When Melissa d'Arabian was a little girl, a family meal out meant sharing a cheese crisp at the now-defunct Tia Elena Mexican Restaurant on East Grant Road.
"We didn't have a lot of money," said the Season 5 winner of "The Next Food Network Star.
"Tia Elena's was reserved for the most special occasions. It was the only place where my sister and I were allowed to have a soda. We'd share one between the two of us."
D'Arabian spent the first 10 years of her life in Tucson. Her parents were students at the University of Arizona. These days, you can find the mother of four hosting her own Food Network series, "Ten Dollar Dinners." The show was her prize for winning "Next Food Network Star."
"Ten Dollar Dinners" revolves around the concept of cooking on a budget. On today's episode, d'Arabian will share some of her time-tested, money-saving techniques while cooking her "lemony shrimp scampi pasta."
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It will be the final episode for the first season. The Food Network has already announced the show will return for a second season in early 2010.
D'Arabian spoke to the Star last week from a parking lot in Kirkland, Wash.
How did your first season of "Ten Dollar Dinners" go?
"I shot the first six episodes in May and June. That was a while ago. I was really focused on the food and the ideas and giving concrete experiences so that people could not only go out and replicate the recipes, but the saving techniques and philosophies as well."
Are you able to watch yourself on television?
"I've always heard people say that they can't watch themselves on TV. I think it is the coolest thing in the world. I like watching 'Ten Dollar Dinners' because I learn how the messages are coming through, how they land from the audience's point of view. You can have all the knowledge in the world, but if you can't communicate it, it doesn't matter.
"My husband and I sit there with the TiVo and keep our fingers on the pause button. My husband suggests where things could be better, and we talk about it. It is very much a learning tool for me."
Are your kids excited to see you on television, or are they too young?
"They love it. They love watching Mommy on TV. To them, I've joined the ranks of Barney, Hip Hop Harry and Mickey Mouse.
"They love seeing the food on TV that they've eaten at home, too. The food is as much of a star to them as I am."
Was the transition from one show to the other nerve-racking?
"It was a weird experience. From the first day of shooting 'Ten Dollar Dinners,' everybody there was on my team and rooting for me. There was no one competing against me, no food challenges. It was a switch.
"My biggest challenge was getting the technical aspects of television into my muscle memory. There are a lot of moving parts to master, a lot of balls in the air that you've got to keep up on before you even get to present your information and personality. It is a lot to do."
Did you ever make it back to Tia Elena's?
"I went back there when I was 22. It was this little, inexpensive Mexican restaurant. It is funny how you see things through different eyes as an adult."
on TV
The season finale of "Ten Dollar Dinners" airs at 12:30 p.m. today on the Food Network.
