The Next Food Network Star - Sunday Nights at 9/8c

Colombe Jacobsen-Derstine:
ELIMINATED: WEEK 3

Colombe wants to show viewers that cooking and eating healthy can be enjoyable and hassle- free. A graduate of the Natural Gourmet School in New York City, she is a former child actress who now works as a private chef, cooking instructor and fitness trainer. Colombe was selected as the 11th finalist of The Next Food Network Star via a web vote on FoodNetwork.com.

Age: 29

Hometown: New York, N.Y.

Occupation: Core Fusion/Yoga Instructor (mind body fitness trainer)

Favorite restaurant: Diner in Williamsburg, N.Y. and Avec in Chicago

Food specialty: Mediterranean

Interests: Traveling, yoga, gardening, interesting and exotic flavors

Favorite Food Network chef: Mario Batali

Favorite Food Network show: Nigella Feasts

Three people, alive or dead, that you'd like to invite to a dinner party: MFK Fischer, Bjork, Thief Nhat Hahn

Three foods you can't live without (other than bread or water): Fish, leafy greens and olive oil

Culinary inspirations: Anything homemade – from the places I go and people I visit, to my friends and family who cook. Foods that are straight from the farm or backyard. Foods you can forage in the wild.

Culinary secret weapon: I can turn nutritious, unappealing food into a delicious and healthy culinary delight.

Favorite food: Lobster from Maine

Food you won't go near: Anything hydrogenated/chemically processed/fake food

Weirdest thing you've ever eaten: Cow brains

Favorite food destination: Where I've been – Istanbul. Where I've haven't been - Oaxaca

Why do you think you should be The Next Food Network Star: I want to show people that healthy food can taste good and inspire them to feel better and to enjoy the process of shopping, cooking and feasting, and to know more about what it is they're eating.

Check out Colombe's MySpace profile

Food Network Favorites: Recipes from our All-Star
Chefs