A school cafeteria cooking manager and caterer from northeastern Kentucky is going to get a new gig.
Jason Smith of Grayson captured the Food Network Star, Season 13 crown on Sunday night.
Show co-hosts Bobby Flay and Giada De Laurentis announced Smith as the newest member of the Food Network family, edging out finalists Cory Bahr and Rustin Hamlin in a showdown in New York City.
Smith, 39, describes himself as the down-home chef and he has been cooking most of his life.
He became popular on the show for his bright and shiny outfits and off-the-cuff down-home sayings.
Smith came into the competition with a crown in his hip pocket. The self-taught chef and baker previously competed and won Food Network’s Baking Championship.
Smith was the cafeteria manager at Isonville Elementary in Elliott County when he won the baking competition and $50,000 prize last December.
The baking show featured timed baking challenges centered around the holiday theme where contestants were selected from a pool of 2,900 bakers.
Throughout the competition Smith fascinated judges with his family’s unique recipes including sauerkraut cake and bean pie.
Kentucky Today
I am so happy that Jason won! I hope they advertise his new show like crazy so I don’t mess up. I read it for him in the spring baking competition and of course I rooted for him all the way through network star. He’s a person that’s easy to relate to, talks the way I was raised to talk, Plus really knows how to cook! Great go on and congratulations!
I too am happy that Jason won. I watched him through the Baking Championship and was thrilled when he came on as a contestant on the New Food Network Stars. Not only does he come across as friendly and knowledgeable, and but he’s able get his points across while doing it. Jason can cook and I’ll definitely be watching his new show.
JASON! Congratulations and thank you Bobby and Giada for picking the true winner of Food Network Star 2017. I hope they do right by Jason and allow him to become a true star on their network! It was a great series from beginning to end!
I was happy Jason won. Being from Kentucky myself, i related to his way of cooking. Plus he has a great personality to go with it. Best of luck on your new food network show.
Congrats to Jason….he capture my attention every time he was on camera. B and G got it right….Jason is a true star.
Glad Jason won! I like the way he cooks and his down home ways. I watch him on the last show and rooted for him on this show. So glad he was picked and I thought he was the best.
Jason, I watched you from day one. I actually started watching the baking challenge because of you. I dvr it every week just so I wouldn’t miss you. And now this. Amazing. I love you, Jason
I hope you’re not married.
Yippee! Jason is so funny and charming and genuine. I loved him on Holiday Baking and was so happy when he won that one, too! He is a star, pure and simple. Bet his show is a hit
Yahoo y’all!!! What fun, Jason!! Look forward to following you on the food network!
Jason, you make both Carter County and Elliott County proud….I knew that you would win.
Iam so glad Jason won I just love him and would watch him all the time congratulations to you Jason i
He was my choice I don’t watch cooking shows but I will Jasons love his personality and makes me want to cook
Congratulations Jason!!! I am so happy you won
I watched you on the holiday baking championship and was rooting for you all along to win the title of next Food Network star
You make me smile and you make me laugh with your cute sayings keep up the good work can’t wait to watch you on your new show
WOWWWW I KNEW HE WOULD WIN WHN HE GOT ON STAGE FOR THE FIRST TIME !!#! I KNEW GIADA AN THE GREAT BOBBY FLAY LOVEDHIM EVEN GUY FIETTI LOVED HIM IN HIS PILOT)))!!!! AN THE FAMOUS EDDIE JACKSON LOVED WINNER.OF THE FOOD NETWORK VERSION #11. CONGRADULATIONS JASON THEY ARE ALL GOING TO BE.EXCITED FOR YOU PRAYING FOR YOU YOU WILL BE.A.HIT I KNOW AN EVERYBODY IN KENTUCKY IS GONNA. BE PROUD OF YOU!!!!! KEEP LISTENING TO GIADA ,BOBBY, GUY AN EDDIE YOU WILL GO ALONG WAYS AN MY GOD AS TOUR GUIDE OH PLEASE IS ALEX G AN.ANN. BURRELL. OR MIKE MURPHY OR EVEN. STEVE CO ENANT OR DUBB JOHNSON THE SUPER PASTRY CHEF. LISTEN YOU WILL LEARN A WHOLE LOT DONT GET THE BIG HEAD AN STAY HUMBLE AN YOU.WILL GO ALONG WAY
I am so glad that Jason won! He has a great personality & he is so easy to watch! Not to mention , his food looks down right AMAZING! Congrats to another fellow Kentuckian winning another season of Next Food Network Star! Kentucky is proud of you Jason! Can’t wait to watch your show!!
