Aaron was one of two finalists eliminated in Week 2 of Food Network Star, Season 12. Relive the most-memorable moments from his time in the competition.
Aaron, a self-described "farm boy" and the owner of a catering company, is passionate about his love of all things meat. After two weeks in the competition, he was ultimately sent home after offering the panel a flopped throwdown against fellow finalist Rob and a lackluster mash-up of fried chicken and pho.
The finalists were given journals to use during their time in the competition, and Aaron filled his with plans for his recipes and notes on how to execute his dishes. Here he outlined the basic ingredients for his flat iron steak, which he served at the iPic Theater in Week 1.
"To me this feels like a dish of garnishes," guest judge Tyler Florence said after sampling Aaron's beef. "If he's, like, the meat guy, I want to taste the beef."
Mixed Impressions
Aaron's presentation in Week 1 also left much to be desired. "He's like the awkward teenager — in a sort of charming way," Bobby said of Aaron's cold open video, in which he jumbled his words while attempting to proclaim his passion for meat.
Better Together
Week 2 started on a high note for Aaron, who partnered with his pal Rob to create a travelogue at Wexler Deli inside Grand Central Market in Los Angeles. "Right now, I am 100 percent comfortable," Aaron said of working at Wexler's. But unfortunately for Aaron, that confidence didn't guarantee a flawless performance.
Ready to Eat
The guys' video started strong, so much so that they decided not to taste the pastrami they'd spent 60 seconds describing — and the judges weren't pleased with that decision. "There was no payoff," Giada told Aaron and Rob. "I wanted to see a sandwich, and I wanted to see you eat."
Newfangled Fried Chicken
As the mash-ups continued into the Star Challenge, Aaron and Rob were tasked with fusing fried chicken and pho, and selling their dishes to a crowd. "I'm making a bacon pho because — ding, ding! — I'm the meat guy," Aaron explained of his plan for the dish. "My secret recipe is going to be my Asian fried chicken. It's like a flavor bomb."
Careful Plan
Among the details Aaron noted are the "steps" he'd take to make his dish come to life. "Bonito flakes, jalapeno, lemongrass [and] garlic," he wrote. Those are just a few of the ingredients that would make up the base for his pho.
Underwhelmed
While his partner-turned-rival Rob was successful in making the crowd laugh, Aaron talked of "smoky, salty bacon" and didn't deliver a wowing performance. According to mentor Bobby, "He doesn't have it." Indeed most of the crowd felt the same way, as nearly everyone sampled Rob's dish — not Aaron's.
Strong Opinions
Much to Aaron's frustration, he landed in the bottom for the second week in a row, and he wasn't shy about questioning the mentors' critiques of his dish. "It's complete BS," Aaron said in the stew room. "My dish was great, you know? I tasted everything, over and over and over."
A Message for the Mentors
Ultimately Aaron and Melissa were sent home this week, but for Aaron, such an ending would not sit well. He offered a bold closing statement to the mentors: "Suck it."
One-on-One with Aaron
We checked in with Aaron after his elimination. Hear what he had to say about the competition, and learn his thoughts on the remaining finalists in an exclusive exit interview.
Go Behind the Scenes
See what the mentors, finalists and crew are up to between takes by checking out insider photos from the set.
Check out Food Network's official Star headquarters for more insider coverage of the competition, plus exclusive mentor interviews, behind-the-scenes photos and winning recipes.
