Alicia Sanchez, a cooking instructor and former bakery owner from New York (by way of Missouri), had a roller-coaster Star experience. Her pizza presentation here was her best on-camera moment.
Star Journals
Each finalist was given a Food Network journal upon arrival in L.A. Alicia stuck around for three episodes and filled hers with prep lists and recipes.
Focus on the Food
An experienced baker, Alicia jotted down ratios that she might need for future recipes. On the opposite page, she wrote out a prep list for her pork belly-inspired dish in the restaurant challenge.
Debriefing
In the stew room, Alicia and Whitney rehashed their experience cooking for an all-star panel in the Scarpetta kitchen.
Stay Organized
Alicia wrote out a numbered list to keep her dish prep on track, but she still ended up frazzled and frantic in the kitchen.
Disappointing Dish
As a result, Alicia's bacon-wrapped scallop dish didn't turn out as well as she'd hoped. "All these people watching me is definitely throwing me off," she admitted.
Cooking With Chocolate
Having worked in a chocolate factory during culinary school, Alicia thought she'd nail the Hershey's challenge, but Giada called her chocolate-eggplant dish "a total miss."
In Her Wheelhouse
The Duff vs. Robert dessert duel also should have been a breeze for Alicia. Drawing from her baking background, she tried to remember as many recipes and ratios as possible.
Baking Up a Storm
"People know that I went to pastry school, so if I get eliminated today, I will never live it down," Alicia said.
Drawing From Memory
Alicia's nerves got the best of her and she struggled to remember her correct cake recipe. Baking is a precise science, so wrong ratios can cause major problems.
Fun With Fondant
Duff came by the kitchen to see what his all-girl team was up to. He chatted with Alicia while she rolled out fondant for her cupcakes.
Star-Worthy Cupcakes?
Alicia's Star cupcakes looked cute, but the judges found them crumbly and dry. They weren't a crowd favorite, either — many of the guests ended up throwing theirs in the trash.
Thinking Ahead
In the stew room and back at the Star house, Alicia brainstormed for future challenges. She also drew out a little diagram to remind herself of various cuts of meat.
Scallop Burgers and Shrimp Toast
Here we get a glimpse of dishes we might have seen from Alicia had she stuck around a little longer.
On the Bottom
Once again, Alicia ended up on the bottom after the dessert challenge. "I think your nerves are continually sabotaging you," said Bob.
Saying Goodbye
The baking challenge turned out to be Alicia's last. She was embarrassed to go home for cupcakes, but tried to be positive: "I hope that this is a stepping block for me and something good can come out of this."
