Giada de Laurentiis Joins The Next Food Network Star

Spicing up Season 6 of the cooking competition The Next Food Network Staris the goddess of Italian cooking (and host of her own Emmy-nominated series) Giada de Laurentiis, who takes on the role of mentor to the 12 contestants vying for celebrity chefdom.

TV Guide Magazine: Tell us about the show's move to L.A.
De Laurentiis: The new kitchen is phenomenal—three times the size of the old one. And you'll be seeing some stars!

TV Guide Magazine: Such as?
De Laurentiis: Eva Longoria Parker, whom viewers will really enjoy. And Wolfgang Puck—he's just very direct with his opinions and doesn't sugarcoat anything.

TV Guide Magazine: Single working mom Aria Kagan wows everyone in the first episode. Is she the one to beat?
De Laurentiis: [Pauses] I think so, but this whole competition is about how much you grow from Day 1, and some do unbelievably well and then they kind of plateau.

TV Guide Magazine: So expect surprises....
De Laurentiis: Wait till you see! There's a lot of crying, a lot of emotions from people you wouldn't imagine to be so emotional. I get emotional as well.

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