Food Network Announces June 2016 Highlights

As summer kicks into high gear, Food Network serves up a month of hot competition series starting with a trip back THROUGH THE DECADES with the premiere of Cutthroat Kitchen: Time Warp Tournament on Wednesday, June 1st at 9pm giving chefs the chance to take a walk down memory lane with host Alton Brown and hopefully cool off from the summer heat with cold, hard cash while they're at it.

Then, Guy Fieri makes a legendary DINERS, DRIVE-INS AND DIVES stop in Cuba dishing on all the local delicacies the country has to offer on Friday, June 3rd and Friday, June 10th at 10pm. Next up, host Jonathan Bennett returns with a new season of CAKE WARS on Monday, June 6th at 9pm when four top notch bakers will have the chance to go head-to-head in the ultimate sugar showdown. Then, hosts Camila Alves and Eddie Jackson crown the first ever Kids BBQ Champion on the finale of Kids BBQ Championship on Monday, June 27th at 8pm.

The search continues for Food Network's next big star on Sundays at 9pm with all-new episodes of FOOD NETWORK STAR as hosts Giada De Laurentiis and Bobby Flay are joined by Modern Family's Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Entertainment Tonight's Kevin Frazier and Nancy O'Dell, and actress Ali Larter. Food Network also serves up primetime premieres of Beat Bobby Flay, Buddy's Family Vacation, Celebrity Food Fight, Chopped, CHOPPED JUNIOR and Guy's Grocery Games. In daytime, don't miss the season premiere of Valerie's Home Cooking on Saturday, June 11th at 12pm when host Valerie Bertinelli gets a special visit from her HOT IN CLEVELAND co-stars Jane Leeves, Wendie Malick and Betty White followed by the season premiere of PATRICIA HEATON PARTIES at 12:30pm. Also premiering in daytime, new episodes of Farmhouse Rules, The Kitchen, THE KITCHEN Sink and The Pioneer Woman.

FoodNetwork.com is the ultimate summer destination with seasonal recipes, entertaining tips and special ideas for dad this Father's Day. Join the Food Network conversation on Facebook and Twitter.

PRIMETIME PREMIERE EPISODES

Beat Bobby Flay
Premiering Thursday, June 2nd at 10pm - "Fingerlings Crossed!"
Classic French chef Philippe Corbet is duking it out with D.C. chef George Rodrigues for the chance to knock Bobby Flay from his pedestal. Actress Diane Guerrero from ORANGE IS THE NEW BLACK is in the house, along with The Kitchen's Geoffrey Zakarian, and they have no plans of going easy on him!
Premiering Thursday, June 9th at 10pm - "A Little Bit Country"
It's time for Bobby Flay's swan song as chefs Lee Frank and Joe Wolfson vie to bump him from the top of the charts. Singing their praises are CHOPPED JUDGE ALEX Guarnaschelli and host of Trisha's Southern Kitchen, country legend Trisha Yearwood.
Premiering Thursday, June 16th at 10pm - "Fancy Meeting You Here"
Surprise, surprise! The Kitchen's very own Sunny Anderson is stirring up trouble in Bobby Flay's kitchen and she's got the dream team to back her up. Tonight's contenders, close friends Anne Burrell and Scott Conant, know Bobby's weaknesses better than anyone else and are taking matters into their own hands.
Premiering Thursday, June 23rd at 10pm - "Breaking Food News"
This just in! News anchor Katie Couric and Bobby Flay's best friend Michael Symon team up to vet the chef who's going to take on Bobby in round two. It's up to Israeli chef Michael Ginor and Charlotte, South Carolina, darling Alyssa Gorelick to prove they have what it takes to face off with the master.
Premiering Thursday, June 30th at 10pm - "Red, White and BBQ"
Radio host Elvis Duran and The Kitchen's Katie Lee are celebrating the birth of our nation by watching America's GOLDEN BOY Bobby Flay sweat in his own arena. Competing tonight are one of Nashville's hottest chefs, Matt Bolus, and Colorado's very own chef Brother Luck. It's time for some culinary fireworks!

