Meet Next Food Network Star finalist Debbie Lee

Season 5 of "The Next Food Network Star" premiered yesterday, and we have one of our own (Korean-American) represented. Debbie Lee, 39 (West Hollywood, Calif.) is a former Hollywood caterer, who now works as a restaurant consultant. Debbie calls her cuisine style “Seoul to Soul,” which represents her Korean heritage and her early childhood years living in the South.

In the first show, Debbie quickly took charge on the first challenge, nominating herself team captain and spearheading the all important shopping trip for ingredients. With 5 years experience as a caterer, I thought she would be the most effective and efficient for completing this task. Boy was I wrong. She was completely un-focused and un-organized, overspent and forgot key ingredients for fellow team members. She also made the executive decision to buy and serve store-bought angel food cake. (Say What?)

Her crab cakes dish were just average, but it was the spicy mayo that really impressed the judges. Luckily there was someone else who was worse in cooking, then Debbie was in shopping, so she barely made it pass the first round. I hope she can improve in the coming weeks, so people can learn more about Korean Cuisine.

Meet Debbie Lee:

Q&A's from The Next Food Network Star
Food specialty: Korean with a Soulful Edge

Favorite restaurant: Buddakan

Three foods you can't live without (other than bread or water): Bacon, fried chicken, and kimchee

Food you won't go near: Anything with stinky blue cheese

Weirdest thing you've ever eaten: Don't know if I have. Once I ate squirrel when I was young. My Aunt Frances told me it's like chicken. Got a little freaked out. But overcame the moment.

Interests: Anything with food of course! I also enjoy music, art, theatre, hiking and yoga.

Favorite Food Network chef: As far as a chef, it's a tie between Bobby Flay, Morimoto, and Michael Symon. In terms of food personalities, it would be a close call between Paula and Giada.

Favorite shows (doesn't have to be Food Network): Man v. Food (just got introduced to it and love it!), anything with Paula Deen, Grey’s Anatomy, American Idol, Top Chef, Project Runway, Iron Chef America, Everyday Italian, Barefoot Contessa

Favorite food destination: Anywhere in Asia of course. Want to go back this fall and travel through the Far East. I would also love to go to the south of France.

Culinary inspirations: Neil Perry, Bobby Flay, Julia Child, Morimoto

Three people, alive or dead, whom you'd like to invite to a dinner party: My grandmother, Neil Perry, and Oprah

Favorite books: Make a Name for Yourself, The Road Less Traveled, The Food I Love

Favorite movies: The Way We Were

Why do you think you should be The Next Food Network Star? I have the most unique culinary point of view and will rock your taste buds with a taste of "Seoul 2 Soul!" My passion for food is my journey on a plate, and I feel everyone watching will relate to my story and embrace it with some good old seoulful cooking.

Watch The Next Food Network Star
Sunday Nights, The Food Channel 9pm/8c
Visit: The Next Food Network Star