The results are in! America has voted to determine who will be the next Food Network Star. Before the winner is revealed, all of the finalists are back in the studio to tell all and view never-before-seen footage from the season. Bobby Flay, Alton Brown and Giada De Laurentiis each share their favorite moments during an emotional look back at the final three's journey to the finale. Then, suspense rises as the time comes to reveal who will walk away as the new Food Network Star.
In the first challenge, the remaining finalists have to update their family favorites with a culinary twist. They have to film an Instagram story about their process while they cook, too, and food blogger Molly Yeh pops in to help judge. Then the finalists head to the aquarium to cater a five-course, VIP dinner in celebration of the 20th Anniversary of Shark Night. Each course is inspired by an ingredient in a different shark's diet. Man v. Food's Casey Webb helps Giada De Laurentiis and Bobby Flay decide which finalist will be eliminated.
Fifteen eager Food Star Finalists arrive at Hollywood's famous Grauman's Chinese Theater, where they meet each other for the first time and are welcomed by Bobby Flay and Giada De Laurentiis. For their first Camera Challenge, the finalists must create a breakfast dish that reflects their personality and culinary point of view. Their first Star Challenge finds them shooting promos for their shows as well as cooking for a panel of Hollywood's press, including Mario Lopez from television's Extra. The first finalist is sent packing.
In the premiere episode of Food Network Star, 15 hopefuls arrive in New York to compete for the ultimate dream job: to host their own show on Food Network. The finalists arrive at the Food Network kitchens to greet their team leaders, Alton Brown, Bobby Flay and Giada De Laurentiis, and meet their rivals for the first time! Special guest Robert Irvine gives the finalists their first Star Challenge: to create their very own Pop-Up restaurant from the ground up - with an extremely limited budget and very little time.
Giada De Laurentiis challenges four baking teams to make a cake decoration that shows the ultimate family celebration. After one team is eliminated, the remaining three teams meet their VIP clients, the Busby family from TLC's OutDaughtered. America's favorite quintuplets need an epic cake with puppies, unicorns and rainbows to serve at their 4th birthday party, but with more than 150 guests coming, the bakers are challenged to make a gigantic cake that pleases every member of the family. One team wins $10,000 and gets their cake served at the celebration.
Giada De Laurentiis challenges four of the best cake-making teams to make anniversary-themed cake decorations. Only three teams are successful enough to move on to the second round, where they meet their VIP client, Olympic medalist Apolo Ohno. He asks the bakers to make a combination anniversary and birthday cake for his girlfriend, Bianca. The bakers' cakes need to capture everything important to this couple, from traveling the world to their puppy, Sesame. Apolo and Bianca choose one cake to serve at their party and award that team the $10,000 prize.
Giada De Laurentiis challenges four of America's best baking teams to create a kid's toy cake decoration. One team is sent packing, and the remaining three teams meet their special VIP client for the second round, teen ventriloquist and winner of America's Got Talent, Darci Lynne. She needs a cake for her 14th birthday sleepover party, so the bakers are challenged to make a cake that reflects her love of performing and features her puppets, Petunia and Oscar. The winning team wins $10,000 and the honor of serving their epic cake at Darci Lynne's party.
Giada De Laurentiis challenges the baking teams to create a performance-themed cake decoration. The curtain closes on one team, and the remaining teams get to meet their VIP client, comedian Loni Love. She's helping throw a 55th anniversary party for The Improv, the club where many comedy legends got their start, and she asks the bakers to wow her with an epic cake that captures the spirit of comedy and The Improv. One team wins $10,000 and the honor of serving their cake at the legendary venue.
With the field narrowed to six finalists, the group goes Hollywood for their first challenge as they whip up dishes inspired by characters from the movie Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation. Special guest Fran Drescher, who voices the character Eunice in the movie, joins Giada De Laurentiis and Bobby Flay at the judging table. Then it's back to business when the finalists are asked to give their take on new Food Network titles: Ooey Gooey, Cheat Eats and Stacked Snacks. Two finalists each take on a title and are judged head-to-head by Bobby and Giada along with guest judges comedian Loni Love and Iron Chef Alex Guarnaschelli. In the end, one finalist's shot at stardom will be finished.