Find Out What's Happened to Your Favorite Food Network Stars of Yesteryear

Food Network Star premiered in 2005, and the very first winner was a duo named The Hearty Boys, aka Dan Smith and Steve McDonagh. The Hearty Boys is the name of the couple's Chicago-based catering company, and the nickname was also the basis of the winners' show on the Food Network, Party Line With the Hearty Boys, which ran for multiple seasons and focused on easy entertaining. Dan and Steve published a cookbook in 2011 called Talk With Your Mouth Full, and now the team continues its catering business in Chicago.

Did you know that the king of Flavortown himself actually got his start on Food Network Star, a show that he occasionally judges now? Before he starred in Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives and Guy's Grocery Games, Guy Fieri was crowned winner of season two in 2006. His first show after his big win was Guy's Big Bite, and now, of course, you can find him eating his way through the country in his red convertible.

Amy Finley, a cook with a passion for French food, won the third season of Food Network Star in 2007. Her debut show on the network, The Gourmet Next Door, elevated ingredients and accessible recipes that families could re-create at home. The program aired for six episodes before Finley canceled the show, citing a family crisis, and moved with her husband and children to France. Following the event, Amy wrote a memoir entitled How to Eat a Small Country: A Family's Pursuit of Happiness, One Meal at a Time.

Aaron McCargo Jr. (pictured with Food Network host Melissa d'Arabian) was the lucky winner of season four of Food Network Star. His show, Big Daddy's House, is all about big, bold flavors, and it was the number one "in the kitchen" weekend show on the Food Network during its initial run. Because of its success, the show still runs on the network today and Aaron constantly shares new recipes.

Melissa d'Arabian is a successful television host, author, and mother of four who won season five of Food Network Star. Her popular show on the network is called Ten Dollar Dinners and focuses on how to cook dinner for a family of four on a budget. Today, in addition to hosting her show, Melissa has a cookbook called Supermarket Healthy, is active with her fans on social media, and hosts Facebook Live tutorials every Tuesday.

Aarti Sequeira has accomplished a whole lot after winning season six of Food Network Star in 2010. Known for her bubbly personality and Indian recipes with a twist, the cook hosts Aarti Paarti on the Food Network and authored the cookbook Aarti Paarti: An American Kitchen With an Indian Soul. These days, Aarti is mom to two daughters, frequently appears as a judge on Guy's Grocery Games, and blogs at aartipaarti.com.

Jeff Mauro's strong sandwich POV (point of view, something the judges always stress on Food Network Star) is what led him to snag the winning spot in 2011's season seven. Well, that and his undeniable charm and goofiness — he used to be a comedian, after all. One of the most well-known faces on the Food Network, Jeff now spends his time cohosting The Kitchen, serving as the executive chef at Chicago's Pork and Mindy's, and giving the best sandwich tips that live up to his nickname and show, Sandwich King.

Justin Warner is known for making food that's as visually exciting as it is tasty, and his unique approach contributed to his winning of season eight of Food Network Star. His cookbook, The Laws of Cooking: And How to Break Them has a foreword by fellow food-science geek Alton Brown and focuses on "breaking the law" of expected recipes by incorporating an unusual flavor or cooking method. Today, he's a newlywed (he married his wife, Brooke Sweeten, in 2015) and hosts a web series on FoodNetwork.com entitled Foodie Call.

Kentucky native Damaris Phillips won America over in 2012 with her Southern charm and even more impressive Southern recipes. She was crowned season nine's winner and debuted her first cooking show, Southern at Heart, where she teaches guests (and viewers) how to woo dates with comforting Southern classics, the foods she calls "the food of love." New episodes still air today on the Food Network, and Damaris also appears as a judge on Guy's Grocery Games regularly.

Season 10 of Food Network Star came down to two finalists: a cowboy named Lenny and an Italian chef named Luca. Lenny came out on top, but his cooking show never came to fruition because of an alleged controversy, and it appears Food Network cut its ties with the former winner. Several media sites, including Gawker and Mediaite, reported that Lenny had posted offensive comments on online threads.

Eddie Jackson, former NFL player, wowed the judges with his contagious confidence and ultimate game-day recipes. After winning season 11 in 2015, Eddie began his show, BBQ Blitz. The show combines cooking and competition, and Eddie travels to a different city in each episode for an entertaining BBQ battle between local pit masters. These days, in addition to hosting on the Food Network, Eddie owns a food truck in Texas called Caribbean Grill and has a website dedicated to sharing his favorite workouts.

The lucky winner of Food Network Star season 12, which wrapped in July 2016, was Tregaye Fraser, an Atlanta-based chef who trained at Le Cordon Bleu. Tregaye's debut show, On Fleek Eats, chronicles the food expert's travels as she checks out the most creative and fun restaurants in major cities.

Jason Smith, whose culinary point of view is "country bling," took home the winning title in season 13 of Food Network Star. Since then, he has served as a judge on Food Network's Best Baker in America and has appeared on The Kitchen.