Worst Cooks in America, Season 3: Behind the Scenes of the Finale

Worst Cooks in America Red Team Recruit Kelli Powers and Blue Team Recruit Vinnie Caligiuri face Red Team Leader Chef Anne Burrell and Blue Team Leader Chef Bobby Flay for the season finale challenge as seen on Food Network's Worst Cooks in America, Season 3.

Photo: Heidi Gutman ©

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The Final Two

Kelli and Vinnie are ready for the final challenge: cooking for three culinary experts in a New York restaurant kitchen. Both are fired up to win it for their families and their chefs — not to mention the $25K in prize money.

Chef Anne Burrell work with finalist Kelli Powers to create a personalized menu for her final restaurant challenge in the Themes/Building Blocks as seen on Food Network's Worst Cooks in America, Season 3.

Photo: Janet Rhodes ©

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Brainstorm

The first step is planning out menus with their chefs. Anne asks Kelli for ideas, and together they come up with an ambitious three-course meal: crab-stuffed cannelloni, grilled steak and an apple crostata for dessert.

Chef Bobby Flay works with finalist Vinnie Caligiuri to create a personalized menu for his final restaurant challenge in the Themes/Building Blocks as seen on Food Network's Worst Cooks in America, Season 3.

Photo: Janet Rhodes ©

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Risky Business

Vinnie's tartare impressed Bobby in the seafood challenge, so he's going to improve upon it even more for his appetizer. Also on the menu: squab marsala and a risky pistachio creme brulee.

Kelli Powers shops for ingredients for the final restaurant challenge in Themes/Building Blocks as seen on Food Network's Worst Cooks in America, Season 3.

Photo: Janet Rhodes ©

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Supermarket Sweep

Now the recruits are off to the grocery store to shop for all of their ingredients. Both Kelli and Vinnie are a bit lost in the store: "I am completely out of my element. Usually I stay where things are boxed and packaged," says Kelli.

Photo: Janet Rhodes ©

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Practice Makes Perfect

Back in the practice kitchen, Bobby and Vinnie get to work on the most difficult part of their meal, the pistachio creme brulee dessert. It is baked in a water bath, but Bobby stresses the importance of not letting even a drop of water get into the brulee dishes. "That's why brulee is such a risky dish," he explains to Vinnie, who tiptoes his brulees over to the oven but still manages to let water seep in.

Chef Anne Burrell works with finalist Kelli Powers to create a personalized menu for her final restaurant challenge in the Themes/Building Blocks as seen on Food Network's Worst Cooks in America, Season 3.

Photo: Janet Rhodes ©

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Steak Strategy

Kelli thinks her practice steaks look perfect, but once Chef Anne slices one, she shows that they're not rare but raw in the middle. Kelli has never cooked steak before and is most nervous about this part of her meal.

The Judges greet Worst Cooks in America Team Leaders Chef Anne Burrell and Chef Bobby Flay. The judges are: Chef Marcus Samuelsson, Chef Susan Feniger, and Chef David Burke as seen on Food Network's Worst Cooks in America, Season 3.

Photo: Heidi Gutman ©

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Game Time

After a day of practice, Kelli and Vinnie arrive at David Burke Kitchen. Before the cooking begins, they meet the panel of culinary experts they'll be serving: David Burke, Susan Feniger and Marcus Samuelsson, all celebrated chefs.

Worst Cooks in America Blue Team Leader Chef Bobby Flay oversees as Finalist Vinnie Caligiuri plates his entree course. Vinnie prepared a three course meal for a panel of judges who will determine the winner of this season's Worst Cooks in America. Vinnie's menu is as follows: His Appetizer is Yellowtail Tartare, Bacon Tangerine Dressing, Toasted Fennel Croutons. His Entree is Pan Roasted Squab, Marsala Sauce, Piquillo Pepper/ Black Olive Relish, Broccoli Rabe Risotto. His Dessert is Pistachio Creme Brulee, Blackberry Pomegranate Salad as seen on Food Network's Worst Cooks in America-Season Three.

Photo: Heidi Gutman ©

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Watchful Eye

Vinnie had a slight mishap with his risotto, which he started over, but still is able to keep his time-management issues in check and get his entree plated beautifully. Bobby's not allowed to help, but he coaches Vinnie from the sidelines. The judges are impressed: "It is very ambitious to take on squab and risotto," says Marcus.

Worst Cooks in America Red Team Recruit Kelli Powers races to complete her entree on time. Kelli is preparing a three course meal for a panel of judges who will determine the winner of this season's Worst Cooks in America. Kelli's menu is as follows: her Appetizer is a Sweet Potato Cannelloni with Jumbo Lump Crab and Parmigiano Sauce. Her Entree is a Dry Rubbed Porterhouse Steak with Bagna Cauda, Roasted Cauliflower, and Porcini Hash with a Poached Egg and Tuscan Kale Chips. Her Dessert is Brown Butter Apple Crostata with Apple Cider Caramel Sauce and Cinnamon Mascarpone as seen on Food Network's Worst Cooks in America, Season 3.

Photo: Heidi Gutman ©

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Under Pressure

"There's a level of multitasking involved that I have never experienced," says Kelli as she rushes to get her steak and multiple sides plated in time. Her cauliflower wins unanimous raves: "Finesse really came in with the cauliflower and poached egg," says David.

Worst Cooks in America Red Team Recruit Kelli Powers and Blue Team Recruit Vinnie Caligiuri congratulate one another after they both finish preparing a 3 course meal on time for the season finale as seen on Food Network's Worst Cooks in America, Season 3.

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Friendly Competition

Despite how much they both want to win, Kelli and Vinnie have become tight over seven weeks of Boot Camp. When cooking is finally over and both have sent out their desserts, they share a victory hug. Both feel like winners for making it this far from their very humble culinary beginnings.

Worst Cooks in America Blue Team Leader Chef Bobby Flay with his recruit Vinnie Caligiuri and Red Team Leader Chef Anne Burrell and her recruit Kelli Powers face the judges for the final verdict. The Judges are Chef Marcus Samuelsson, Chef Susan Feniger, and Chef David Burke.Their decision will determine who is the winner of Season 3 as seen on Food Network's Worst Cooks in America, Season 3.

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Moment of Truth

The recruits and their chefs face the panel of food experts for the final verdict. "I've been judged before, but being judged on someone else's food is a new one. Every time they take a shot at Vinnie, they take a shot at me too," says Bobby. The judges say all four of them should be proud, and they wish they could hire Kelli and Vinnie for their own kitchens.

Worst Cooks in America Red Team recruit Kelli Powers is stunned, then elated when it is announced that she is the winner of Season 3.
Her team leader, Chef Anne Burrell who has trained her all season proud of her recruit, and celebrates her own victory over Chef Bobby Flay as seen on Food Network's Worst Cooks in America, Season 3.

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Victory for Kelli!

In the end, Kelli's meal edged out Vinnie's. That means Chef Anne also scores a third-straight Worst Cooks victory. Both Red Team members shriek in excitement: "I cannot believe I pulled it out and I won. My family is not going to believe it!" says the former Worst Cook in America, Kelli. She's moved far beyond that title.

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Big Win

In addition to the prize money, Kelli and Vinnie will both take home complete kitchen sets from Kohl's. Now they're all set to keep improving their cooking skills. "I can carry on the legacy of food that my Nana passed on to me," says Kelli. Vinnie is a great sport: "I didn't win the money, but the win for me is getting the family back together around the table."