Food Network's 'Worst Cooks in America' to feature Greece woman

Louisa "Lou" Tocquie grew up nourished by her grandmother's traditional West African cooking — dishes like jollof rice, fufu, egusi stew and cassava leaf soup. She would help out in the kitchen if she had to, but was much more interested in spending her time participating in theater and music.

That all changed when she received a message on Instagram from a producer who was casting a show on Food Network. After doing some research to make sure it wasn't a scam, she decided to take the leap.

At 8 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 6, Tocquie will appear in the premiere of "Worst Cooks in America: Love at First Bite" on Food Network. Celebrity chefs Anne Burrell and Jeff Mauro will lead teams of cooking-challenged singles through a culinary boot camp to learn how to make date-friendly dishes like sushi, spicy wontons and French pastries. At the end of the eight-episode series, the most improved team member will win $25,000.

Toquie, 25, was born on the Ivory Coast and subsequently emigrated with her family to Liberia. She lived in a refugee camp until, at age 6, she and her grandmother came to Rochester in 2004. Most of her family, including her parents, remain in Liberia. "I'm closely connected to my heritage and my family," she said.

A graduate of Greece Athena High School, she now works as a home health aide and lives near her grandmother in Greece.

Toquie traveled to Long Island to participate in the series, and said the experience exceeded her expectations. "Everybody was genuinely so kind," she said.

The contestants were required to prepare dishes as the allotted time counted down on a large screen with bold red numbers, with time reminders shouted out periodically. "The time was one of the most nerve-racking thing I've ever experienced," she said. But she learned how to be organized throughout the cooking process.

She now enjoys cooking for herself and others. "I left with a passion of my own. I left with a new level of love for cooking," she said.

On most Sundays you'll find her grocery shopping, hanging out and cooking in the kitchen with her grandmother. "She's incredibly proud," Toquie said. "She's just as mystified as me."

This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Food Network show 'Worst Cooks in America' to feature Greece NY woman