In what could be described as a Battle of the Alt-Grrrrls, some hot embers are bound to get tossed on the age-old Philly-NYC rivalry tonight when local waitress Jenny Cross takes on Brooklyn’s Rachel Coleman, a marketing website editor, for victory on Food Network’s Worst Cooks in America. In case you haven’t been watching, the twelve contestants selected from a pool of nominees were the creators of some of the most spectacularly crazy, ill-conceived, inedible kitchen concoctions ever. Cross’ was a peanut butter-coated cod seasoned with an ample amount of cayenne pepper. The contestants studied the instructions of Chefs Anne Burrell and Beau MacMillan to improve their skills to become the “best of the worst.”
Cross, who has endeared herself to fans thanks to her ’50s pinup-girl aesthetic and tearful reminders that losing would mean going back to waiting tables, has progressed dramatically since the peanut butter and cayenne cod. Last night, the Jersey native and onetime Gigi waitress, crafted a near-perfect Thai-inspired cod. Tonight at 10:00 PM, she will go head to head with indie-chic Coleman (whose initial dish, three cheese mac and cheese, included the “special” ingredient of cottage cheese) to cook for a panel of experts; the winner gets the $25,000 grand prize and will bring eternal glory to her city.
This Rachel is absolutely horrendous.
Food, appearance. Ugh. Totally repulsive.
If this scenester puke wins, I’m urinating on every street corner in Brooklyn.
I can’t believe she lost… the critics did not dislike any of her dishes and picked one as the favorite. =\
Jenny Cross you were robbed!! We love Jenny Cross.
We love you Jenny! We want more Jenny!
So sad to see Jenny miss out. She really busted ass on the competition. I think this girl has the passion and drive to be a great chef and I want to see her dream of culinary school become a reality. If she has a PayPal account, I’m the first to send a donation. If everyone pitches in just a little we can make it happen.
Jenny was robbed tonight. Rachel’s dessert was a complete flop and Jenny should have won. I just hope she gets a career break and gets into culinary school. She deserves the best.
Good luck Jenny!
She did a good job even with a loss. I hope she gets the chance to go to culinary school and cook professionally one day.
–Will.
JENNY CROSS GOT ROBBBBBBBBED!!!!… Rachel just had good timing… i guess…..
;( KEEP GOING JENNY!!
You’re the best girl.
That wont be the last we see of Miss JENNY!!!
wahooo!!!!
poor jenny
I hope she still finds a way to go to culinary school
I was hoping Jenny would win out since episode 1. Her passion, drive, and enthusiasm for the craft really made me feel for her. I sincerely believe she should have won this challenge and hope that this will not stop her from reaching for her dreams!!!!
Jenny,
You were sabotaged by Beau. On what was aired you just mentioned a “broken” past, Beau is an idiot who does not understand what an intimidating male infuence does to women who have been hurt. (not ness. the worst kind… ie. molestation etc) but especially emotional abuse. Not only did he give you a very difficult menu, he barked an pushed and yapped at you….. if he would have left you totally alone you would have won! how many minutes did you have to stop and answer his stupid stupid questions
Jenny,
It is a credit to your professional attitude that you didn’t give in, tell Beau off or breakdown. I know I would have,had he treated me that way. You have what it takes to go all the way and be tops in your profession.
Jenny did get robbed. I like Rachel fine, but how could Jenny have hands-down the favorite dish of the judges and Rachel the worst (their desserts) and the other two be really close – and Jenny not win? Clearly the male, very picky, judge liked all of Jenny’s dishes best. I hope someone will take notice of her and help her get to culinary school. Surely, one of the chefs, or judges, or someone else on the network or elsewhere will see what a gem she is. Hope she goes far!!!
i’d like to see jenny with her own show: pick it up from where Worst Cooks left off, then follow her through her first year of culinary school. can’t get enough of that girl. what a heart.
I agree Jenny should have won.I hope she does get to go to culinary school. I think her learning to cook would make a great show
I’m also happy to donate to Jenny’s career. Please let
Jenny fans know if there is a donation pool going on!
How on Earth can you have the BEST dish… and your opponent have the WORST dish… yet you lose??? I can understand if one of yours is deemed best, and another of yours the worst… but that ain’t what happened. Jen, you got robbed kid… but keep your chin up and someday when you get ur own Food Network show… we’ll all be there watching it!!!
I only have a moment but I came online to see if anyone is collecting funds to SEND JEN CROSS to culinary school! I loved her, too and want to help. Would someone post a link?
Maybe we could all put a good kitchen item or two on Ebay, too, and have the money go to Jen’s cooking school.
Would someone post a link if there’s a fund set up?
Thank you!
