Hell’s Kitchen Season 8 Finale: Nona Wins!

Chef Ramsay names winner Hell's Kitchen season 8Image by Getty Images via @daylife

After one of the strangest seasons of Hell’s Kitchen, it all came down to tonight. A battle between Nona and Russell for the head chef job at LA Market and $250,000. The season 8 Hell’s Kitchen finale seemed to go by quickly, and when the dust settled Nona’s door handle turned revealing her as the winner. Russell looked pretty devastated, but I’m sure his ego quickly boosted him back up.

The first challenge of the night was a psyche out by Chef Ramsay. Both Nona and Russell were loaded onto a helicopter and flown into downtown LA to meet Chef Ramsay. On the top of a building where chopper landed he told the two they would be free falling off the side. Russell began to look for a quick exit and told Chef Ramsay that he was having issues with this challenge (“I need toilet paper... I just ****** my pants!”). Nona, on the other hand, had to be pulled back from the building’s edge as she prepared to do whatever was asked of her. This blind ambition may have sealed the deal for her Hell's Kitchen win.

Hell's Kitchen Season 8: Gail Wins & Loses

After sassy Sabrina tried to mow Gail down last week she managed to bounce back in the final five of Hell's Kitchen season 8. The bounce only lasted for the reward challenge though. By the end of dinner service Gail was ready to vote herself out. Chef Ramsay did it for her. Poor Gail, from hero to zero in one episode of Hell's Kitchen.

Here's a quick recap, or scroll down to watch the Hell's Kitchen videos.

Russell, Nona, Jillian, Trev and Gail had to make a signature dish to serve at a "power lunch". They went to get ingredients, and then were told the lunch would be prepared and served from food trucks in a parking lot. It would not affect most of the chefs, but one would have trouble with the ambiance.

Hell’s Kitchen: Emily and Melissa Get the Boot

Gordon RamsayImage by Getty Images via @daylife

After two more nearly disastrous dinner services in Hell’s Kitchen season 8, two more female chefs hit the streets (fresh off the boot toe of Gordon Ramsay). Emily bit the dust first, and showed as much emotion as stink bug in September. Melissa followed in the second hour after showing she would cost a restaurant owner a ton of money in spoilage.

Speaking of spoilage, ghetto talker Sabrina continues to hang on for dear life in Hell’s Kitchen. In fact at one point Chef Ramsay declared her “the best of the worst”. Sabrina accepted the praise like he had declared her the winner of Hell’s Kitchen season 8. Not quite, Missy.

The first hour involved hosting a prom for Beverly Hills High School. The three kids on the prom committee were in charge of taste testing the entrees and apps to be served at the prom dinner. These aren’t your ordinary high school kids, as was proven by their food selections. Seared tuna and fusion food were at the top of the list. No burgers or fries for these kids.

Hell's Kitchen 2010: Holli Takes Home the Big Job

In what was at least edited to appear as an upset, Holli Ugalde won Hell's Kitchen Season 7. Blue haired Jay appeared to be in a confident and commanding lead after winning the opening reward challenge. Holli held her own in her kitchen with a more complex menu and a less than adequate crew.

Holli wins $250,000 and a post as head chef at the Savoy Grill in London. A big job for any chef, I hope it works out for her.

You can watch the entire *bleepin* episode here:
Hell's Kitchen Season 7 Finale Video




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Hell's Kitchen 2010: The Final Four

We are finally down to the final four chefs on Hell's Kitchen 2010. Chef Gordon Ramsay could have easily cut the cast to the final two last week, but stretched things for a little extra cussing and drama. The final four are: Jay, Holli, Ben and Autumn.

Ben and Autumn should have been cut last week if what we saw on TV was anything close to what really happened. Autumn continues to fumble through the kitchen and "helping" other chefs, and usually earning a stiff reprimand from Ramsay (of course Autumn never takes responsibility for her mistakes so Ramsay is screaming to the wind).

Ben, on the other hand, started out leading Hell's Kitchen with Jay. His lack of communication and utter disdain for the other cooks has left him at the bottom with Autumn. Both are circling the drain.

Hopefully Chef Ramsay will name blue haired Jay (ick) and Holli as the final two contestants next week on Hell's Kitchen. Then they will rejoin teams of evicted chefs and the drama will start again for the finale.

Hell's Kitchen: Nilka's Meltdown Leaves Her Out of the Final 6

It was another night of meltdowns on Hell's Kitchen. Some by Chef Ramsay, most by the contestants. The biggest one of the night turned into a full blown temper tantrum, and surprisingly was not thrown by Ramsay.

With Fran finally gone and Autumn back in the red kitchen all was rainbows and unicorns. Well almost. The red team did manage to finally win a challenge, no thanks to Ben. The man who would be king had his own issues in the red kitchen. Every thing Ben touched turned to crap in Hell's Kitchen last night.

Holli became the quiet underdog of the season when Chef Ramsay chose her dish as the best of the reward challenge. It also earned her a ticket to the dining room during service so she was spared the tantrum.

The blue team freaked out when the three of them did not get both kitchens prepped in time for service. There was no way it could be done along with punishment. Luckily the teams were merged for dinner service.

Hell's KItchen: Chef Ramsay Is the Fran Exterminator

Tonight started like any other night in Hell's Kitchen: screaming, yelling, no team work or coordination. Ben has taken complete control of the women on the red team, or so he thinks. Jay is happy as a lark that Ben is having issues.

Autumn had a major meltdown on the blue team... again. Chef Ramsay is still backing her for some reason. It appears she has all but given up on winning Hell's Kitchen. The men are overpowering her in cooking skills and aggressiveness.

Fran continued her downward spiral in the red kitchen. At one point she was overheard saying, "...send me home". She was called back to the store room for a conference with Chef Ramsay (ass chewing proceeded). His entire point to her, and everyone, is "Don't give up!"