Online, find out what it takes to beat Bobby when Food Network chefs reveal the skills and tactics needed to defeat him. Check out behind-the-scenes photos and videos, relive highlights, tour the set and much more. Join the conversation with #BeatBobbyFlay.

Buddy's Family Vacation
Premiering Friday, June 3rd at 8:30pm - "Learnin' Made Easy In The Big Easy"
Buddy Valastro and his family continue to look for excitement as they touch down in New Orleans, where they start with a brunch of French etouffee - a hearty stew with crawfish and vegetables - at Horn's. They tour the French Quarter, then stop to cool down with fluffy shaved ice at Hansen's Sno-Bliz. Later, they visit Red Gravy, where they make homemade ravioli, and finally, they complete their Big Easy trip at Cafe du Monde with warm, powdered beignets!
Premiering Friday, June 10th at 8:30pm - "Pilgrimage to Graceland: Valastro Style!"
Buddy Valastro and his family head towards Memphis to visit Graceland, the home of the one and only Elvis Presley. As a tribute, they indulge in Elvis-inspired peanut butter milkshakes at the Trolley Stop Market. Next, their taste buds lead them to Marlowe's Ribs, where they feast on irresistible ribs in a tangy barbecue sauce, then chase down the Say Cheese Truck to enjoy the Elvis Italiano sandwich. THE FAMILY finally gets some sweet satisfaction with "the king" cupcakes at Muddy's Bake Shop, then stops by the famous Peabody Hotel, known for its ducks.
Premiering Friday, June 17th at 8:30pm - "Team Valastro Takes on Huntsville"
Buddy Valastro and his family's vacation continues as they arrive in Huntsville, Alabama, where they train like astronauts at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center. That's not their only mission here - they are also discovering local Alabama foods, like Big Bob Gibson's award-winning white barbecue sauce and Bigfoot's Little Donuts' warm mini-donuts with juicy fruit toppings. Then, on their final stop at Dallas Mill Deli, they indulge in a sweet and savory strawberry pretzel salad.
Premiering Friday, June 24th at 8:30pm - "Hello Bayou, Goodbye Picky Eaters"
Buddy Valastro and his family's road trip continues as they reach the Louisiana Bayou. There, they tour swamps full of live alligators and make some extraordinary food stops, starting with fried shrimp and oyster po' boys at the Olde Tyme Grocery in Lafayette, Louisiana. Next, Buddy takes the cooking into his own hands and prepares boudin, a Louisiana-style spicy sausage filled with rice and vegetables. The search for eccentric local foods continues with a stop at Dark Roux for elevated southern classics, then to their last stop: Crawfish Town USA!

Online, track Buddy's trek and talk about the show on Twitter using #BuddysFamilyVacation.

Cake Wars
Premiering Monday, June 6th at 9pm - "Captain America" - SEASON PREMIERE!
Bakers, assemble! CAKE WARS takes on one of the greatest heroes in comic book history, Captain America! Only one of four talented bakers will take their incredible cake creation to a party celebrating the super-soldier hero's 75th birthday and take home $10,000. Stephen Wacker, VP of Animation at Marvel, joins judges Ron Ben-Israel and Waylynn Lucas as a guest judge along with host Jonathan Bennett, to help decide.
Premiering Monday, June 13th at 9pm - "SpongeBob"
Get ready for SpongeBob, Gary and tons of underwater fun as four incredible bakers battle to have their amazing cake as the centerpiece of a party celebrating SpongeBob SquarePants. Some will sink, some will swim, but only one talented cake artist will take home $10,000. Tom Kenny, THE VOICE of SpongeBob himself, serves as guest judge alongside judges Ron Ben-Israel and Waylynn Lucas and host Jonathan Bennett.
Premiering Monday, June 20th at 9pm - "Charlie Brown's All-Stars"
Charlie Brown, Snoopy and the whole Peanuts gang are headed to CAKE WARS to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the iconic special Charlie Brown's All-Stars! Four bakers swing for the fences as they compete to impress guest judge Lindsey Schulz, granddaughter of Peanuts creator Charles Schulz, who joins judges Ron Ben-Israel and Waylynn Lucas and host Jonathan Bennett. Who will strike out, and who will win $10,000?
Premiering Monday, June 27th at 9pm - "How To Train Your Dragon"
It's time for a fire-breathing adventure as four talented breakers unleash their inner dragons and compete to have their amazing cake creations at the center of a party celebrating How to Train Your Dragon. Art Brown and Doug Sloan, executive producers of Dragons: Race to the Edge, join judges Ron Ben-Israel and Waylynn Lucas and host Jonathan Bennett to help choose who will win $10,000 and who will go the way of the Vikings!

