'Next Food Network Star': It's a Party for Aarti and Tom, but what about Herb?

L.A. blogger Aarti Sequeira is having the best week ever. She's celebrating her birthday. (She's 32.) This week marks her seventh wedding anniversary to actor Brendan McNamara.

Oh, and she just won Season Six of "The Next Food Network Star."

"It's the most magical week ever, in history," she said with a laugh as she was headed for the airport and another trip back East where Food Network is based. Sequeira had been sworn to secrecy until the finale aired Sunday night on Food Network. "I'm just so happy to finally be able to talk about it," she said. [Sequeira will also make an appearance at the L.A. Times Food & Wine Festival on Sept. 5]

She said the on-screen journey was an emotional one. Many pegged her as the front-runner, given her experience making YouTube videos for her food blog. But that was not the case.

"I started off with not a lot of confidence, I was so intimidated by the rest of the finalists, their cooking ability and their experience," she said, adding that she had at least some reason to be nervous, noting that at one point she served raw chicken.

But she rallied back.

"I really feel like this was not only a victory in terms of me getting to do a job of a lifetime, but it's proof positive that the second that those demons come back and start pestering me...[I can face those demons and say] I won!"

 

 

 

She said she went into the finale feeling confident. The three finalists had to shoot pilots, and she was happy with her turn in front of the camera.

Then she watched the pilots shot by fellow finalists Herb Mesa and Tom Pizzica. "Once I watched the  other two pilots, I was like, 'Oh, crap! I got cocky, I fell asleep at the wheel, I could have done better.' Tom had the strongest pilot, to be honest. In the end, it was just my nose poking across the finish line."

Hey, wait a sec. Doesn't that sound like the old Aarti?!

Her parents, who live in India, were excited to learn of the win. "When I told my mum...her voice was so high pitched she sounded like a 16-year-old who was just asked out by the cutest boy in high school."

For now, Aarti will remain living on the West Coast. If her show gets picked up for a second season, who knows.

While she blogged at "Aarti Paarti," her new show will be called "Aarti Party." "I suppose its easier for people to spell. As long as people remember the name of it, I don't care. As long as people watch, I don't care," she said. She said she immediately fell in love with her set, which reflects her girlish personality, and yet still echoes her culinary POV with its earthy colors.

The new show will be a full exploration of the point of view she developed on "TNFNS," weaving Indian flavors into American cuisines. It premieres Aug. 22 at noon, and the first episode is titled “My House”: "Aarti takes viewers on a journey back home with recipes inspired by her family in India. First, she cooks up Sloppy Bombay Joes, an all-American classic updated with warm Indian flavors like garam masala and cumin. As a refreshing starter, she prepares a crisp Massaged Kale Salad with pumpkin seeds and honey. For an indulgent end to this savory meal, Aarti whips up cool Creamy Pistachio Pops."

That all sounds good, but I'm already looking forward to Aug. 29: She's making something called "I Ain't Chicken Chicken" and "Huggy Buggy Bread Pudding."

Food Network also announced Monday that runner-up Tom Pizzica will host a new prime-time series, "Outrageous Food," premiering in November 2010. It will be a traveling food show featuring "out-of-this-world eats," according to the press release.

But what about Herb Mesa? No word yet on whether the network has anything planned for him.

Additionally, casting for Season Seven of "The Next Food Network Star" is underway. Details are at  www.foodnetwork.com/starcasting.

--Rene Lynch
Twitter.com/renelynch

Photo credit: Aarti Sequeira, on the new set of "Aarti Party."

Comments

[cristina]

i am so sad that herd lost i think that he should of won

[Jennifer Renzoni]

First I must say that I am somewhat disappointed in the decision of NFNS. Our family was really rooting for TOM. He's funny, personable, believable, oh yeah and BIG. My family and I have been watching from the beginning and can not deny the fact that you selected the top 3. We are thrilled to hear Tom will have a show in the fall...we will be watching.
We would LOVE to see Herb have a show too. The ethnic background combined with the idea of adding the "healthy" is something we would love to try.
We hope that all 3 will have a show. Yes, we will be watching Arti too. We are looking forward to try Indian food. Thank you.

