Season 5: Katie Cavuto Boyle

Katie Cavuto Boyle

A close-up of former Season 6 Next Food Network Star Katie Cavuto-Boyle smiling while wearing a green shirt

A close-up of former Season 6 Next Food Network Star Katie Cavuto-Boyle smiling while wearing a green shirt

Where are you living and working now?

I am living in Center City, Philadelphia, with my husband, Andy (we got married three weeks after the show taped), and my dogs, Jack and Zoe. And I'm continuing to grow my business, Healthy Bites.

What have you been up to since FNS?

Since NFNS I have been super busy. We opened Healthy Bites ToGo Market and Café in Center City, Philadelphia, in February. I am so proud to have my own space to share my passions for green cuisine. We support local farms and businesses and try to keep the food and products as local, seasonal and fresh as possible. We teach cooking classes every other week and continue to cater and have a meal delivery service.

Healthy Bites Meal Delivery Service was "Best of Philly" in Philadelphia Magazine 2009 — a big deal. I am still writing for the Healthy Eats Blog on a weekly basis, which has been so fun. I was hired as the dietitian for the Philadelphia Phillies for the 2010 season, and was contracted to cook all of the pre-game meals for the team as well.

I started teaching at West Chester University, and I have had multiple opportunities to contribute to local and national media on television, radio and in print. I have enjoyed working as a spokesperson for several companies and doing regular speaking engagements and cooking demonstrations across the country. I am working on a farm-to-table DVD with a production company called Playful Planet that is all about teaching kids about good-for-you food and sustainability. I am very fortunate to have so many opportunities to share my voice and teach people about my passions.

What was your favorite thing about being on FNS? And your least favorite?

My favorite part of NFNS was the people I had the chance to meet and the fun times we had behind the scenes, and my least favorite part was the evaluations. It is really hard not to take the judges' comments to heart.

Do you keep in touch with other finalists?

I do. We all stay in touch from time to time, but I talk to Michael and Jen the most often.

What was the funniest/coolest/weirdest (or worst!) incident to happen behind the scenes?

There were so many, but I would have to say the funniest moments for me were moments when Michael and I would go off on these tangents to the point we would be laughing so hard we were crying.

How did being on FNS affect your culinary career?

I used it as a steppingstone to achieve goals I had set for myself. I truly believe that you need to make the most out of every situation. And even though I did not win I viewed it as an opportunity to advance my career in every way possible.

What advice would you offer the next round of finalists?

Don't take the criticism to heart. I let it get to me and lost my confidence. Be yourself and remember that you are there for a reason, and you deserve to be there as much as every other finalist.

When you look back, what would you have done differently?

I would have sold my food first and the fact that it was healthy second, but even more I would have remained confident in myself and confident in my food and my mission no matter the outcome.

Do people recognize you from being on the show?

A lot. It's really fun because I am just as excited to meet them as they are to meet me.

What was the greatest lesson you learned from your time on FNS?

Be yourself. That's what got you there, and if it doesn't work out it's not because you are not good at what you do it is because you are not what they were looking for at that time. Take the momentum from the show and allow it to open new doors for you.

What's your current favorite recipe or signature dish?

African Peanut Stew

Anything else?

Take time to get to know the finalists for we are all so much more then the bits you get to see on the show. I am so fortunate to have had the opportunity to work with such driven and successful people and I wish everyone luck in their future endeavors.

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