Joshie Berger, a cast member of Food Network’s “Worst Cooks in America” recently answered a few questions for us about his passion to learn to cook and his favorite meals.
Joshie, 36, from Brooklyn, grew up in an Orthodox Hasidic household and only ate a limited range of Kosher and traditional foods. Now this lawyer has expanded his food options and wants to cook great meals for his girlfriend.
PhoenixBites Interview with Joshie Berger
Photo provided by Food Network
PhoenixBites: Of all your favorite meals, what one dish would you like to learn to master?
Joshie Berger: I’m just a huge chicken fan. Chicken anything makes me happy. But I would love to expand the manner in which I prepare it. I tend to only like paprika and other sharp spices and can’t even fathom anything sweet in there. I would love for that to change and for me to make something so delicious that my taste buds will have to admit that it works, even without spice.
PhoenixBites: Is there a person (chef, home cook, family member, etc.) that has inspired you to sharpen your culinary abilities?
Joshie Berger: My mom is by far the most talented cook I have ever seen. I am so mad at myself for not observing or asking more when I lived at home. She would literally open the fridge, with no game plan in mind, grab some items and whisk up dinner. She could take leftovers and add some things, change some things and wham – something new has been created. I was never able to eat at friends’ houses ‘cause their mother’s cooking always fell short and was abysmal.
PhoenixBites: Any advice you can give to our readers who may be beginners in the kitchen?
Joshie Berger: Do it. Don’t hesitate. Do it. An uncertain cook is a failure before he/she begins. Sure you will probably make many mistakes, but you will learn from them and eventually things will fall into place. You need that pep in your step, that semi-arrogance and the ‘I will own this’ attitude to get the ball rolling.
Set your DVRs! “Worst Cooks in America” airs on Sunday evenings at 9pm ET/PT on Food Network.