Brook HarlanWhere are you living/working now?
I live in Missouri teaching culinary arts through a high school career center. I am the head wrestling coach and I am also the food editor for a local magazine where I write a food column each month and take culinary tours around the country.
What have you been up to since NFNS?
I keep pretty busy with school, the magazine and the tours. In my little free time I am renovating my house, working with kids, traveling a bit and enjoying life.
What did you enjoy most about being on NFNS?
I enjoyed meeting new people, New York and the opportunity.
Do you still keep in touch with other contestants?
Absolutely, it was a great experience with great people. I wish we could all have a reunion.
Any behind-the-scene happenings from NFNS you can tell us about?
I think we had a lot more fun than they had time to show. We were always goofing around. After we each got "released," we would hang out and travel around the city and eat everything in sight.
How did being on NFNS affect your culinary career?
I have the same job as I did before, but I have picked up quite a few part-time gigs such as the magazine and other demonstrations.
What advice would you offer the next round of contestants?
Be calm under pressure. Just enjoy your time there and just be yourself.
When you look back, would you have done anything differently?
Since I was on the first show, I had no idea what to expect. I think that others have the advantage to know to practice on the situations that we were in. Other than that, I would not change anything. Be yourself and have fun with it!
Are you recognized from your time on NFNS?
I still have people every once in a while say "hey, you’re that guy who was on the Food Network". Since I have a column each month in a local magazine people ask me about that as well.
What was the greatest lesson you learned from your time on NFNS?
There’s a lot of multi-tasking going on in the brain while hosting a food show and it’s not as easy as it looks. Other than that, just roll with it and make lemonade from lemons.
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