Maggie
AWWWWW! I’m with Greg. Jenny do u have a website/facebook?? paypal?? send this girl to school!..or better yet..Food Network give her some more airtime!! She’s got HUTZPAH!!!!
jenny totally deserved to lose
Hope someone from Philly see’s these postings and can help sent up a pay pal to send Jenny C. to the Culinary school of her choice. If any head recruiter from a Culinary school saw Mondays episode, I hope they got on the phone to the Food Network and offered her a full boat scholarship. She is as tough as ANY Iron Chef.
I emailed Food Network (maybe we all should!!!) to tell them #1 they should send Jenny to culinary school – I looked online and there are SEVERAL right in Philly. I also told them #2 if they’re smart they’ll hire Jenny to either cohost a show (an experienced chef could teach her & the audience together) or host her own show (like Rachel Ray & Guy Fieri do, she wouldn’t even have to cook, just travel & check out restaurants). But I like “jennyfan’s” idea of them doing a show following her thru culinary school too. I told Food Network their ratings will go up if they hire Jenny on a show – but you couldn’t PAY me to watch Velma (oh, I mean Rachel, sorry she reminds me of Velma on Scooby-Doo). GO JENNY & DON’T GIVE UP!
Contact Foodnetwork and tell them you love Jenny. I think they should send her to culinary school and make a series of it. Then she could try out for the next Foodnetwork star.
I liked both of them, I’m happy for Rachel. I also saw the difference in where she and Jenny are in their lives. I would love to see Jenny have the opportunity to go to school, and would happily make a donation toward that end.
I agree with Chef Ann, Chef Beau did psych her out!
Jenny Rules!!!!!!!!!! She should have won!!! I agree Food Network should send Jenny to school and follow her thru the first year. Jenny deffinitely has star appeal. Lots of talent and personality.
Jenny should have her own show. We love you Jenny…..Don’t give up!!!
Jenny, you definitely deserved the win, girl. Hope you still follow your dreams. Obviously you have plenty of people here standing behind you..and I’m sure there are many more Jenny fans out there.
I think they should not have told the judges which girl cooked which food until after the decision was made. Jen should have won. She has the passion and drive needed for this crazy business and she wants to improve her life and not just wants to cook for her “mommy”. Someone needs to sponsor Jennny and give her her dream.
Jenny had you stayed on Anne’s side you would have one, she is much better at teaching people. Chef Beau was a jerk, had he relaxed a bit and built you up instead of hounding you, you would have been more relaxed and would have blown your competition out of the water! All he seemed to do make coments that ended up stressing you out. I hope you get to go to culinary school, your drive inspired my husband and I. We were hoping you’d win.
Jenny, you were AWESOME on the final episode and you should have won that competition, hands down! Chef Beau had your back all along and I know he is very proud of you, just like all your fans are too! DO NOT give up your dream of culinary school, that would be your greatest loss! Apply for financial aid, keep your job if you need to for now. Don’t give up, we believe in you!
I’m with Maggie. SEND THAT GIRL TO CULINARY SCHOOL!
Here’s the link for the contact page at Food Network.
http://www.foodnetwork.com/contact-us/package/index.html
I’d also throw in some cash for Jenny to go to cooking school. It’s criminal that food network didn’t pull some strings to get her in somewhere – it’s clear she’s got the passion and the talent! Jenny if you read this, seriously, you were robbed!!! Let your fans try to replace what you lost
Go Jenny! We love you! You have what it takes. Looks, personality, charm, camera presence and skill! You were the STAR of that show! In my mind you WERE the winner! Keep on cooking. Never give up!
Ann knew to have Rachel cook from what she had done well; Beau pushed Jenny to “get back on the horse that threw her” and do things she had had problems with. Given the pressures of the kitchen, this choice cost Jenny. As Maggie says (above) I hope some “angel” will step forward and pay her way to culinary school. I would contribute.
There is a structural problem with the competition: the two finalists should have been Team Blue: they were the best candidates.
I was upset that Jenny lost. I see another note about a possible fund for Jenny to go to culinary school. If Food Network can begin this fund, or better, get good karma and publicity by sending her completely, that would be justified. She is so sincere about going to culinary school she should be able to go. If there is some site such as the suggested paypal account for her, let me know so I can add to her fund. JENNY YOU HAVE A BRIGHT FUTURE!!!
If the foodnetwork had a lick of sense they would sponsor Jenny’s education at the Culinary Institute and make a reality show around that. They could then make subsequent shows following her carreer up the “food chain” so-to-speak”. Big mistake(another) on Foodnetwork’s end-again. A couple yrs ago they picked a dud for their new star and I knew it. I knew Jenny should have won this and that she and I know she has star quality. They should trim some of their tired ol’ regulars like Giada(she urks me!).
