Camden’s ‘Big Daddy’ takes the kitchen

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Aaron McCargo, Jr. is bold.

That’s likely why the selection committee chose him last night as winner of The Next Food Network Star.

McCargo, a 37-year-old former cafeteria chef from Camden, beat out nine other competitors for a chance at a “dream job,” the host of his own Food Network show.

Bobby Flay announced in last night’s pre-recorded season finale that McCargo’s show, called Big Daddy’s Kitchen, will premiere Sunday, Aug. 3 at 1:30 p.m.

McCargo, who recently resigned from his job as chef at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital’s catering service, beat out Lisa Garza from Dallas and Philly native Adam Gertler, whose pilot demo was called Hungry in Philadelphia.

What’s interesting about this season of TNFNS is it’s the first time in the show’s four seasons that home viewers didn’t vote for the winner. Rather, the selection committee consisting of two network execs and Flay chose without viewer input.

Maybe there’s a reason for that. Out of the three current winners of , only one — Guy Fieri — has found success on the network.