Alina Bolshakova of 'Worst Cooks in America' talks working with Bobby Flay

Credit: Food Network

Perhaps more than any other contestant on the fourth season of Food Network's "Worst Cooks In America", Alina Bolshakova has shown marked improvement as the series has progressed, going from landing in the bottom 2 in the first week, to tying fellow Blue Team contestant Chet as the cook with the most individual challenge wins. Bolshakova, born and raised in Latvia and now living in Los Angeles, has put in a considerable amount of hard work in her transition to American life. Alina would ultimately become a successful caretaker for the elderly, lacking only one significant skill -- the ability to cook.

Compelled by her affection for the elderly father figure for whom she has been caring, Alina joined the cast of "Worst Cooks in America," landing on Chef Bobby Flay's Blue Team. Her goal: to learn the necessary skills to cook wholesome meals for her friends, family and her elderly charges. Alina was as open and good-humored about her time on the show as she was candid about working under the world-renowned Chef Bobby Flay.

I see you have an extensive background in dance and in show business. What made you decide to pursue a career in show business? Was it something you always wanted to do?

You know, actually, I'm Russian, and I feel like once you're born a Russian you're supposed to be a ballerina [laughs]. But I actually was a professionally-trained ballerina back in Latvia. And I got a scholarship to come to America on a full scholarship to a school in ballet, so I guess as far as dancing and acting goes, it's because I was doing it since I was nine years-old. That's where my background in dance comes in, and acting.

How did you deal with the cultural and language barrier when you first came to America?

Oh my gosh, I kind of feel like speaking about, in the first episode, talking about vegetables, how I was describing it with the bush on the end, that's how I spoke English when I came to America. I was drawn into American schools. And I really didn't know any English because, you notice, in America you learn Spanish, it comes in one ear and comes out another. So when I got here, I really would speak with my hands and try to describe what I'm talking about, and in the process, because I was taught only by American people, I picked up English and was able to speak. Culturally, you know, it was interesting, because in America I feel like people smile more and it's sort of like “Wow people are so happy,” but then you're like “Well why are they smiling so much?” At one point it's like, “I'm so glad people are smiling. I'd rather see happy faces than people who are sad, you know, which can happen sometimes in the winter time in Europe.”

I know that the elderly man whom you take care of is one of your primary motivations for doing the show, could you talk a bit about what he's meant to you not just as a person but as a competitor on the show? Has he given you the motivation to improve as much as you have?

He definitely has given me motivation to be on the show and motivation to stay strong because, you know, it gets tough … in the house with a lot of people on your own, and you're really kind of cut-off from the world, in a way. It's given me motivation, because I knew I needed to do it for his health, and I think that was the greatest motivation I ever had to go through this boot camp and to really learn basic necessities in order to learn how to cook.

Credit: Food Network

You were in the bottom 2 in the first week, but have since gone on to tie Chet for the most individual wins. Did you ever expect to improve this much and do this well in the competition?

No. [Laughs] I really did not. You know, I was in the bottom 2 and I'm grateful that it happened, because I got a kick in the butt. Chef Flay told me that, he says, he expects more from me and that he doesn't want to see me in the bottom 2 anymore. And I think those words really kind of put a fire under my feet, and I was like, “You know, this is not a game. This is – even though this is like a show --- this is not a game. This is serious. The chefs take this very serious, everybody is taking it very seriously, because everybody has a stake in why they need to learn how to cook, and I think after that, I just took this very seriously, I started taking notes very thoroughly to be able to do well because I didn't want to be in the bottom 2, I wanted to stay at the boot camp just as long as possible so I could learn more different techniques.

How did you get along with Bobby Flay?

Very well! He's a very kind, patient man, and I think all of us in that blue team really loved Bobby Flay. He was just very great with all of us, very patient, very helpful, and just kind eyes, like very, very awesome.

What new cooking techniques did you learn from him?

Knife skills! And definitely spices, not to be – you know, when I would eat food, even just out, I would always ask “No spices! No pepper, nothing, please. All of it, I don't need it. Salt is good.” But after eating his food, and cooking with his mentorship, I now like some spice in food. I understand it more, and I love adding flavor, because that's what really makes it so much better than food you put in the microwave.

What's it like watching yourself back on TV? Do you feel it's a good representation of who you are in real life?

I mean, it's me. I think, you know, there's so much footage and there's so many people to cover that certain parts of you, you don't see. Like when it was a hamburger challenge … I tried to make sweet potato fries, and I boiled this peanut oil that was so hot that when I put the fries in it, it burned in a second. And the smoke was CRAZY. All of us added some smoke, of course, but that was one of the parts. But mainly, yes, it was a good representation of me, I think. But it's weird, in the different cuts of what they show, you know, it's a sense of opera, but I guess it's not because it's me, you know?

Is there anything interesting that we didn't get to see?

I guess more burning of food [laughs]. You know, singing to the fish on a boat, we did that. Mainly, you see a lot of great stuff on this. The only thing, I guess, is burning my fries. Behind the scenes, how we were in the house, is mostly it, probably. You know, we put a dress on Alex. I did Doctor Bob's hair like Chef Anne's. You know, Chris did drawings of all of us, like caricatures of us, as artists. So I guess the house life is what you don't see that was fun.

Was it ever your intention to make it this far in the competition, or did you just want to learn as much as you could about cooking?

My intention was really just to learn as much about cooking, that was my goal, and that was what I was focused on because I knew the more weeks I stayed there, the more I could learn. For me, it was really crucial to learn so I could cook for Marshall, that's the man I take care of, how to cook better for him because he's a diabetic and a bunch of medical stuff, and I don't want to just keep getting take out because of the sodium and whatever else you want to have in those foods. So it was very critical for me to stay and just learn more and more, as much as I could.

Have you cooked for anyone since being on the show?

Yes, I did! I made -- one of my favorite dishes is Chicken Chasseur to make, and I made it for Marshall. I have made it for my family. And the other day, I decided to make the mignon on which I almost went home on. And it turned out well because I was able to take my time, and not freak out [laughs]. And I made that also for the man I take care of, and he loved it, so I already feel like I have accomplished so much, just by the fact that he eats my food, and I saw him eat it and not throw it away in the garbage can, and I just feel really good.

Credit: Food Network

What was your favorite part about being on the show?

The people were great. The cooking, the learning. I really enjoyed learning, I really, really did. I think Bobby Flay is a great teacher. Just being in his presence, and Chef Anne who is also another incredible teacher, and just trying their food and just really understanding what it's supposed to taste like, you know, not burn stuff like I always did. That was my favorite part, is learning – experimenting. I had room to experiment, I guess, you know, with whether I could do it or not. And that was really fun.

What was your least favorite part about being on the show?

Well, I keep telling my least favorite challenge was hamburger, because I don't eat hamburgers that much, so that was really hard. But my least favorite part? You know, now I guess because I'm home I can't really remember, but I know it was really hard to be away from my family. Just being, kind of, in the same house all the time. Because the competition can be stressful, especially when everybody's in one pot, stirring. But overall, I had an incredible time and an incredible experience, and met some really good people who were fun to hang out with. So it was really nice.

What's next for you?

Continue to learn how to cook. Continue to do that. And provide good healthcare for the man I take care of, and just grow as a person and see where life leads you.