Eric Warren nearly became ‘The Next Food Network Star’
By Vannah Shaw
For the St. Louis American
For former St. Louisan Eric Warren, it was close, but no enchilada. Warren was eliminated from the running to become “The Next Food Network Star” on Sunday night.
The Food Network has been airing a competitive program for the last two months to find the next host for an up-coming show. Warren finished fifth out of the final eight contestants.
Warren, 52, was born in Los Angeles. He later moved to St. Louis to enter corporate America. Warren has worked with many well-known companies here, including Majic 104.9, KMOX and the St. Louis American. Warren has since moved moved back to L.A. to take care of his ill mother and grandmother.
“I am the kind of kid that has been raised in inner-city Los Angeles, and I have been able to cook and learn underneath my mother and grandmother,” Warren said on the first airing of the show.
He said he appreciated “learning how to cook right next to their apron.” His grandmother was once the private chef for Bob Hope and Diana Ross.
Of his mother, Warren said he would “describe her as a woman of God with a philosophy of ‘as you pass throughout life’s journey, always be willing to help feed someone and to love someone.'”
One day, Warren said, he was watching the Food Network when an ad came on for the new show. He mentioned the idea to his sister, and she told him, “You better do this thing.” Warren has a nephew in film school at USC, who helped with filming his demo.
The Food Network picked Warren as one of the final eight contestants from over 10,000 applicants. “My God, they called me!” Warren said when he first got the news.
During the filming, Warren said he felt completely natural in front of the camera. “I love it, I get turned on by it,” he said on the show.
His competition became a little intimidated when his “out of this world” personality came out for the first time on camera.
“He got in front of that camera and just popped like a little butter kernel,” said Harmony Marceau, a competitor on the show.
The normal procedure after eliminations is for the contestant to shake hands with his fellow competitors. Warren said that when he was eliminated, he was asked by the host as well as the judges for hugs.
Warren’s faith plays a big part in his personality, as he often ended his segments by saying, “God bless you.”
Along with support from friends and family, Warren said his prayers got him through the show. “My faith played in everything,” he said. “I prayed throughout the whole process.”
He especially appreciated the support from his three children. He has two daughters – Angelique, who was just accepted by Saint Louis University to pursue a PhD in education, and Maya, who teaches underprivileged youth in Mineapolis. Warren has a son, Eric Jr., who will soon be joining him in L.A. to help with his father’s next businees venture.
Warren said that benefits from the show’s publicity continue. He just judged a competition for the Real Men Cookoff. He also has received several offers to further his career in food.
“This is just the beginning. Big things are getting ready to happen,” said Warren, though he declined to go into specifics.
Warren said that he still has a lot of support in St. Louis. He checked his e-mail Tuesday morning and had 17 messages from supporters in St. Louis.
Warren said that if he had to tell his fans anything, it would be, “Thank you for your support, and God is not finished with me yet. I am on a magic carpet ride, and He is the power on which I glide.”
Warren will be on KMOX on June 30. He will be a guest on The Carney Show, airing at 11:05 p.m.The season finale of the “The Next Food Network Star” airs this Sunday at 8 p.m.