Online, check out the images and recipes of the winning cake artists' magical creations, hilarious behind-the-scenes videos of Jonathan and the judges on set and more. Plus, weigh in on your favorites on Twitter using #CakeWars.

Celebrity Food Fight - Premiering Sundays at 10pm at 10:30pm
Andy Richter hosts the ultimate dinner party, where celebrity foodies and chefs pair up and face off in a series of fast-paced food games. As each course is served, so is a new round of competition, from blind taste-testing with a twist to "cooking the books," featuring celebrity cookbooks, both real and not. The games are on, and Andy is putting the stars' food knowledge and skills to the test!

Online, learn more about the games and the stars playing and chat about them on Twitter with #CelebrityFoodFight.

Chopped
Premiering Tuesday, June 7th at 10pm - "Chopping Block Blues"
There's eggs in the BASKETS - Scotch eggs, that is! Will the competitors know what to do with this sausage-enrobed pub food in the appetizer round? In the entrée round, some big fish and a black liquid are two of the ingredients that need taming, then the finalists get reacquainted with a super sugary kids' cereal in the dessert round.
Host: Ted Allen Judges: Janine Booth, Marc Murphy, Geoffrey Zakarian
Premiering Tuesday, June 14th at 10pm - "San Franchopco"
Four chefs from the same city throw down in the CHOPPED kitchen to find out who's the best in town! In the first round, a mighty midnight snack poses a creative challenge, then the chefs who move on to the entrée round get a beer and a bird they should know well. To decide a tightly contested battle, the chefs cook up desserts that include premium chocolate bars and Irish coffee.
Host: Ted Allen Judges: Maneet Chauhan, Scott Conant, Chris Santos
Premiering Tuesday, June 21st at 10pm - "Leap of Faith"
A priest, a nun-in-training, a rabbi, and a pastor compete in the CHOPPED kitchen! In the first round, the judges are surprised to find out that one of the cooks has never worked with fish before, but salmon is in the basket. Fruit and wine are two of the mystery basket items that must make it to the faithful cooks' entrée dishes, then the two finalists draw on their heritage to make yummy fig desserts.
Host: Ted Allen Judges: Alex Guarnaschelli, Marc Murphy, Geoffrey Zakarian

Online, check out photo and video highlights and compete like a CHOPPED champion for a chance to win prizes. Get culinary inspiration from the CHOPPED experts and learn the tricks contestants have successfully deployed to transform exotic ingredients, international spices and even wintry leftovers into winning dishes. Join the action with #Chopped.

