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'Food Network Star' winner: Jeff Mauro takes Season 7, becomes 'Sandwich King'
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Jeff Mauro just won the seventh season of "Food Network Star" by making terrific sandwiches.
The finale taped June 1, and Food Network gave Zap2it exclusive access, with the agreement that the winner would not be revealed until the finale aired Sunday (Aug. 14). The photo above shows Mauro the moment he was named.
That finale was tense.
Judges Bobby Flay, Giada De Laurentiis and Food Network executive Susie Fogelson independently said that the final three contenders were all great, but Mauro's easy way in front of the camera and an idea no one else had put him over the top.
Mauro's show "Sandwich King" premieres Aug. 21.
For the first time, the cooking contest brought back all 15 hopefuls for a reunion show. Then, it was down to three, and Vic "Vegas" Moea, who invents his own words such as "lachanaga" -- a lasagna chimichanga -- was eliminated.
It came down to Mauro and Susie Jimenez (pictured with him above), who as a child followed the harvests with her parents as a migrant laborer, and picked fruit. She cooked her mother's Mexican dishes.
Previous winners include season two's Guy Fieri, season four's Aaron McCargo, Jr., season five's Melissa d'Arabian and last season's winner, Aarti Sequeira.
Mauro's sample show included how to make a complicated braciole sandwich.
Of the 11 challenges that included last week's "Iron Chef" and cooking for the cast of "Cougar Town," Mauro says the most difficult challenge was, "the anxiety of not knowing what is coming next, having everything in your life mapped out without knowing where you are going."
"Your brain stews while you come up with scenarios and of course being away from your family, it affects you," says the married father of a toddler. "And if you are strong enough, you can tell yourself you are doing this for them and not let them down by focusing on homesickness too much."
Paula Deen gave him the best advice, which Mauro repeated: "Don't be afraid to lay it all out there. They can edit it. How do you know where you are going to go if you don't hit the ceiling?"
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Photo/Video credit: Food Network
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Will watch every show, and make every sandwich!
Finally, Food Network restored my faith in judging contestants. Susie was great, no doubt, but I think Jeff looked like he's a natural fit; like Guy. Likewise, stories run out.. being a former Marine and having accumulated tons of stories to tell... attributing stories to 1 thing would eventually wear thin. And people aren't going to cook a particular national dish every night. Just ask Aarti from last year how that turned out.
Will definitely watch every one of Jeff's shows.
I'm happy with the result. Susie was great but I wouldn't watch her show. I will end up watching Jeff's show. I like the comedy and how natural he seems to be in front of the camera.
People watch ethnic cooking shows all the time like "Everyday Italian."
Susie Jimenez wanted to cook French,Japanese,and other cuisines but judges kept telling her she had to have a POV(point of view). And she had to be "authentic". In other words cook Mexican food.
That being said I will watch the Sandwich King,at least the first few episodes.
I am happy with the results of their decision too. I have been watching food network for many years, and I know exactly what they are looking for. Its not easy. I hope that even though Susie did not win, they will still give her a other opportunity. I will enjoy watching the sandwich king.
I totally agreed and am very happy with the decision...although i think both are totally awesome...jeff brings to the table no one else has done and he rocks...food network already has a variety of ethnic shows..but nothing that makes magic from a good sandwich...i think jeff will rock! and as for susie and the past they may bring her in later as well...aaron sanchez and a few others have made it big as contenders...good luck jeff and susie:)
Jeff the winner ----- REALLY????
I won't watch a show that is all about sandwiches. Susie's cooking & personality was so superior to Jeff's. Hope to see Susie on the Cooking Channel!!!
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So glad Jeff won. He was funny and charming and really deserved it. I couldn't stand Susie and her fake, cheesy over the top obnoxious cornball personality. Plus her Mexican heritage cooking was a total crutch. On the other hand, a sandwich show sounds great. Really dumb that someone on here said that susie' personality was "superior." You're a really shallow person if you're rating personalities. So sad...
The best cook won :) Jeff is cute in a Jimmy Fallon sort of way