Worst Cooks in America, Season 4: Top Moments of the Premiere
Get an insider's look at the recruits' challenges and relive the most memorable moments from the premiere of Food Network's Worst Cooks in America, Season 4.
It's day 1 of Worst Cooks, and the recruits enter the kitchen to find waiting for them the frozen, boxed and prepared foods they're used to cooking with at home. To gauge the competitors' kitchen know-how, Chefs Anne and Bobby give them just 45 minutes to make a signature dish.
Mole Gone Wrong
Chefs Bobby and Anne can hardly watch as Aadip mixes a glob of melted M&Ms into his spaghetti with marinara sauce. Come tasting, they muster up enough bravery to taste just a small bite of his dish, and it's a good thing that they don't dig in more — Aadip admits, "I've actually made myself sick eating it."
Match Made at Boot Camp
Not one to hide what she's thinking, Carla, known as the "Fake 'n' Bake Queen," is unabashedly up-front about her crush on Chef Bobby. "The secret that I'm going to use is that I'm in love with Bobby Flay," she says. When tasting her Ride or Die Enchiladas, both chefs must chew carefully, as Carla lost a nail while cooking and wonders if it landed in the dish.
Lunch Break
To Alex, a self-described "half dog [that] can eat anything," having an extra turkey burger on hand is an invitation to lunch. He treats himself to a midchallenge meal, much to the surprise of Chef Anne. "You don't take this seriously now, but I promise you when you're on the plane back home, you will take it seriously."
The Worst Cook in America
After tasting most recruits' dishes — some with such disconcerting names as Celery Omelet Medley and Oatmeal and Quinoa Fruit Mush — Chefs Bobby and Anne declare Dr. Bob's College Dorm Chili to be the sorriest of the day. They make their decision based solely on the presentation of his offering, as its off-putting brown color and mounded shape discourage eating.
Missing the Microwave
Once the teams are chosen, Chefs Anne and Bobby meet with their recruits to discuss the first challenge of Boot Camp. In just 1 hour, each contestant must replicate their chef's meat and potatoes dish without the helpful assistance of perhaps their favorite kitchen appliance: the microwave. "When they roll the microwaves out of Boot Camp," Michael explains, "it's like the death of a friend."
Positive and Negative
"I miss my microwave," Rasheeda exclaims as she finishes prepping her dish with just a few minutes left on the clock. During tasting, Chef Anne tells Rasheeda that her "plate presentation looks really nice," but notes that the carrots are undercooked.
Flare-Ups
While meal prep appears to be under control at Big Mike's station, Alex's pan of Brussels sprouts quickly catches on fire, sending flames several feet in the air. "I love a little fire in the kitchen, Baby," Alex remarks.
Team Effort
Fellow Blue Team recruits Tim and Alina come together for a moment of partnered cooking as they work on their filet mignon dishes.
Acknowledging Weakness
"The hardest part of this competition probably for me will be the side dishes," Sue says. While that becomes clear when she serves up oily potatoes, Sue appears to have struggled with her main dish as well, as her pork is overcooked and dry according to Chef Anne.
New to Steak
In her first attempt at cooking a filet mignon, Carrie Lee serves Chef Bobby a piece of raw beef that's still cool to the touch. She tells him that she "would need to see the instant replay" in order to recall exactly the lessons he's tried to teach her.
Looking for Answers
Crystal is the first to admit that she's not sure what she's doing when prepping her main dish. After Chef Anne tastes her offering, she declares the pork to be excessively dry and the potatoes to be simply raw.
Well Received
Chet is honored as the most successful recruit on the Blue Team, having served a dish of beef, broccoli and mashed potatoes that Chef Bobby says is "very well presented." He compliments Chet for adding an extra ingredient — bacon — to the broccoli side dish, explaining, "I like the effort there."
Almost Successful
The eventual Red Team winner of the Main Dish Challenge, Michael, has prepared a dish of pork chops with mashed potatoes and broccoli that Chef Anne deems "successful-ish," and for him, that praise is high enough for the first week of competition. "If you ignore the last half of that word, it's successful."
Farewell to Tim
Chef Bobby admits that the bottom 2 recruits on the Blue Team still "have a lot to learn," but he ultimately sends home Tim, whose dish included undercooked Brussels sprouts and a wine sauce with far too much mustard. Looking back on the competition, Tim explains, "This experience was an emotional eye-opener, but I will learn to cook for my family, which is my biggest motivator."
Diana Says Goodbye
Although she's enthusiastic about learning how to cook, Diana De Rosa is unable to grasp some of the most basic skills of Boot Camp, like knife cuts and incorporating all components of a dish, forcing her week-1 elimination from the Red Team. "I think that they should call me back for Season 5, because I'm still one of the worst cooks in America," she reflects after the competition.