~The Renzonis

[Obese Food Guy]

Tom is awesome. He is the first contestant on this show that I genuinely ever liked. Would smoke a bowl with that shaggy Seth Rogen-clone any day.

[Ashley]

Herb was my favorite, so I really hope he gets his own show also. He's the only one I think I'd actually watch. Aarti is a good cook, or so it seemed on The Next Food Network Star, but I don't think I'll watch her show. Though Tom's show might be good, and I will watch to see.

[Christian]

I was so looking forward to Herb's show...finally getting some good hints on how to make healthy food tasty. For someone with food restrictions, it would have been a God-send. Tom's show would have been OK, too, because I love to experiment when cooking and loved some of his ideas. Aarti may be fun to watch for a couple of shows, but why would I want to make more than a couple of meals with the India flair? I can't imagine watching more than a couple of episodes of Aarti's Party.

[Kelly]

Looks to me like Tom won this contest, versus Aarti, if he's the won walking away with a prime-time slot in November. That sad Saturday afternoon slot all the Next Food Network Star "winners" receive seems like the second prize to me.

[Jude]

Hi Aarti,

Congratulations! You rocked my sox off! Love your friendly, funny personality. I am a big reader, your book club sounds groovy. But I don't drink wine, my specialty is FRUGEE...I juice 9-11 fruits and veggies together, using the Wellness Juicer, sponsored by Montell Williams. It is deee-licious! and healthy too.

Good luck on your Aarti Party. I will be watching!
Peace, humor and Blessings,
Jude

[JB]

I think Herb should have won. I would have watched his show, love the idea of latin food made healthier. I will not watch Aarti's show, her show had the least appeal to me of the 3 but I knew the judges would pick her.

[Christiane]

The last 3 contestants were really the ones that I am glad made it to the top, but hubby and I were rooting for Tom; he seemed to be the one who knew more about food and how to make complicated cooking look easy. I like Aarti too, and may tune into her show, but it was a bit of a roller coaster watching her.. a little too much drama for my cooking show taste. But I agree with Kelly that with Tom getting a prime time show, he will probably get more exposure; he may be soon on his way to his own cooking show as well. Herb was also talented and I would have been interested in watching his show if he'd won.

[kathy]

I don't think it is fair that Tom gets a primetime show while Aarti's show is to air on Sunday, noon. It defeats the purpose of the Next Food Network Star. Tom did not win this competition. He may have been entertaining but he lacks seriousness. He made a mess out of Iron Chef challenge episode...At least Herb seems like a better candidate for his show. When I watch Food Network channel shows, many of them lack variety. So, Aarti is an excellent selection. Herb would have also done well.

[Denise]

so disappointed.....I was afraid they would choose the wrong one....Tom was definitely the way to go...I absolutely will not watch her show...no desire, absolutely no desire....really disappointed.

[Kate]

I was SO disappointed in the choice that the Food Network made in the choice of Aarti as the winner. By far, I felt that Tom had the most knowledge about food and presented it in a comfortable and enjoyable way which fun to watch. I would have definitely become a regular viewer of a program hosted by him. Herb was interesting also, and I was surprised that with the larger Hispanic population in the country that the network didn't consider that angle. Aarti seems pleasant, but Indian food? No, this is not something that I would be interested in at all. Sorry Food Network...you dropped the ball on this one in not choosing Tom.

[Patric]

The final three would have all won in other seasons of FNS. As for Aarti, I've been eating more and more Indian food lately, the spices are unbelievable and I can't wait to check out her show. Herb's show would have been great too...I love Latin food, but lots of it is fat-laden, gut blasting cusine. Tom will do better in his new show than trying to teach America how to make clam and chorizo french toast! Good season of FNS!

