Wow what a week. This was a challenging week for the remaining finalists and me. My challenge was trying to stay awake during the show. Wow can u say dull!!! But the contestants had a lot of challenges to overcome this week. The wood grill challenge looks like a lot of fun, wish I was there. I am so sorry to see Jamika go she is so talented and I wish her all the best!!! KEEP UR HEAD UP GIRL!!!! OK so see you guys next week, cant wait too see what happens. OHHH and check out www.mvpchef.com hey if Brett’s going to plug his web site so am I !!!!!!!!

EndFragment->

It all just worked out, I think It was just my time to go. I am proud of the food I made and honored to have this opportunity. There are moments in life when you say, “I did my best” and this was one of those moments for me. I was ready to go home and get on with my life. Do I want to be the Next Food Network Star? Yes, but I was done being locked up and needed to get the hell out of there. So I got knocked off and had some quality time in a city I love!!!

I enjoyed doing what I love and making people smile. This is just the beginning for me. I would like to continue on this path and be on TV or radio (maybe I’ll start out with radio, and work on the camera skills…LMAO) I have star potential and no one can disagree with that. I am also working on www.mvpchef.com to make it a cool fun place to get ideas and recipes.

I also have a new confidence in my culinary skills. I am a good chef, who cares about and understands his food. I think I proved that to you folks over and over. I cook all my food with love and a deep understanding of the role food plays in our lives. I cook from the heart.

Thanks to all the fans of NFNS for all you support. And thanks to the Food Network for this great opportunity. And like every good rapper says in there speech. I’d like to thank god!!!!! Xoxoxoxox

XOXOXOXO

Michael Proietti

EndFragment->

The drama last night was me whacking Debbie in the face with the sheet pan. Just writing that makes me feel so bad. Debbie was so nice about it (I would have not been so nice) she knew it was a mistake and that I was feeling bad. Debbie is a trooper and I have so much respect for her after that. ( I would have been air lifted to the nearest hospital)

Last nights episode was one of my favorites and one of my least favorite. The fish was great and the burger won me a spot on Bobby’s menu. But I was not feeling so good about hurting Deb. Just so you know, me and Debbie are still BFFS.

Going to Ina’s was the highlight of my life! She loves “my people” and in turn we love her! (In fact I like to think of myself as the gay Ina.) She can have the Hampton’s, I’ll take Fire Island! Clam bakes on the beach in drag and pool side tea party’s in pumps. Ahhhh my kind of life!

This week I pulled out some local Bronx flavors, I knew these folks would eat it up. To be honest I was so scared, I’m serving chicken, pork and greens to Miss Fabulous herself.  My nerves got the best of me and I sliced my finger, (don’t worry it wasn’t bad) to make my life more difficult the smoke in Ina’s gazillion dollar barn was making my eyes crazy. (note to self: when I build my gazillion dollar barn, get good ventilation)

I lost composure and Jeff had to help me get on track, um stab me in the face, because I can’t handle this! But the food shined thru and we did great, it’ nice to be a winner! I like it, and intend to stay here for a while! VIVA NYC and check me out on www.mvpchef.com

The dish I mad was wonton wrapped seared tuna with raw butternut squash salad. The judges liked my food. They did say it was a little to complicated for this challenge!!

Listen.. if my food is over complicated but taste great… that’s one great problem to have!!! I do tend to add a lot of components to a dish and love to bring it over the top. What can I say, it the way I roll!!!!

Ohhh don’t let me forget the Esquire challenge. I mad a killer grilled pork chop with coffee and cognac glaze. I think this was one hell of a dish and I may just put it on my menu. I may not be the Esquire man, but one thing I know honey…. Its MEN LOL

— Michael Proietti
mvpchef.com

I may not have won the challenge but I showed the folks at the FN I got the skill!!! I got to be 100% honest with you, I was a scared little girl on that first day. Me being calm, cool and collective was all a show. I was cooking for some of the biggest names in the cooking game, that’s pressure !!! Not only are we cooking for them, we are doing it in teams with our competitors. It’s hard to find the line in a challenge when your working in teams.

This I find as the most challenging part of the challenge.(did i say that right??) 

I think I took a big risk in this first challenge, I decided to make the main course in this buffet. I think a lot of people took the easy way out, doing dishes that where not so hard to execute. I made filet mignon and cooked it to hold up on a sterno-heated buffet.… that my friends takes skill and nerve and I represented both of them on this challenge. I am so proud of the food I produced on this challenge and am so very thankful I got the chance to do it.

I had the honored of watching this first episode with 100+ of my friends and family.

We had great food and lots of laughs. I posted a picture of some of my friends having dinner, you can see the love!!!

Its 3am in the morning, its time for me to call it a night. Thank you so much for reading this and I hope you can check me out at www.mvpchef.com for more blogs, pics and recipes. I will be having viewing party’s at the Radisson Hotel in New Rochelle every week so stop by the bar or make reservations for dinner.

>I am so happy episode one is over, I can’t wait to see what goes on next week!
Michael Proietti