Food Network Star finale a surprise

I thought I knew who had won the Next Food Network Star just a week after the first episode of the competition aired. It wasn't because one of the competitors stood out, but I stumbled across some insider information.

I just happened to be at the Great American Food and Music Fest at Shoreline (read more about it here.) I was standing in line at the Pink's Hot Dog stand (I think it was going on hour two of the wait in line) and Jeffrey Saad walked past me. I told my mom that the guy with the hair from the Next Food Network Star had just walked by. She knew immediately who I meant. Jeffrey was walking with some other Food Network stars and executives. He later introduced Bobby Flay for a demonstration and Bobby said he couldn't say too much, but that Jeffrey was a hard worker.

Now even though the Food Network Star episodes started airing in June, I am sure they were filmed long before. It seemed a foregone conclusion after seeing Jeffrey at the festival that he would win the top prize, or at least be in the finale. I watched most of this season assuming he would come out on top with his cooking without borders idea. Every time he won a challenge, his eventual win seemed inevitable. He seemed more together, and mostly a better cook than all the other contestants. And his personality didn't get on my nerves.

So tonight when Jeffrey and Melissa, a stay-at-home mom, competed with a pilot demo, I thought Jeffrey had it in the bag. He cooked a steak sandwich with some ingredient from North Africa called harissa. Melissa shared a four-step chicken recipe that can be used with a variety of different ingredients.

When it comes down to it, I have to admit I'd be more likely to cook Melissa's dish than Jeffrey's. In fact, I am not sure where I would even find harissa at a local store. And maybe in the end that is what cemented the decision for the judges. Melissa won and will start filming her show immediately. Hopefully, it doesn't take her away from the four children she has under the age of four too much.

And maybe the powers that be can find a place for Jeffrey on the network as they did with last year's runner-up Adam Gertler, who has his own show called "Will Work For Food." I could totally see Jeffrey traveling the world and introducing people to knew ingredients in their native land.