Giada De Laurentiis challenges four of the best baking teams to create a cake decoration that honors members of the armed services coming home. After this round, one team departs, and the remaining three meet their special client. Mariana's husband, Dustin, is returning home from overseas, so she and her father-in-law are throwing a big bash to celebrate. They task the bakers with making a cake inspired by Dustin's childhood memories that he wants to pass down to his newborn son -- who he hasn't met yet! The winning team wins $10,000 and the honor of serving their cake at a celebration fit for a hero.
Giada De Laurentiis challenges the baking teams to create a cake decoration that looks like their favorite celebratory feast. After one team is sent home, the three remaining teams get a message from their VIP client, Guy Fieri. He's throwing a party for his crew to celebrate the 250th episode of Guy's Grocery Games, and he has sent longtime GGG judge Aarti Sequeira and his son, Hunter, to ask the bakers to make an epic, GGG-themed cake for the celebration. Cakes collapse and heads roll before one team takes home $10,000 and the honor of serving their cake to Guy and his crew.
In the premiere episode of Food Network Star, 12 hopefuls arrive in Los Angeles 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 mentors; Bobby Flay, Giada De Laurentiis and Alton Brown, who help prepare the finalists for the biggest audition of their lives. Each finalist films a pitch tape and prepares one dish to present to the network, Bob Tuschman and Susie Fogelson, and to a focus group of Food Network viewers who will help decide who has a shot at becoming a Food Network Star.
Follow Giada De Laurentiis back to her birthplace for an extended holiday, as she revisits family, friends and the flavors that inspire her life's work. Whether digging into her grandmother's ancient recipe book with Aunt Raffy, exploring the site of her grandfather's former pasta factory, inspiring her to make homemade noodles "the old fashioned way," or cheering on and then making a California-inspired feast for her uncle's soccer team, this trip is all about the bounty and beauty of Italy, enjoyed with friends and family.