I am so happy Jason won the competition! I loved him since the Baking Championship and he is so relatable, even to this California girl. Great going Jason and I look forward to inviting you into my home with your new show.
Lord honey this is exciting!! Jason I am so happy you won and you made Kentucky proud! I will be watching your new show. Just love you because you are the real deal. Stay true to yourself.
Jason deserves to win. Such a personality to go along with his cooking ‘know how’. I was an avid fan of food network until it seemed the air went out of it. I would pick and choose shows. Now anxious to see Jason as part of the family. Congrats Jason!
I too am so happy Jason won. You can butter my butt and call me a biscuit! I am eagerly waiting for his show.
I am so glad that this man one he is just got that lovable personality and the way he cooks I could watch him all day long
It is great when the underdog wins! He had no formal training other than his mom and grandmother. What a great story.
I so enjoyed watching him and I just knew he would win in the end. He is humble and kind.
Way to go Jason!! So happy for you.
Jason, my son and I are from Georgia and we’ve been rooting for you since the Holiday Baking Show. We love you so much and wish you much success with the cooking network. My only concern is if you leave the cafeteria at the school, how much the children will miss you.
Way to go Jason!! I’m so happy you won!! You were my favorite from day one!! God bless you. ❤
So glad Jason won. The first time I saw him was on worst cooks in America with Anne Burrell. He was hilarious. Then he won the baking comp. not next star. YAHOO for Jason. Can’t wait to see him on food network.
Well Lord honey, butter some buns and smack your lips cause Jason is going to create a new sensation at the Food Network! I too watched him on the holiday baking championship and I was so proud of the way he represented himself and his heritage. I thought he did am amazing job during his entire stint on nfns but I felt a sense of something not psrticularly pleasant from the other cast members and even Bobby Flay during the final moments of the finale. Did anyone else pick up on that? In any event, hope Jason shakes up a whole new show full of his wit warmth and welcoming originality. I’m a huge fan!!!!!
The other finalists were good, too, but I’m so glad that Jason won!! His simple, down home cooking will be loved by those who watch his show and try the recipes. It would be fun to see him as a guest on The Kitchen and see him interact with Geoffry Zacharian.
Yes, I noticed that too. I think maybe there is a little arrogance there, or maybe they had to do a second take for some reason. I rooted for Jason from almost the beginning, and I’m excited for his show. I love his creativity and he makes me laugh. I wish Jason the best and I hope he enjoys his new adventure.
Sooo happy that Jason won!!! yeeeeeheee
Yeah Jason I am so thrilled for you!! Best of luck and I will be watching for your cooking show on Food Network!!!
I’m not surprised that Jason has a big following! He’s adorable and BOY can he cook
and bake. He will be a great addition to food network. Hope he actually cooks on the show. Too many food network shows don’t feature actual cooking anymore.
What a great choice. Jason is very personable. I fell in love with his personality during the Holiday Baking Championship. I’m looking forward to his show.
So very happy Jason won. CNt wait to watch his program on FoodNetwork.
Congratulations Jason! I rooted for you in the baking championship and was so happy you won! And I rooted for you in this competition too. Lord honey I was cuttin a rug and and dancing a jig! Pass me some of that sweet tater pie!!! I’m so looking forward to watching your show! Any idea what its called or when it airs?
Congrats Jason! So happy you won! Lord honey, I was cutting a rug and dancing a jig! Pass me some of that sweet tater pie! What is your show called and when does it air?
I am looking forward to more of those “Jasonisms ” He is Awesome!
Isonville Elementary is not in Carter County. It is Elliott County. I went to Isonville Elementary from 1970-77.