FN Dish – Food Network Blog: Go behind-the-scenes at Food Network featuring your favorite chefs, shows, recipes, events and more.

FN Dish is counting down to the season 2 premiere of Rachael vs. Guy: Celebrity Cook-Off by introducing a new celebrity contestant every day. The competition tests the celebrities to see who has the culinary chops to win the title of champion and guarantees a $50,000 donation to the winner’s charity of choice. Watch the premiere on Sunday, January 6, at 9pm/8c and keep coming back to FN Dish for exclusive interviews and behind-the-scenes previews.

Singer, dancer and actress Chilli is best known as one-third of the R&B/hip-hop group TLC, but did you know she doesn’t like to listen to music when she cooks? Get to know Chilli better from her Q&A with FN Dish.

The two words that best describe your cooking style are…
Chilli: Healthy and soulful

What’s your earliest food memory?
C: Watching my Mama cook in her kitchen

What’s the best meal you ever ate?
C: Collard greens, barbecued ox tails and cornbread

Going into Rachael vs. Guy, who did you think was going to be your biggest competition?
C: Dean, absolutely!

Favorite pizza topping?
C: Turkey pepperoni

Who is your favorite food TV personality, past or present?
C: G. Garvin

What food will we never catch you eating?
C: A hog sandwich (or anything related to swine)!

What’s your signature party dish?
C: Baked chicken wings with cumin seasoning

Sweet tooth, salt tooth or both?
C: Salt — it used to be sweet when I was little, but now it’s salt

What kitchen tool can’t you live without?
C: Nonstick spatula

What’s the most surprising thing we’d find in your fridge?
C: Raw, unpasteurized milk

What music do you like to listen to in the kitchen?
C: I don’t listen to music in the kitchen. If I listen to music I will get distracted and it takes away from the cooking.

Chilli is playing for her charity, Chilli’s Crew.

Meet the rest of the celebrities:
Cornelia Guest
Gilbert Gottfried
Dean McDermott
Kathy Najimy
Hines Ward
Carnie Wilson
Johnny Weir