AARTI SEQUEIRA CROWNED THE NEXT FOOD NETWORK STAR

New Daytime Series - 'Aarti Party' - Premieres August 22nd at 12pm ET/PT

NEW YORK - August 16, 2010 - After 10 weeks of heated culinary competition jam - packed with 18 intense challenges, Los Angeles food blogger Aarti Sequeira won The Next Food Network Star as revealed during the season six finale last night. Up against San Francisco's Tom Pizzica and Atlanta's Herb Mesa in the final challenge, Aarti's impressive pilot ultimately helped her win the title and her dream Food Network show, Aarti Party, set to premiere this Sunday, August 22nd at 12pm ET/PT. In addition to the new show, Aarti will be featured in Food Network Magazine and at the Food Network New York City Wine & Food Festival in October.

"Aarti has that all - too - rare combination we seek in our stars: a passionate food expert who is warm, radiant, fun, and relatable," said Bob Tuschman, General Manager and Senior Vice President, Programming & Production, Food Network. "Aarti also brings a new world of flavors to Food Network and is perfectly suited for viewers seeking new inspirations."

On her new daytime series, Aarti invites viewers to join her for a playful Aarti Party, where she shares approachable and delicious ways to enhance American favorites with simple but unique Indian influences. Whether she's sprucing up everyday pulled pork sandwiches and perfectly roasted chicken or taking classic bread pudding and basic red lentils to new heights, Aarti cleverly combines the familiar with the exotic to create mouthwatering meals. No matter the occasion, Aarti Party promises great food and endless fun for home cooks everywhere. For more information, recipes, and videos, visit: www.foodnetwork.com/aartiparty.

Born in Bombay, India, and raised in Dubai, UAE, Aarti's culinary inspiration stems from her cultural background, family recipes, and never - ending food experiments. After working as a producer at CNN and completing several freelance gigs in the entertainment industry, the Northwestern University journalism graduate trained at The New School of Cooking in Culver City, Calif., and earned her professional cooking certificate in 2007. She further explored her culinary calling by starting a blog and online cooking - variety show called, "Aarti Paarti" in 2008. Aarti and her husband, Brendan, currently live in Los Angeles.

In additional news about The Next Food Network Star, Food Network is excited to announce that runner - up Tom Pizzica will host the new primetime series Outrageous Food, premiering November 2010. Production begins today for this traveling food show featuring out - of - this - world eats. Additionally, casting for season seven of The Next Food Network Star, set to air in 2011, is currently underway. For information about open - call auditions, applications, rules, and submission instructions, visit www.foodnetwork.com/starcasting.

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FOOD NETWORK (www.foodnetwork.com) is a unique lifestyle network, website and magazine that connects viewers to the power and joy of food. The network strives to be viewers' best friend in food and is committed to leading by teaching, inspiring and empowering through its talent and expertise. Food Network is distributed to more than 99 million U.S. households and averages more than 9.9 million unique web users monthly. Since launching in 2009, Food Network Magazine has tripled its rate base and delivers a circulation of 1.25 million. Headquartered in New York, Food Network has a growing international presence with programming in more than 150 countries, including 24 hour networks in Great Britain, India, Asia and Africa. Scripps Networks Interactive (NYSE: SNI), which also owns and operates HGTV (www.hgtv.com), DIY Network (www.diynetwork.com), Great American Country (www.gactv.com) and Cooking Channel (www.cookingchanneltv.com) is the manager and general partner.