Debbie Lee is one of three remaining finalists in the Next Food Network Star Season 5. Will she remain in contention after this Sunday when they whittle it down to two finalists? How will Bob Tuschman, one of the judges in the show, vote? Mr. Tuschman has exhibited mixed feelings about Debbie, viewing her behavior with disfavor (“infuriating”, “appalling”) even as he applauds the quality of her food itself (“first rate”, “excellent”). Whatever her fate is in the next couple of weeks, Debbie has already made her mark with her “impressive combo of quick thinking, humor, and charm” and her “TV-ready skills”.
Of the things I find remarkably charming with Debbie is her ability to inject her Asian American background in every segment, though sometimes they are not called for. In one past episode there was really nothing substantially Korean in the food she assembled. Debbie’s background inevitably folds into her culinary point of view, which she views as simple. “It’s soul to soul, it’s the journey of my life as a girl”, she says.
I can’t imagine it being too simple though. Growing up in the South (one part of her soul) as the only Asian girl in school, living with a grandmother (“the other part of her soul”) who only speaks Korean, a language she couldn’t understand, it must have been tough. Sure enough, Debbie recognizes the need for an outlet; she confesses food made her like herself, giving her “inner peace and therapy”.
More than becoming the Next Food Network Star, I wish Debbie continued inner peace and comfort via this universal common ground. “It doesn’t matter who you are, where you come from, who you’re dealing with, when it comes down to the table, you guys can all sit down and finally find something in common, and to me that is a really powerful thing.” Good luck!
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