Born and raised in one of the world's culinary meccas, New Orleans, one might expect multi-talented Erika Coleman to know her way around a kitchen.
One would be wrong, oh so wrong.
The actress, cosmetologist, hair stylist, nail artist and seamstress readily admits she can't cook a lick. She's always had someone to cook for her — her late grandmother, her brother, her mother who made her gumbo just the other day.
With Food Network subtitling this season of its "Worst Cooks in America" series "Spoiled Rotten," it sounded like a perfect fit for Coleman, 38, single and kitchen-challenged.
After securing a spot among this season's 16 inept cooks, reality set in.
Celebrity chefs Anne Burrell, center left, and Tiffany Derry, center right, gather with the 16 initial Season 27 contestants on the 'Worst Cooks in America' set. Louisiana's Erika Coleman is fourth from right.
"I was super excited, trying to Google how to use pots and pans because I don't cook. Just trying to figure out what pots I need to use for certain things. … Just trying to learn the names of different types of knives," she said. "I bought my first pot right before I went to set. So when I came home I was hoping to learn how to cook something."
Prior to this, meals for Coleman were only a food delivery service or trade-out deal away.
"I would always tell my mom, 'Well if you cook for me, I'll do the chores in the house. 'Even my brother, I'll be like, 'If you cook for me, I'll cut your hair or I'll do your chores.' My grandmother, she just has always spoiled me. I just cry and whine to get my way," Coleman said.
"But I mean, I was so creative in other ways that people were always willing to just cook for me, because even now with some of my clients, the trade-off is, if you cook for me, I'll do your makeup or your hair or your nails or something. I have a lot of clients like that," she added.
Growing up, Coleman's favorite home-cooked dishes included macaroni and cheese, jambalaya, red beans and rice and of course, gumbo. She still recalls her grandmother's special pound cakes and chocolate cakes.
Meanwhile, Coleman was clueless about pots, pans and utensils, much less how to put together a meal.
"I don't even know how to cut onions. Like I don't know how to do anything," she said.
As Coleman contemplated her upcoming "Worst Cooks" filming, her thoughts turned to silly things like how her hair would become tousled and she'd be sweating during the contest; to desperate ideas such as if she could get away with ordering Uber Eats to the studio and pass it off as food that she's cooked.
"I'm used to doing it. Like, as I've dated, I would order takeout and play like I cooked it, or I'll get my mom to prepare something and I'll just have her put it in the oven to make it warm and act like I just made it," she admitted.
With strict timelines and multiple cameras on set, faking it would not be an option, she conceded.
Food Network describes this season of "Worst Cooks" like this: "From grown men whose mothers still prepare their meals to indulged nepo babies and food delivery divas, these recruits have never had to fend for themselves — until now. This season, Anne Burrell and Tiffany Derry (celebrity chefs) take boot camp literally — with their teams running basic training drills like an army crawl, obstacle course and calisthenics.
"Other challenges involve a seafood-inspired game, farm-themed competition, and supermarket speedway challenge — and along the way, the most successful recruits earn “chef bucks” to buy game-changing advantages. In the end, only the most improved recruit left standing is awarded a $25,000 grand prize and bragging rights for their mentor," according to the network.
Coleman said she had one goal for the two-hour premiere which aired on Sunday: making it on to Burrell's or Derry's team. During the episode, the mentors observed the contestants' culinary ineptitude in simple, brief challenges. At show's end, they alternated in selecting team members, eventually sending home two of the 16 contestants. Burrell picked the Louisiana hopeful halfway through her selections.
"Worst Cooks" returns at 7 p.m. Sunday. In the episode, titled "Culinary Cadets," "Chefs Anne Burrell and Tiffany Derry have their mission: culinary basic training! Their pampered recruits have ignored the kitchen for far too long, and it's time to learn the basics. Teams face off to collect the most medals in culinary and physical tasks, and the winning team gets an advantage for the next challenge.
"In the skill drill, Anne and Tiffany task their teams with replicating chicken paillard with salad, and things get spicy when the chefs teach their teams how to make lamb curry. Some recruits can handle the heat, but those who can't must exit the boot camp kitchen," the episode synopsis states.