Watching Rachael Ray

Every Monday in November is set aside for the So You Think You Can Cook challenge! Each week the five finalists will participate in challenges until there’s only one cook standing – that winner will get a write up in Every Day with Rachael Ray, plus be able to tape a cooking segment, where Rachael is only the assistant, and they get to boss her around! Whoo!

Today was the first day of the contest, and we got to see some of the ones who DIDN’T make it, then hopped right into getting introduced to the finalists!

First up, from Lewisville Texas, is Ben, a 30 year old writer and massage therapist. What caught their eye? Not only his cooking, but his unusual pets – Chickens! He says they were poor when he grew up and came from humble beginnings.

Jenn, a 25 year old student and bartender Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, has been in the kitchen from a young age and through Girl Scouts. She likes to make things creatively – her combo of a lasagna Sammie got her noticed!

From Laguna Niguel, California, we meet Chun-Mae, a jewelry designer is a miracle worker with leftovers, a skill also learned from humble family beginnings – she hopes doing this competition helps people in her life believe in her.

Chuck, a 36 year old marketing copywriter from Seattle Restaurant grabbed attention with his nickname ‘Iron Chuck’ and his Iron Chuck Sundays where he has a party and they give him an ingredient and he makes 3 courses out of it – he just loves learning, and teaching his kids the ins and outs and joys of cooking.

And from Los Angeles, Martica, an actress and voice over artist loves sexy Latin food, and her joy of putting it all together in new ways that pay homage to her heritage. She can’t wait to teach Rachael the things she knows!

They all pile into a limo upon arrival at New York, where they’re welcomed at the hotel with a message from Rachael and an invitation to a special dinner – and the cheers when Rachael joins them to say hello! Rachael welcomes them to New York and gives them some good advice – be themselves, and remember that food is fun. Colby Donaldson, everyone’s favorite survivor - is going to handle the first challenge, and bits them to enjoy their dinner, and get a good nights sleep because the competition begins in earnest the nest day!

Back in the studio, they bring in the finalists, then cut to the tape of the first challenge. It begins at Walmart, where they size up their competitors. The first challenge? The Ultimate Tail Gate fair! They have a $60 budget, and only 10 minutes to get their ingredients, and then head over to Rutgers University to cook for one hour, for 10 people. With what will surely be a phrase that grates on my nerves in no time “So you think you can cook? Well Prove It!” the contestants are off and running, telling us their choices on the fly, and flinging produce willy nilly.There are collisions, and rapid-fire decisions, and over budget adjustments, and last minute races for more bread! Chaos of the best kind!

Most of them went for standard tailgating fair – two made chilli, two made burgers, and one (Chun-Mae) went for a taco salid, and a rice krispie treat. Everyone finished in time, though it was close! The reviews from the tailgaters were pretty positive, and everyone got to go to the game afterwards.

When it came to elimination time – Rachael made us wait till the end of the show – and thus I will make you wait until the end of this post!

In the meantime, Julianne Moore joined Rachael at the table, then in the kitchen to cook up tonight’s dinner – Pretzel-Crusted Chicken & Zucchini strips with cheddar-spicy Mustard Dipping Sauce! Could Julianne Moore BE any skinner? Holy Cow! They talked about her new children’s book, Freckleface Stawberry, which she wrote using her own childhood growing up with red hair and freckles. Click here for a chance to win a copy!

Back to the contestants for So You Think You Can Cook! Rachael has decided she doesn’t like this part, but does go through and tell everyone the results. Ben was declared the winner of the challenge – giving his entire meal rave reviews. Joining him at the table (where there’s sammies and beer) next was Jen, who’s chili was almost too hot to eat, but still fantastic, then Martica, with her Latin take is declared still in it to win it as well.

The last two, Chuck and Chun-Mae had to wait until after the last commercial break, where Chun-Mae is sent home as the first eliminated contestant. Tune in next Monday for the next challenge, and tomorrow for more Rachael Ray!