Chopped Junior
Premiering Tuesday, June 7th at 8pm - "Trail Mix and Match"
Four talented junior chefs are ready to prove their expertise in the kitchen. In the first round, there's a run on tortillas in the pantry as the young competitors figure out what to do with "poor man's lobster" and a sweet surprise. An Indian tea snack and a lean meat are two of the ingredients in play in the second round, and chocolate and vanilla mingle for dessert!
Host: Ted Allen Judges: Marc Murphy, Debby Ryan, Geoffrey Zakarian
Premiering Tuesday, June 14th at 8pm - "Dinner for Dad" - FATHER'S DAY EPISODE!
The junior chefs are tasked with making dishes that their dads would love. The mystery basket ingredients include chicken wings and blue cheese in the appetizer round, then enormous sandwiches in the second round and a big surprise for dessert!
Host: Ted Allen Judges: Scott Conant, Tony Hawk, Tre Wilcox
Premiering Tuesday, June 21st at 8pm - "Pancake Pop Power"
A new group of ambitious junior chefs enter THE KITCHEN with hopes of winning over a special panel of judges. The young competitors start by attempting to make a delicious appetizer with both octopus and a tart dessert bar. An equally confounding meat is at the center of the entrée basket, then the finalists see what they can do with some strange fruit and some colorful seeds in their desserts.
Host: Ted Allen Judges: Alex Guarnaschelli, Kelsey Nixon, Donal Skehan
Premiering Tuesday, June 28th at 8pm - "The Big Stink"
The junior chefs must deal with some seriously stinky ingredients in the first basket. The second round has the junior chefs wondering what to do with a snack mix and a mix of mini veggies, and a reptilian cake meets a vegan cheese in the dessert basket.
Host: Ted Allen Judges: Ayesha Curry, Sam Kass, Marcus Samuelsson

Online, super fans can find a huge treat with entertaining behind-the-scenes footage of the talented kid chefs and all their antics in between takes. Additionally, hear from the amazing panel of judges in interviews captured on set and upgrade your brown-bag lunch with ideas captured from the competition. Join the conversation on Twitter using #ChoppedJunior.

Cutthroat Kitchen: Time Warp Tournament
Premiering Wednesday, June 1st at 9pm -"1950s" - TOURNAMENT PREMIERE!
The chefs kick off the tournament by stuffing themselves into a 1950s phone booth as they make an all-American breakfast. Then, one chef shows off his rock and roll moves to win ingredients for a TV dinner. Finally, a contestant must wear a dress blowing in their face, a la Marilyn Monroe, while making a milkshake and fries.
Host: Alton Brown Judge: Simon Majumdar
Premiering Wednesday, June 8th at 9pm - "1960s"
The chefs head back to the 1960s by riding around THE KITCHEN in a mustard submarine. Then, contestants have to prep Chicken Kiev on protest signs. In the last challenge, one chef must make BANANA pudding while wearing a space suit.
Host: Alton Brown Judge: Jet Tila
Premiering Wednesday, June 15th at 9pm - "1970s"
The chefs must ride on a 1970s BANANA seat bicycle while making hamburger mac and cheese, followed by a disco-themed quiche challenge. Next, a chef must dress up as a human disco ball and make Crepes Suzette.
Host: Alton Brown Judge: Richard Blais
Premiering Wednesday, June 22nd at 9pm - "1980s"
For the 1980s themed battle, the chefs have to rent VHS tapes to get the ingredients for their Chinese chicken salad. Then, one must cook a blackened fish dish in a bouncing cigarette boat. Finally, a competitor has to play a giant, live-action video game as they make a toaster pastry.
Host: Alton Brown Judge: Antonia Lofaso
Premiering Wednesday, June 29th at 9pm - "1990s" - TOURNAMENT FINALE!
The winners of each heat time warp back to the 1990s for the finale, where the chefs have to perform in boy bands as they make BBQ Chicken Pizza. Next, two chefs cook fried calamari while riding on a ship's bow. In the last challenge, a chef has to go through a giant, physically challenging obstacle course while making cookie dough ice cream.
Host: Alton Brown Judge: Marc Summers

Online, get an extra taste of eviliciousness with FoodNetwork.com's original digital series. In Alton's After Show, Alton reveals the sabotages to the judges, who discuss the cutthroat tasks. Follow the mischief and strategy on Twitter using #CutthroatKitchen.

Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives
Premiering Friday, June 3rd at 10pm - "Cruisin' In Cuba"
This trip, Guy Fieri is on an international journey cruising the food scene in Cuba. First, he pays homage to Cuba's most famous chef, cooking up his trademark coffee lobster and a regional pork plate. Then, he visits a Soviet spot serving authentic Russian ravioli and rich chicken Kiev. Then, he stops at an outdoor "paladar" grilling up righteous ribs and lamb-stuffed plantains.
Premiering Friday, June 10th at 10pm - "Havana Hot Spots"
This trip, Guy Fieri is hitting up the hot spots in Havana, Cuba. First, he stops at a neighborhood joint cooking up house-cured lamb and freshly-caught snapper. Next, he visits a house-turned-restaurant dishing out savory goat stew and Chinese fried rice. Then, he spends time at a cigar-lovers' HAVEN serving specialties like "drunk chicken" and pork with plantains.
Premiering Friday, June 17th at 10pm - "Great Gear"
This trip, Guy Fieri is grabbing grub cooked up with some great gear. In San Francisco, he stops at a place firing up lights-out lamb and huge pork biscuits in some of the city's last remaining indoor smokers. In Stockton, California, there is a multi-generational Italian deli making ravioli on an amazing century-old machine. And in Maui, Hawaii, Guy stops at a mobile pizza oven putting out island twists on meaty pies.

Online, go behind-the-scenes with Guy, check out full recipes and scan the best DINERS, DRIVE-INS AND DIVES across the country. Hop along for THE RIDE on Twitter with #DDD.

Food Network Star
Premiering Sunday, June 5th at 9pm - "Show Promos"
The remaining finalists pair up to shoot a promo for their version of a show called Family Roadtrip! Whether their destination is a camping trip, the state fair, or even Grandma's house, their promo and dishes had better impress co-hosts Giada De Laurentiis and Bobby Flay, along with special guest judges Ali Larter and Food Network Magazine Editor-in-Chief Maile Carpenter as one more finalist is eliminated.
Premiering Sunday, June 12th at 9pm - "Room Service Revenge"
First the remaining nine finalists test their skills in front of the camera, as they try their hand at delivering trendy remote food reports for ENTERTAINMENT TONIGHT co-hosts Kevin Frazier and Nancy O'Dell. Then, the competitors must handle comic curveballs from guest judges Jesse Tyler Ferguson and Internet-sensation Hannah Hart, as they join co-hosts Giada De Laurentiis and Bobby Flay in an upscale hotel to create a special room service dining experience, with someone ultimately going home.
Premiering Sunday, June 19th at 9pm - "Motorsports Tailgating"
Who knew that guest judge Robert Irvine is such a huge fan of auto racing? Robert loves motorsports and the inevitable tailgating that comes along with it so much, that he challenges the remaining finalists to create a dish worthy of a world-class tailgate party! Robert and fellow guest judge Katie Lee help co-hosts Giada De Laurentiis and Bobby Flay decide which finalist does not impress and must go home.
Premiering Sunday, June 26th at 9pm - "Good Mythical Morning"
Duff Goldman joins co-hosts Giada De Laurentiis and Bobby Flay as the finalists aim to take their culinary prowess to new levels, as they create 'edible art' - dishes that are artistically ARRANGED with their plating to look like a piece of art. Then, two of the biggest "Internetainers" out there Rhett & Link, hosts of the wildly popular internet series Good Mythical Morning, join Giada and Bobby. Their daily talk show features a popular food segment 'Will It?" in which they pair unlikely food ingredients together. In this challenge, the remaining seven finalists each take a spin as a guest on Good Mythical Morning in their very own "Will It?" Bobby and Giada will decide who will stay and who will go home.

Online, find exclusive interviews, videos, blogs, behind-the-scenes footage, photo galleries and more. Connect with other fans and the show's stars at Facebook.com/FoodNetwork and on Twitter with #FoodNetworkStar.

Plus, don't miss original web series Star Salvation which returns on Sunday, June 12th and goes live just after Star's east coast airing. Available on FoodNetwork.com/Salvation and hosted by last season's FOOD NETWORK STAR winner Eddie Jackson and CHOPPED JUDGE ALEX Guarnaschelli, the six-episode culinary CONTEST gives one eliminated finalist a chance to re-enter the competition.