PITTSBORO — Pittsboro’s own Dr. Lulu Boykin has survived another week on The Food Network’s “Worst Cooks in America.” Boykin debuted on the show on Jan. 5 and in the second episode, she narrowly escaped elimination.
“Worst Cooks in America” is a show that pits two teams of the “worst cooks” against each other in challenges. The “red team,” of which Boykin is a member, is lead by co-host and chef Anne Burrell, while the “blue team” is lead by co-host and chef Alton Brown.
In the second episode, entitled “Indulge Me,” the “worst cooks” are given a quick lesson in cheese making before being given the task of creating a salad highlighting the mozzarella they were just taught to make. The “worst cooks” were asked to create their own recipe while “stretching” their idea of what a salad can be. Once again, Brown referenced Boykin as she made her mozzarella saying, “Cyndi Lauper’s making a booger.” Boykin created a “Lulu-like Mediterranean” salad and while her mozzarella may have left something to be desired, Burrell noted her chickpea hummus was delicious.
The second challenge involved the cooks replicating a dish created by the team’s chef. Boykin’s team made a meatball and homemade ricotta recipe created by Burrell. Boykin described her feelings about the challenge saying, “It was like crazy britches wagon train running off the track.” And while Burrell noted her ricotta was good, she was concerned Boykin let the “clock get away” from her.
Though in the bottom two among the cooks remaining, Boykin will have the chance to redeem herself in next week’s episode — which is entitled “Chinese New Year.” The recruits will have to navigate their way creating fried rice and dumplings.
In addition to performing on the show, Boykin is highlighted on The Food Network’s “Craziest Moments in Boot Camp,” a teaser gallery on the network’s website, https://www.foodnetwork.com/shows/worst-cooks-in-america. The image shows Boykin using a meat tenderizer to pound on the back of a knife while cutting potatoes during the first baseline challenge in episode one.
The next episode of the Food Network’s “Worst Cooks in America” will air at 9 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 19 on the network. If you missed episode 2, you can catch it at 2 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 16 or a 2 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 19.
Reporter Casey Mann can be reached at CaseyMann@Chathamnr.com.