I was rooting for Jenny all the way, & not just because she’s got that rockabilly-pinup vibe going for her (although that’s a plus in my book); she showed a lot of sincere passion, drive & potential for cooking & self-improvement. On the flip side, Rachel’s personality & attitude just rubbed me the wrong way from the first episode; to me she came off as rather petty & unpleasant on more than one occasion. I do think switching teams is what ultimately cost Jenny in the end; all culinary skills aside, Chef Ann is simply a much better instructor than Chef Beau.
Here’s hoping Jenny lands on her feet & that we haven’t seen the last of her!
I agree that the final ep was heartbreaking to watch. They were supposed to have NO assistance and Anne was telling Rachel what to do at several points. Full on INSTRUCTION.
Jenny would have made it with her main dish if Beau had chosen to ignore the rules and call her out on the brown sugar.
BOO! Anne should hook Jenny up with a scholarship as an apology.
Need to send Jenny to school… Jenny, get a pay pal account and a website so we can send you some $$!!
James
Jenny was robbed. I was so disappointed I almost cried. I hope the network picks her up for something else. We love you here in Arizona, Jenny!!!
This poor kid busted her chops and in the end, was sabotaged by her “mentor” who was supposed to support her,but spent the entire time badgering her and throwing her off of her game. Even though Chef Anne was getting sick of her “Wimpy” student, she still encouraged and cheered her on. What an injustice this oily ball of testosterone inflicted on poor Jenny. HE should put her through school…but then he’d think he owned her! PLEASE let us know if there is a paypal account that we can contribute to in order to send this kid to culinary school! Please send this information to all who have asked for it here, and also please put it on the Food Network website! What a bitter disappointment…….well, at lease Rachael can spend her $25000 on “Mommy and Me” outfits!
I want to share my favorite recipe with Jenny. Tuna on a tube steak!
I totally agree with IconoclastX. If Jenny had been left on the red team she would have won, hands down. I’m willing to help….let’s get Jenny in culinary school! And a big BOO! to Chef Beau who harassed her all the way through the final.
Jenny was my fave. So sad she did’t win but she will go on and do something
wonderful in the food world. The constant talking/ questioning that Beau did
on the last show bugged the crap out of me! Who could even put 2 thoughts together with his
constant yapping. Weird.
Go Jenny!
Good luck to Rachel as well. She came a realllllly long way.
liz in dallas
I was so rooting for Jenny to win. Someone showing such passion should be helped on her path. It would be criminal to allow the fire to die. Someone help this girl get to cooking school!
LOVE JENNY!!!!! Jenny….you did Philly PROUD girl! Fill out a FAFSA and start applying….you can do it!!!! You were THE BEST in my opinion. I’d eat at your restaurant any day of the week!
I had hoped Jenny would win. I could feel her pain and her passion. I hope she makes it to cooking school. Wouldn’t it be a hoot if she tried out for Hell’s Kitchen? She’s talented enough. I can’t afford to sponser her BUT HEY PHILANTHROPISTS OUT THERE , JENNY COULD USE SOME HELP WITH SCHOOL!
Jenny is the most Beautiful girl in the whole world.She is far more talented than any Chef that I know.And just in case you are wondering,I have worked with some of the most famous Chefs all over the world.Cooking and pleasing people to the highest is my life,it truly is my passion.She should have won,but in my heart I know that she is truly the very best to ever come along.If she was mine I would treat her as if she was the only girl in the whole world.She would always come first in our relationship,always,no exception! I would love her like no other,and so willingly cook with her as we both spend the rest of our lives cooking and pleasing people with our so very wonderful food,as the most important part of all would be when I would say to her,”You are the most Beautiful girl in the whole world,please oh please let me share my life with you,making you the most happiest girl of all! And with that said,we spend our lives in true Bliss,because I really would love her that much,truly I would! Wow,can she cook!!!
Nicole
Loved, loved, LOVED Ms. Cross- her obvious passion for cooking came through every episode and she rose to the challenge each time. To watch someone discover a part of him/her self that they never believed they could be/have is what made her particularly endearing to me. Like a previous person mentioned, if there’s a PayPal account to help her get to culinary school, if all the Jenny fans participate, maybe we can help her dream along
Go Jenny!!!!!!
Chef Anne knew what to expect from the judges, two of them did not like the sweetness of sauce for the fish and that was the main course. The main course most likely carried more weight with the judges (and the judges seemed to like Rachael’s first two courses better). Anne’s other telling comment was about Beau psyching out his own teammate … he just could not get his hand around the idea that he could not just do it. I really hope that Ms. Cross does get to do some more with Food Network. Anne was just a better teacher and Jenny is a fighter!