[bernice]

Thank you making Aarti the winner. She was the most consistent in making the her dishes delicious and appealing. My daughter and I were so thrilled to hear she won; We both screamed with excitement when the winner was announced on sunday. Thank you, Bobby Flay and the rest of you judges for making her the next food network star. I will be watching her every Sunday and hope I can create her amazing Indian dishes for my family.

[Samantha]

I loooove the food network, its really the only channel I ever watch. I was SO disappointed when Tom didn't win, there were no negative comments about his pilot and he STILL didn't win?!?!? Tom seems like just your average joe and is so easy to relate to! Aarti was a mess from the beginning and her struggles of not believing in her self watching her on that journey has put me off from her and i'm 100% not interested in watching her show. I am glad however that they decided to keep tom and do another show with him, if it were me, i'd rather do a traveling show than a boring cooking show anyday, at least he gets to get out and see the world!
although i do agree with another comment about how tom and adam gertler did not win the competition and should not have been given shows at all. but i am glad because i love their shows!

[jay]

Even though I was rootin for aarti, I knew she wudn't win since indian cuisine is intimidating like aarti said. It's not b.c she ws not fun,big or havin tht dentist smile of aria all the time. Regardless of the talent tht aarti has, I still thought FN will not put a show based on indian cuisine, its new and for starters its better to be explored thru traveling shows. I am glad she won and FN made the right decision to start showcasing indian cuisine. Tom is a good chef but he was not serious about his food taking to the next level besides Guy's Big Bite or Big Daddy shows. I would root for him if he brought in a new theme, I like him but his food is been there done that and I wouldn't try most of his recipes again and again. I like herb's concept but his healthy theme was not new, plus he didn't want to go to his latin roots and I didn't like that part of him blaming those cuisines that made him fat. He only brought in his roots b.c the judges spood fed him the concept not him. There's already books that has herb's concept and I would pick a confident chef who has that point of view, but not herb.

[ShadrackOtis]

I'm so excited Aarti won! I live in an area with a large Indian population and therefore, many Indian food options. I've wanted for years to upgrade my cooking to add Indian flair and now with Aarti Party I can. The Food Network chose someone original and in a direction they haven't explored. It gives Indian food a voice.

I'm surprised Tom also got a show. Don't get me wrong, I loved his personality but If I want big bold flavors, I'll watch Bobby. Big food....hasn't anyone watched Guy's show? I just don't see anything new except maybe a messy cook.

Herb was nice and had a great heart but living in the SW, I didn't learn much from him that put a healthy spin on Mexican food. With refinement though, Herb and his trainer background would have been a better choice for another show than Tom.

[Jon]

FN got this won wrong. Not surprising Bob had the biggest crush on Aarti from the beginning, you could see his smile every time she was on. If she didn't win I would have been surprised. From an advertising standpoint Indian is smart, as it brings in new advertisers. So FN gets a new revenue stream regardless of the rating. IMO Bob and Suzy are the biggest jokes for judges on a reality show. First the majority of the contestants are jokes. If someone is afraid of the camera, why are they a finalist? You can't tell me these are the best America has to offer. I see more personality out of the Seasoned chefs on Bravos Top Chef than half of the contestants for a cooking show. Rant over. Tom got screwed.

[Rama]

I have watched 2 episodes of Aarti Party and am completely hooked. She has come in with what I have needed for a bit. A new food adventure. The recipes are easy to follow and the chicken I made form her show was absolutely flavor town.
I do have to disagree with everyone on Tom. When they compared him to Guy Fieri they were on track - why must we have several shows all cooking the same things over and over again? Live a little America - Step out of the box and learn a little about the rest of the big world out there.

[TONY MARTIN]

I have been watching AArti Party cooking. Love India food. She does a very good job and was the rightful winner. Also, like Tom, he is very bubbly and entertaining, and deserving of a show. About Herb, I'm wondering what did he do or who did he pissed off at the network that he did not get his own show...mmmm.