Delaware single dad a contestant on 'Worst Cooks in America' on the Food Network

There's no shame in this game: One of the "Worst Cooks in America" lives in Delaware.

Avi Boodram who lives in Christiana, will display his apparent lack of culinary abilities on the Food Network program that begins airing at 8 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 7.

Boodram is one of 16 contestants competing in 'Worst Cooks in America: Spoiled Rotten," a seven-episode series that follows men and women as they go through a culinary "boot camp" led by Food Network chefs Anne Burrell and Tiffany Derry.

Boodram is an investment banker at Morgan Stanley, who has a doctorate in business administration from Wilmington University, according to his LinkedIn profile. The single father of a 7-year-old also owns a barber shop in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

Boodram said he is hoping to bring home skills to make wholesome meals and memories with his son, who recently has become interested in cooking, according to the Food Network.

"I do not cook because I am fairly busy. We typically go out to restaurants. That's our lifestyle. Our kitchen is basically a show kitchen," said Boodram, who usually uses a catering service when hosting events.

Boodram said he was interested in modeling and acting at an early age, but most of his career has been in finance.

When he learned about casting for the TV show, Boodram applied and then went through several interviews and was taped trying to cook a dish. He was selected as a contestant and filming took place in August.

Boodram couldn't share his news until recently. He said he left the TV show knowing much more about cooking than he had known previously.

"I learned some very useful skills. I couldn't even hold a knife before. I learned how to properly how to hold a knife. I learned about temperatures, cooking times, and patience," he said laughing.

"The Worst Cooks in America'' is now in its 27th season. The boot camp features contestants running basic training drills like an army crawl, obstacle course, and calisthenics. Other challenges involve a seafood-inspired game, a farm-themed competition, and a supermarket speedway challenge.

During the two-hour season premiere on Sunday, the recruits create their favorite takeout dish and then try to replicate Chef Burrell and Derry’s take on a steak and potato dinner. Teams are selected, and the two least successful recruits are sent home.

“This season’s 'Worst Cooks' have never had to take care of themselves, and they are hilariously inept in the kitchen,” Betsy Ayala, head of content/food, for Warner Bros. Discovery, owner of the Food Network, said in a prepared statement.  “Anne and Tiffany have their work cut out for them and along the way, the recruits gain independence and confidence along with their cooking skills.”

The most improved recruit left standing is awarded a $25,000 grand prize by judges Matt Abdoo, Adrienne Cheatham and Michael Jenkins.

The season finale is 8 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 4.

Contact Patricia Talorico at ptalorico@delawareonline.com or 302-324-2861 and follow her on X (Twitter) @pattytalorico Sign up for her  Delaware Eats newsletter.

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This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: One of Food Network's 'Worst Cooks in America' is a Delaware dad