To Karen B, this is a competition and I would hope that the judges were fair in the way they decided on which dishes they preferred. If they had a different panel the results could have turned out the other way. The judges generally gave the edge in the first two dishes to Rachael (one even said they could not eat another bite of Jenny’s). I generally am not a fan of the two judges to the right who appear regularly on Iron Chef America. Beau should have studied up on them and been more aware of what they liked. Anne did play it safe in the same way that the Colts did last night; Beau may have tried to be more Sean Payton out there but he just was not the supportive coach you needed to be (maybe that was editing). Jenny overcame a lot of his “helpful’ comments. This is not Hell’s Kitchen and these are novice cooks. Jenny’s experience as a waitress most likely kept her from breaking down in this final challenge. Anne just proved to be the best cooking teacher in America. She did very well in guiding her pupil in the final. Rachael made the most of what she could do and the difference was that Anne focused on her strengths and made her feel comfortable, Beau saw Jenny’s strengths and played up what he saw as deficiencies. Good luck Jenny Cross, I like many on this list would love to see you succeed and become a big name in the food world. Maybe even back here on Food Network. Congratulations.
Jenny, you rock, and I think you got ripped off!
I was so happy to see so many messages in support of Jenny! Despite her less than stellar first dish, I was in her corner from the first episode, and as I watched her grow and learn I knew I had made the right choice. She is a passionate young woman and I too would love to see her make it to culinary school someday soon. I also agree that I could have NEVER maintained the calm and professionalism she displayed in the finale when having to deal with Beau’s incessant commentary and badgering. She was fantastic. I do believe that Anne was the better teacher, and in a way, I view what Jenny accomplished as being as much Anne’s influence as it was Beau’s. Anne was the one who was with her from the start, and Jenny herself commented that she loved the idea that she could learn from Anne — from a strong woman. Jenny strikes me as being a very self-aware, very driven, very motivated, and more importantly, genuinely passionate woman and she deserves to go as far as she can with this. Even if she had never viewed culintary school as a possibility, it’s evident that once she began the competition, a fire was lit inside her and even her breakdown couldn’t extinguish it. When she commented that her grandmother had spent so much of her life working in restaurants, I thought, “Having someone she’s close to in her corner like that, who understands that passion, and who understands the commitment needed to succeed is going to help her so much.” I hope that she doesn’t abandon that dream; I want to see her do well, to work to her potential. I liked Rachel, but I was a Jenny supporter from the start, and I really thought she would have the edge in the final competition. Anne giving Rachel ideas for dishes that she had already done well was key; Jenny didn’t have that same luxury from Beau, and this wasn’t the place to “challenge” her — this was the place to allow her to shine. I wish Rachel the best, I hope she continues to make the most of the knowledge she gained, but I don’t see that same spark inside her that was inside Jenny. But Jenny — you succeeded in a very big way, even if you didn’t walk away with the money. Look at how far you progressed in so short a time. Damn – I’ve been cooking for years and there are dishes that she made that I could never pull off. You did good, girl. Congratulations to you.
So, who has set up a fund, or has Food Network decided to fund her first year (or more) at culinary school? Will someone tell me if we need to send money or has Food Network set up a scholarship?
Please advise. Jenny needs a culinary future!!!!!!!!!
I will contribute if their is a fund set up for Jenny Cross.
Todd~ you are correct in your assessments and I agree with you on Jeffrey, however, I do think the culinary instructor has redeemable characteristics. I am weary of the Food Network’s over-stirred and overcooked recipes. Their hosts are overextended into 2, 3, or 4 programs, giving the same tips and catch-phrases in each. I am growing tired of hearing the same people say the same things-Yuck-O! I don’t want to look at Giada’s décolletage on every one of her “cooking shows?” I am almost embarrassed to have her on when I have teen-age boys or young men in the house because that’s all they comment on. I would love to see some fresh faces and see some something new. Food Network needs to realize a good majority of their fans already know many of the cooking methods they continue to preach and may feel patronized to. What are your thoughts?
What is happening with Jenny’s future – culinary school etc. I did email the network about doing something with her as she is too good to overlook. I told them “NEVER FORGET JENNY CROSS!”
Anyone contributing? A scholarship to a culinary school? FN footing the bill? A show covering her first year at culinary school? Anyone heard anything? Let’s make sure FN does not forget Jenny Cross.
Haters will hate. The right person won. Looking like a cheap Katy Perry wannabe will can only carry you so far. Let’s hear it for dowdy Jewish girls!
Jenny Owns a vintage shop in south philadelphia now… she has a facebook page and a website that is currently being built http://www.thejennycross.com... between the 2 you should be able to keep up with her plans for the future