Thetwelfth season of theAmericanreality television seriesFood Network Star premiered May 22, 2016 onFood Network. Food NetworkchefsBobby Flay andGiada de Laurentiis returned to the series asjudges.^[1]

This season featured thirteen contestants rather than twelve; the thirteenth contestant, Martita Jara (who originally appeared in the series'eighth season), was chosen via a three-weekspin-off series calledComeback Kitchen, where seven formerFood Network Star contestants competed for a chance to participate in season 12 of the main series.^[2]Comeback Kitchen was hosted by chefTyler Florence and chef/actressValerie Bertinelli; and it premiered on May 8, 2016,^[1] although it initially became availableon demand in some markets in April 2016.^[3] This season also continued the inclusion ofStar Salvation, a six-week^[4]webseries that featured the most recently eliminated contestant competing against the remaining previously eliminated contestants for a chance to re-enter the mainFood Network Star competition.

Unlike previous seasons, executives Bob Tuschman and Susie Fogelson did not assist in the judging; nor did chief executive Brooke Johnson appear in thefinale to introduce the winner (Tuschman left Food Network and Johnson retired prior to the start of the season).^[5][6]

^[7]

• Tregaye Fraser –Atlanta, Georgia

• Jernard Wells – Atlanta, Georgia
• Damiano Carrara –Moorpark, California

(in order of elimination)

• Havird Usry –Augusta, Georgia
• Aaron Crumbaugh –Spokane, Washington
• Melissa Pfeister –Los Angeles, California
• Martita Jara –San Diego, California
• Monterey Salka –Nashville, Tennessee
• Rob Burmeister –Staten Island, New York
• Joy Thompson –Thomasville, North Carolina
• Erin Campbell –Woodbury, Minnesota
• Ana Quincoces –Coral Gables, Florida
• Yaku Moton-Spruill –San Francisco, California

^Note 1 : Because of the challenge outcome, the judges did not select a winning team. Instead, they identified the three best individual cooks.
^Note 2 : Yaku returned to the competition after winningStar Salvation.
^Note 3 : Melissa did not appear in the finale.
^Note 4 : Damiano was eliminated from the final three midway through the finale.

  (WINNER) The contestant won the competition and thus became the next Food Network Star.

  (RUNNER-UP) The contestant made it to the finale, but did not win.

  (HIGH) The contestant was one of the selection committee's favorites for that week.

  (IN) The contestant performed well enough to move on to the next week.

  (LOW) The contestant was one of the selection committee's least favorites for that week, but was not eliminated.

  (OUT) The contestant was the selection committee's least favorite for that week, and was eliminated.

^[2]

^Note 1 : Chris was eliminated after the mentor challenge.

  (WIN) The chef wonComeback Kitchen and returned to the main competition.

  (IN) The contestant performed well enough to move on to the next week.

  (LOW) The contestant was one of the selection committee's least favorites for that week, but was not eliminated.

  (OUT) The contestant was the selection committee's least favorite for that week, and was eliminated.

This season ofStar Salvation was hosted byIron ChefAlex Guarnaschelli andseason 11 winnerEddie Jackson.^[4]

  (WIN) The chef wonStar Salvation and returned to the main competition.

  (IN) The chef continued in the competition.

  (OUT) The chef lost in that week'sStar Salvation and was eliminated from the competition.

• Official website
• Food Network Star atIMDb

• 2016 American television seasons
• Food Network Star

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