Food Network Star (season 12)


The twelfth season of the American reality television series Food Network Star premiered May 22, 2016 on Food Network. Food Network chefs Bobby Flay and Giada de Laurentiis returned to the series as judges.
This season featured thirteen contestants rather than twelve; the thirteenth contestant, Martita Jara, was chosen via a three-week spin-off series called Comeback Kitchen, where seven former Food Network Star contestants competed for a chance to participate in season 12 of the main series. Comeback Kitchen was hosted by chef Tyler Florence and chef/actress Valerie Bertinelli; and it premiered on May 8, 2016, although it initially became available on demand in some markets in April 2016. This season also continued the inclusion of Star Salvation, a six-week webseries that featured the most recently eliminated contestant competing against the remaining previously eliminated contestants for a chance to re-enter the main Food Network Star competition.
Unlike previous seasons, executives Bob Tuschman and Susie Fogelson did not assist in the judging; nor did chief executive Brooke Johnson appear in the finale to introduce the winner.

Contestants

Winner

''Comeback Kitchen'' contestants

ContestantOrig.
season
Penny Davidi7
Matthew Grunwald11
Martita Jara8
Brianna Jenkins6
Chris Kyler10
Michele Ragussis8
Dom Tesoriero11

Contestant progress

''Star Salvation''

This season of Star Salvation was hosted by Iron Chef Alex Guarnaschelli and season 11 winner Eddie Jackson.

Contestant progress