How Lisa Vanderpump and Gordon Ramsay Set Aside Their Egos to Decide Whose Competitor Won ‘Food Stars’ Season 2’s $250,000 Prize

As a huge fan of “Gordon Ramsay’s Food Stars,” I was absolutely thrilled to see Lisa Vanderpump come out on top during the Season 2 finale. Her mentorship and guidance led one of her mentees, Jess Druey, to victory with her company Whiny Baby. The final competition was intense, with each contestant giving their best presentation in a bid to win the grand prize of $250,000 for their respective businesses.


Caution: The following account may reveal key moments from the Season 2 finale of “Gordon Ramsay’s Food Stars” aired on Fox. Please proceed with care if you prefer to avoid spoilers.

At the finale of the Fox competition show “Gordon Ramsay’s Food Stars” on Thursday, it was Lisa Vanderpump whose team mentee emerged victorious, making it her win.

I had the privilege of witnessing an intense two-hour competition where Jess Druey from Team Vanderpump, Roman Desmond from the same team, and Ali Schlichter from Team Ramsay presented their business ideas in the food and beverage industry to win a $250,000 grand prize. After both teams showcased their innovative concepts, it was my role, as a supporter of Ramsay’s, to help him make the final decision. Alongside him, we deliberated on which contestant truly stood out and ultimately, decided the fate of each competitor.

“Vanderpump shared with EbMaster that it hurt Roman deeply that she had won. However, she believed that beyond the competition, they were a team and she identified Jess as their winner. Although it was difficult for Roman to acknowledge this, he eventually admitted it. I, Vanderpump, relish winning in such scenarios, and Roman isn’t accustomed to losing. So, if he must lose, let it be to me. I made sure he knew that from the start.”

Druey, the victorious contender, heads Whiny Baby – a firm specializing in premium, small-batch wines. These wines, crafted for wine enthusiasts of all backgrounds, are characterized as “relaxing” and “easily drinkable.” Notably, they come with humorous labels such as “Unwind” White Blend, “Surprised?” Fizzy Rosé, and “Infatuated” Red Blend. The grapes for these wines are carefully selected from California vineyards and transformed into delightful creations by the skilled McBride Sisters Wine Company.

“This season on ‘Food Stars,’ the level of skill among the competitors was incredibly impressive. After several rigorous rounds of competition, only one contestant emerged as the victor. I’m pleased to announce that Jess Druey, founder of Whiny Baby, is our winner. While it’s less exciting that Lisa received her first ‘Food Star,’ it certainly boosted her ego. Yet, I consider my greatest achievement to be discovering and showcasing Lisa’s remarkable talent.”

What ultimately led them to pick Druey over her finalist competitors?

Vanderpump commented, “She excelled during the presentation portion, which is her strong suit. She speaks naturally and effortlessly, while some other competitors struggled. However, when we had the exhibition and she injured her finger, her confidence wavered and she became emotional, saying ‘I can’t do this.’ I was taken aback but believed in her ability to bounce back. And indeed, she faced the challenge head-on and regained her composure with her product.”

Regarding that memorable moment in “Food Stars” Season 2, Drury recalls it clearly and claims it drove her to persevere.

“Without a doubt, the incident with slicing my finger,” Druey remarked. “During the competition, I was elated to be on Lisa’s team. Yet, it fueled an inner determination to disprove Gordon and demonstrate my capabilities in the culinary world. My chance to showcase this came at the trade show, but sadly, I believed I fell short. Although the presentation turned out alright, that moment of slicing my finger left me thinking, ‘This could be the end for me.'”

With the $250,000 grand prize, Druey’s plans to expand Whiny Baby are already underway.

“The wine industry is antiquated and intricate with numerous complexities,” she explained. “People typically purchase wine from conventional grocery stores, making it challenging for innovation and newcomers due to the industry’s structure. I’m fortunate to be stocked on significant retailers like Target, Gopuff, and Total Wine in just four states before the show. Since then, we’ve expanded to approximately 20 more states on Total Wine, which is an incredible achievement.” She continued, “My goal is to increase awareness and eventually have Whiny Baby available on all major store shelves nationwide.”

See Drury’s winning moment from the “Food Stars” Season 2 finale winner below.

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2024-07-25 05:46