AMERICA'S ULTIMATE HOME COOKS FACE-OFF ON FOOD NETWORK

Guy Fieri Hosts 'Ultimate Recipe Showdown'

Season Three Premieres Sunday, March 14th at 9pm ET/PT

NEW YORK � January 25, 2010 �Ultimate Recipe Showdown returns for a third season of mouth-watering competition on Sunday, March 14th at 9pm ET/PT. Home cooks nationwide submitted more than 8,000 recipes in hopes of achieving culinary fame in one of six categories: Comfort Food, Party Food, Hot & Spicy, Burgers, Cakes & Desserts, and Hometown Favorites. In this six-week series hosted by Guy Fieri (Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives; Guy's Big Bite), each episode focuses on one category and features the top four contestants who compete in two rounds of competition including a signature dish round and speed dish round. Three expert judges choose one ultimate winner in each category who receives $25,000. The judges include Katherine Alford, vice president of Food Network Kitchens; Chef Michael Psilakis, owner of New York restaurants, Anthos, Kefi and Gus & Gabriel and executive chef of Eos in Miami; and Rosemary Ellis, editor-in-chief of Good Housekeeping.

Episodes include:

Premiering Sunday, March 14th at 9:00pm ET/PT � SEASON PREMIERE!

"Comfort Food"

Food Network fights off the winter chill while looking for the ultimate comfort food recipe. Four contestants go head-to-head with dishes like Buffalo Chicken Macaroni and Cheese and Crawfish and Andouille Sausage Pizza. Contestants include: Gail Churinetz (Germantown, Tenn.), Riccardo Costa (New York), Emily Hobbs (Ozark, Mo.) and Kimberly Zeidner (Boynton Beach, FL).

Premiering Sunday, March 21st at 9:00pm ET/PT

"Party Food"

Food Network looks for the ultimate party food recipe. From finger food to full-on entrees, four contestants take party food to the next level, serving up dishes like Chicken Cordon Blue Roll-Ups and Plantain and Shrimp Party Boats. Contestants include: Barbara Estabrook (Rhinelander, WI), Thalia Patillo (New York), Eddie Huang (Orlando, Fla.) and David Fogelman (Stamford, Conn.).

Premiering Sunday, March 28th at 9:00pm ET/PT

"Hot & Spicy"

Food Network heats things up while looking for the ultimate hot and spicy recipe. Four contestants put their zestiest dishes forward, including Blazing Buffalo Bites and Thai Curry Chicken Noodle Soup. Contestants include: Ken Hulme (Venice, Fla.), Julie Merriman (Seattle), Tina Washburn (San Diego) and Richard Moore (Atlanta).

Premiering Sunday, April 4th at 9:00pm ET/PT

"Burgers"

Food Network seeks the ultimate burger recipe. Four contestants aim to create the most mouth-watering burgers, from Must Have Muffaleta Burgers to a Tuscan Espresso Burger. Contestants include: Harold Cohen (Hollywood, Fla.), Michael Cohen (Los Angeles), Dani Mitchell Turk (Brandon, Miss.) and Chris Osserman (Plano, Texas).

Premiering Sunday, April 11th at 9:00pm ET/PT

"Cakes & Desserts"

Food Network looks for the ultimate cake and dessert recipes. Four contestants compete to whip up the most decadent treats, including Lime, Ginger and Mascarpone Cake and Minted Mango-Berry Cobblers with Chai Biscuits. Contestants include: Jade Thompson (Arlington, Va.), Kerstin Sinkevicius (Boston), Kathi Jones-DelMonte (Rochester, N.Y.) and Andria Gaskins (Matthews, S.C.).

Premiering Sunday, April 18th at 9:00pm ET/PT

"Hometown Favorites"

Food Network looks for the ultimate hometown favorite recipe, a category featuring regionally-famous and locally-perfected favorites. Four contestants show off their skills creating dishes like Texas Won Tons and Crawfish Beignets with Spicy Remoulade. Contestants include: Brigitte Nguyen (Lexington, Ky.), Cory Anthony (Poder, Texas), Mark Johnson (Merritt Island, Fla.) and Debbie Martin (Meridian, Miss.).