Jernard Wells and his wife, Keena.Sunday night's episode of "Food Network Star" began with three finalists, then increased to four before the show ended back where it started with three contestants - and former Chattanoogan restaurateur Jernard Wells was one of them.
Wells, chefs Tregaye Fraser and Damiano Carrera advanced to the final three last week. But they barely had time to celebrate the fact before learning that San Francisco chef Yaku Moton-Spruill was rejoining them. Moton-Spruill, eliminated earlier in Season 12, earned a second chance for redemption by winning Food Network's online competition, Star Salvation.
The Final Four were charged with making "the dish of their life," and given one sous chef, also a previously eliminated finalist, to assist them. After cooking, each finalist then had to make a video about their dish. It was their last chance to impress the judges before three would be chosen to make a pilot from which the season winner will be chosen.
Wells made orange citrus chipotle pork chop and a four-cheese, lobster mac and cheese. His video was energetic, and shared some of his background growing up in Mississippi and learning to cook meat at his grandfather's smokehouse. The judges were complimentary of his food and video and Wells was obviously at the top of the four finalists.
"I think you are super entertaining," said judge Giada DeLaurentiis. "The mac and cheese is creamy. Bobby can't stop eating it. Well done, Jernard."
Carrara shot his in a French bakery. Wells taped in Harold & Belle's, a Creole restaurant. Fraser shot her video in Clifton's, a cafeteria and night club. Tune in Sunday, July 31, to see whose video leads to the title of "Food Network Star."