After yet another horrible dinner service Chef Ramsay declared there was no winner and both teams would need to nominate players for elimination.

Hell's Kitchen Season 6: Season Finale 10/13/2009

Dave Wins Hell's Kitchen Season 6

Tonight was the two hour season 6 finale of Hell's Kitchen. The final three to do battle: Kevin, Dave and Ariel. The prize: $250,000 and head chef position at Iraxi (Gordon Ramsay's newest elite restaurant) in Whistler, British Columbia.

Kevin has been my hands down favorite for professionalism throughout the season. He just seems to know how to operate a kitchen. Dave has surprised me with his ability to come up with extravagant dishes in Hell's Kitchen reward challenges. Ariel... I thought she was stronger in the beginning. I don't think she will make it to the final hour.

Hell's Kitchen started with the reward challenge. Each chef had to prepare a dish from a country they chose blindly. Ariel drew Chinese, Dave drew Indian and Kevin drew Mexican.

The chefs had 45 minutes to present a unique main course for Chef Ramsay and three guests: Vikas Kharman, Thomas Ortega and Eddie Wong. All premier chefs.

Ariel presented her Chinese duck w/noodle and sauce first. It did not go over well as the sauce was "too watery". It even looked watery on the plate so it did not present well.

Kevin forgot the sauce to his Mexican dish, but still got high praise for flavor.

Dave was scared from the start of the challenge, having never cooked Indian food. He apologized for before he served, never a good sign. Dave explained that he thought India worshiped cows so he chose a pork dish. He was quickly corrected; pork is not a good meal for Muslims. He should have chosen chicken or seafood. Well, it did not matter. Dave won on flavor... and what else really counts in a food competition.

Dave won a set of Dinour cookware and lunch from the top chefs. He also got to eat with his fiance and sister.

The final three dinner service had the finalists each taking a turn at the pass. Working in place of Chef Ramsay in the position they would hold in the Iraxi restaurant.

Kevin took over first. He showed a laid back style and it nearly bit him in the ass. Ariel had trouble with her apps... he got his payback later. Kevin passed all of his quality control tests.

Dave took over at the pass and got things off to an obnoxious start. Screaming and kicking like a Ramsay mini-me. Things got tense, but food started moving. Dave missed his first two quality control tests. He bounced back with an easier one, and I think it showed that Chef Ramsay was more likely to choose Dave to win. Ramsay took him outside the kitchen to chastise him in a more private way.

Ariel took the reigns and Kevin basically went on break. He completely forgot how to cook scallops.... seriously? Kevin completely stalled the kitchen and there was just not a thing to do. Ariel did not kick and scream and that likely cost her the Hell's Kitchen competition.

It was an easy choice for Chef Ramsay: Kevin and Dave move into the Hell's Kitchen season 6 finale. Ariel was allowed to keep her jacket and Ramsay had nothing but good things to say about her.

In the second and final hour of Hell's Kitchen season 6, Dave really started to shine. He had been the hard worker throughout the season, but Kevin had shown more originality in dishes. Originality doesn't matter if the taste is not there.

They dropped the whole 'design your dream restaurant', which was stupid anyway. Now the final 2 chefs competed in a taste test for a reward.

Dave made a venison dish with vegetable puree.

Kevin made lobster (something fishy about Kevin).

Dave won the final taste test judged by five well known (in the chef world) executives and food critics. Of course they made it a 2-2 tie with the final vote deciding it, but I think all five judges wanted Dave's dish.

So it all came down to the final night's service in Hell's Kitchen. Each finalist making their own menu.

Dave kept things simple: Dave's menu (I'll post links as soon as they become available)

Kevin kept things artsy (and guess what, fishy!): Kevin's menu

Teams of previous cast members were chosen.

Dave: Ariel, Robert, Suzanne
Kevin: Van, Amanda, Sabrina

Dave had an aggressive start and only a few missteps by Robert. Food was flying out.

Kevin had an abysmal start with Amanda having a complete meltdown over scallops. She was chosen for her strength in fish cooking...oops! Finally Van came to the rescue, of all people. Van would make an impressive chef behind a strong head chef. He pulled the whole kitchen together like a pro.

The final was a pretty easy call. Not much was mentioned by Chef Ramsay about the 'taste' vote from the diners. He did say it was the closest call in Hell's Kitchen history (imagine that). In the end, Dave's door opened.

Congratulations Dave!

*Best part of the Hell's Kitchen finale was the end... cut outs of Gordon Ramsay saying "I ain't no bitch" at various times throughout the competition. It was hilarious!

Hell's Kitchen Season 6: Chef Ramsay Cuts the Staff to Final 3

Tonight Chef Gordan Ramsay brought us one step closer to the season 6 finale of Hell's Kitchen. After yet another poor dinner performance, Tennille became the latest victim of Ramsay's hatchet. I was a little surprised at Tennille's elimination from Hell's Kitchen. It was definitely the correct decision by Ramsay, but I thought Tennille would do better during service.

The reward challenge was preparing a vegetarian dish.... the chefs did not know (though they should have) that they were cooking for kids. Kevin was in trouble immediately with his beet dish. Kids + beets = ick.

Tennille won the reward challenge overwhelmingly with a pureed vegetable dish. There ya go, puree veggies for the kids, winner every time!

My pick is still Kevin to win Hell's Kitchen season 6. Dave is just annoying to me. I know Dave has not made many mistakes and is working with one arm. I also think Chef Ramsay is taking that into account and not screaming at Dave as much. Kevin seems much more mature, and able to handle the stresses of running a major kitchen.

I'll post the Hell's Kitchen Episode 13 videos here as soon as they are available.