Season 5

Season five opens with The Next Food Network Star as ten finalists dive into their first challenge. They report to Food Network Kitchens and are greeted by the selection committee (Iron Chef Bobby Flay and Food Network executives Bob Tuschman and Susie Fogelson), who announce that the contestants will be split into two teams to cater Food Network's Sweet 16 party. The teams must craft enticing dishes and service tables brimming with Food Network stars such as Giada De Laurentiis, Alton Brown, Duff Goldman, Sunny Anderson and Masaharu Morimoto, along with Access Hollywood co-host Nancy O'Dell. The episode concludes with the elimination of the first finalist.