Superstar Chefs Anne Burrell And Bobby Flay Return In Quest To Transform Kitchen Disasters Into Food Masters In Fourth Season Of Worst Cooks In America

NEW YORK, Jan. 10, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Worst Cooks in America, the primetime Food Network hit that turns kitchen zeroes into kitchen heroes, returns for a fourth season with a rematch between undefeated series champion Anne Burrell and culinary master Bobby Flay. Premiering on Sunday, February 17^th at 9pm ET/PT, this season's fourteen cooking-challenged contestants are split into two teams, one led by Anne and one by Bobby, for a grueling seven-episode competition designed to turn them into competent cooks.  A $25,000 grand prize will be awarded to the winning contestant who has achieved the most successful culinary transformation, along with a victory for their team leader.

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"Worst Cooks is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for these hapless cooks to learn from the best of the best - Anne and Bobby.  Their natural competitive nature and sense of humor dealing with their team's mishaps and blunders have made the show an audience favorite," said Bob Tuschman, General Manager and Senior Vice President, Food Network.  "The culinary transformations are heartwarming and hilarious – viewers will be amazed at just how far the contestants come."

In the season premiere, the fourteen recruits, each nominated by family and friends for their awful cooking skills, are greeted at culinary boot camp by Anne, Bobby and grocery bags of food found in the contestant's homes.  Using their processed, packaged and canned foods to cook their 'best dish,' each contestant faces a brutal first tasting and teams are selected. For their first challenge, the teams must create a classic meat and potatoes meal, without using a microwave.  Anne's team attempts Seared Pork Chop with Bacon and Grape Port Wine Sauce, while Bobby's team tries Beef Tenderloin in Mushroom, Mustard and Red Wine Sauce. The contestant with the least successful dish on each team is sent home, while the remaining twelve competitors survive to cook another day. Upcoming episodes feature a fresh fish challenge, a gelato laboratory road trip and a role reversal where the recruits must teach Anne and Bobby.  The series culminates in the finale on Sunday, March 31^st at 9pm ET/PT, where the two remaining contestants prepare a three-course meal for a panel of culinary titans – Andrew Carmellini, Anita Lo and Floyd Cardoz, who will determine which chef has mentored their recruit to winning status.

Viewers wanting more can visit www.FoodNetwork.com/Worst-Cooks-In-America for photo galleries, interviews and more insider coverage.

ABOUT ANNE BURRELL
Anne Burrell has always stood out in the restaurant business for her remarkable culinary talent, bold and creative dishes, and her trademark spiky blond hair. After training at New York's Culinary Institute of America and Italy's Culinary Institute for Foreigners, she gained hands-on experience at notable New York restaurants including Felidia, Savoy, Lumi, and Italian Wine Merchants. Anne has also battled on Food Network's Iron Chef America as Mario Batali's energetic and reliable sous chef.  Additionally, Anne taught for three years at New York's Institute of Culinary Education. She served as Executive Chef at New York hot-spot Centro Vinoteca from its opening in July 2007 through September 2008.  She stars in Secrets of a Restaurant Chef and Worst Cooks in America on Food Network. Anne's bestselling cookbook "Cook Like A Rock Star" (Clarkson Potter) was released in October, 2011.

ABOUT BOBBY FLAY
Bobby Flay's versatility is evident in the multiple talents he brings to the field as a chef, restaurateur, cookbook author, and media personality.  Since debuting on Food Network in 1994, Bobby has continuously hosted programs that bring cooking tips and information on American regional fare to a national audience.  His series include Bobby Flay's Barbecue Addiction, Brunch @ Bobby's (Cooking Channel),  Food Network Star, Grill It! with Bobby Flay,  Iron Chef America and Throwdown with Bobby Flay.  He returns in February to compete a second time against Chef Anne Burrell in a new season of Worst Cooks in America.  Bobby has restaurants around the country, including Mesa Grill (NYC, Las Vegas, Paradise Island), Bar Americain (NYC, Mohegan Sun), and Bobby's Burger Palace (multiple locations).  He is also the bestselling author of 11 cookbooks.

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SOURCE Food Network