We were fortunate enough to catch up with Next Food Network Star contestant Shane Lyons who was eliminated on Sunday’s episode and ask him several questions about his experience.

TV Chefs Blog: Knowing there’s a good four to six month lag between when things are filmed and then shown on the air, what have you been doing since you were eliminated?

Shane Lyons: I have moved back to Colorado Springs to spend a few months living with my pops and cook at a great French/Mediterranean fusion restaurant. I left home at twelve to go film “All That” in Los Angeles, and since then I haven’t had a chance to spend much time with him. It’s been an amazing experience getting to know the old man as an adult.

TCB: Based on the judges words of advice right before eliminating you, it was bandied about how you love France and French cooking but hadn’t gotten the real experience. Any plans in that regard?

Shane: I agree with the selection committee that to truly appreciate a people and culture one needs to experience first hand. And you can believe it’s on my to-do list, along with many other adventures.

TCB: Your love for food is obviously genuine, you can see it when you were on the show cooking, you took lessons, you have a catering service, and yet your acting resume is amazing too. Can you do both? Do you intend to? Does one interest or love outshine the other?

Shane: I intend to for the moment just go with the flow. I’ll be living in NYC come August so in theory it would be possible to attempt both, however I think at this point in my life I want to focus on food. I am young and if I really push myself in a great kitchen for the next few years I will grow as a cook. Right now I am a good cook, but I want to be a great cook and for that to happen I need to get my butt kicked for a while in some intense kitchens.

TCB: Seems if that last challenge had not involved a child you would have sailed through. And since filming most cooking shows, especially one you yourself would host, don’t involve a child that situation might never come up again. Based on that, do you think you were fairly eliminated?

Shane: Fair and reality TV rarely go hand in hand. That being said, I understood what the committee was saying and agreed with many of the points they had to make. I am happy with when I left, and proud of the work I did and how I represented myself while I was there.

TCB: I’m figuring that like the rest of the audience, once you leave, you probably don’t know what happens afterwards either. With that in mind, who out of the four remaining contestants do you think might win, or would you hope to see win?

Shane: I have thought from the moment I met Aaron that he is going to be that man that takes it. His heart is so full of love and passion for people and teaching. He would bring a great energy and soul to the network. Not to mention his food is nuts, he makes the food we all want to eat!

TCB: So what’s next for Shane Lyons?

Shane: In a month I will be in NYC at (fingers cross) one of the premier French restaurants in the city. I am all about the adventure of life. I can’t wait to see where life will take me and who I am going to meet along the way.

TCB: Thank you for your time, Shane and good luck in your future endeavors!

{09 Jul 2008}