us. Kelsey Nixon is not just the person we saw last year on TV.

Luckily, Kelsey's ready to start anew. Look for her on Food2... and I'm sure lots of other places, soon.

Food2 Launches with New Series by Kelsey Nixon, Adam Roberts, and more

Food2, the site that Kelsey Nixon told the Utah Valley magazine would launch in January (it had its soft launch back in March) has quietly launched some of the promised video content, including the original series Kelsey & Spike Cook.

Don't get too clever on us, Food2!


The Food Network-affiliated site has been in the works for about a bajillion years, so this is a big step.

Amateur Gourmet Adam Roberts is also back with a self-titled series, while Football star (I use the term lightly, as my knowledge of football is, like, zero) Keith Neubert is hosting something called "Man Kitchen."

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Food Network has tried its hand at web-only shows before, the first ones being Dave Lieberman's "Eat This" and "Dave Does." They both had a temporary, finite feel to them, so I'll be interested to see if this is something they'll be able to pull off long term.

Who Wears It Best: Aretha's Hat

Aretha Franklin's inauguration hat is quickly becoming so last season, so I have to be quick and get this up before the week is up and Obama's into his first vacation.

So who wears Aretha's hat best? I tried to give a good sample of choices, even giving the Neelys a very special double-wide hat -- because those lovebirds can't let giant bows keep them apart!

Also, I'm fond of Bob Tuschman's little pillbox mini version.







Cute, huh?

Kelsey Nixon Getting Food Network Show

Shocker!

Kelsey Nixon, season 4 contestant on The Next Food Network Star, is getting her own Food Network show on a new Food Network Web site called F2, set to launch in January. The Provo Utah native is on the cover of Utah Valley magazine this month and talks all about the new show.



"I've been approached by so many production companies, but I think Food Network is the route I should go. It's the brand that most matches who I am. I'm working on a project with them right now—a web show about teaching cooking basics. They're launching a Web site called F2, targeted to 20-somethings for food and drink."

Ah ha! So that's what you've been up to, Kelsey! I'll have you dear FNAddict readers know that I heard a rumor about her getting a show on this new website a long time ago, but I was a good boy and kept my mouth shut until I saw something definite. Hmm... would anyone have cared if I had said something earlier?

Here's something I didn't know about the show, certain to delight (or anger) Top Chef fans:
"My co-host on the show is Spike Mendelsohn from "Top Chef" and we have a great time. I'm the one to do by-the-book classic methods, and he uses crazy ingredients from all over the world."

Veeerrrry interesting. So Aaron McCargo got a show. Adam Gertler supposedly has a show (we'll see about that), and now Kelsey. Guess Lisa Garza's will be announced next week? Maybe a Christmas special starring her and Sandra Lee?

One can hope.

I haven't always been all that optimistic about Kelsey, but I wish her the best. She got what she wanted... kind of (it is still a Web show). Let's see if this "innate passion" really shines through!
[Thanks Jacqueline for sending!]

Kelsey Nixon's So-Called Innate Passion

Right before she was kicked off The Next Food Network Star, Kelsey Nixon unleashed a tearful final plea to the judges asserting she possessed not just a passion for cooking, but a "passion for television"... and, yes - combine the two, a passion for cooking on television. Apparently able to cook on television since birth, Kelsey has gone on to call this an "innate passion."

I didn't know innate passions were so specific.


In her exit interview, she attempts to hold it together, maintaining that she "knows more than ever" that she "has to be cooking on television as [her] profession." While in interviews, Kelsey continues to promote her resume and desire to cook on TV, noting that she is "as comfortable being in front on the camera as [she is] being on [her] couch at home."

That's just wrong.

I think that says a lot about today's reality TV / 24-hour webcam / YouTube generation in which so many people seem to think they are nothing if no one is watching.

No one should be "as comfortable" in front of a camera -- knowing she will be seen by thousands (perhaps millions) of viewers -- as she is while sitting on the couch. It's fine to say you are very comfortable in front of the camera, but to compare that experience to what we all do while sitting at home on the couch -- let food fall out of our mouths, scratch ourselves, fart, etc. -- sounds more naive than it does confident.

I guess I just wonder why someone would say that she HAD to cook to television as her profession. Why? So many of the people I admire on the network had great careers -- sometimes in the culinary world, sometimes not -- before they found their way to TV. I'm not saying this is the correct path, but it just seems more logical. I'm also not saying that people who do reality TV competitions don't deserve long, promising careers in the public eye... but I think there's a reason why sooooo many people who do reality TV are never heard from again -- even the "winners" of everything from America's Next Top Model to American Idol.

If you're truly passionate about cooking and helping people learn how to cook, there are so many other easier ways to go about doing that other than having a cooking show on a cable network. Teach classes, volunteer at a school, whatever. Maybe something you do will get noticed and maybe you'll get a show... or maybe not. But you should be happy either way because you're still doing something you're passionate about.

Just like how Lisa Garza's remarks to this site about "only doing the show to use the attention and possible celeb status to promote [her] purpose for living, to feed the homeless, care for impoverished children..." instantly made her look like a hypocrite, I'd kind of like it if Kelsey just came out and acknowledged one of the real reasons for wanting a TV show -- namely, the desire for fame and fortune. It may not be as acceptable of a reason (that's why they say they're in it to "feed the homeless"), but I'd give her a whole lot more respect.

I still feel for her, though. She has a goal that isn't as widely embraced as, say, becoming a nun. To deny that there's some level of vanity in publicly desiring your own TV show is dishonest. Actors go through this too (they're in it for "the craft" and the "love of entertaining people"), yet it's somehow more acceptable to know they have more than just altruistic reasons when accepting roles that'll bank them upwards of $20 million.

But I've gotten off topic. It's just a Monday afternoon question to ponder. Enjoy the rest of your day!

Kelsey's a Winner Too

Kelsey Nixon may not have won The Next Food Network Star, but she did pull in 37% of the fan favorite vote—good enough to make her the fans' favorite... or the favorite of those fans who actually took the time to vote. Either way, woo hoo Kelsey!

You'll also remember that Kelsey's Macadamia Crusted Tilapia with White Chocolate Beurre Blanc was placed on the Red Lobster "Today's Fresh Fish" menu. Even though I never made it in to sample this chocolatey fish, evidently thousands of other people did.


In just the first week on the menu, more than 680 Red Lobster restaurants collectively sold 31,820 of 'em!

Did anyone try it? MarketWatch claims that the dish is "receiving rave reviews from food writers, bloggers and guests alike." Where are all these rave reviews?

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I know I mentioned I'd stop talking about NFNS, but they are the only Food Network peeps having stories written about them right now. I'll let them have their moment in the spotlight a bit longer. Plus, I have some thoughts on some recent interviews Kelsey's done where she reinfornces her unwavering desire to cook on television.

[Photo via Red Lobster]