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Little Louross Leaves Hell

partysugar — Thu, 29 May 2008 09:00:20 -0700

On this week's Hell's Kitchen, Louross - the self proclaimed "little Filipino kid who no listens to" - was asked to hang his chef's coat and leave the competition. I was bummed to see Louross go, but looked forward to speaking with the quick chef. Yesterday morning we chatted about Ramsay, Jen, and everything in between. To take a look at our conversation, read more.

PartySugar: How did it feel to be eliminated?
Louross: You know what, I'm bummed. You should be interviewing Jen right now. It was a trip. It didn't hit me until I left through the doors. Petrozza eliminated me. I was kicked off before Mattie, before Jen. Are you serious? I understand why Petrozza did that. It's a competition and he eliminated threat. He played his cards right.

PS: Is Gordon Ramsay really as big of a jerk as he seems?
Louross: No I don't think so. I learned a lot from him. He pushes you for success. Even if he calls you a donkey, it's like he is your parent and he's giving you tough love.

PS: What was the dynamic like between the team when Jen joined?
Louross: The dynamic went down a lot. All of a sudden she was taking charge. You know it's not the Jen show. She was saying so much crap, she was like Ben - all talk. She didn't know what she was talking about. I tried to keep it real, but I knew. Literally, I looked at Bobby and Petrozza and thought she is going to be like poison. I could feel it.
PS: Do you feel like you were a scapegoat?
Louross: Honestly the people that wanted to listen to me and took my advice - Craig, Jason, Matt, Dominic - the reason we got along was because we were in the same room. Bobby and Petrozza were plotting against us. They didn't want to work together as a team. I told them, Ramsay is giving us the answer, he's telling us to work together. The prize is not a solo project, you are going to have to work together with others. So I stuck to my guns and tried to work as a team.

PS: Who are you rooting for?
Louross: Actually, I'm rooting for the girls side - Christina and Corey. Those girls are soldiers at heart. When it comes to the kitchen. Corey and Christina both cook from their heart and know what they are doing. Bobby and Petrozza? They are getting old. Christina and Corey are still young and have a lot going for them.

PS: Would you like to say anything to your fans?
Louross: To my fans: much love and support. I know everyone was pissed off when I left. That decision was like, what the hell? Thank you for your support, and come see me if you want. I'm the chef at my own kitchen. I'm at the Ritz Carlton in Lake Las Vegas at the Galileo Lobby Lounge. I'm making bar food, but you know come on down.

Photos courtesy of Fox.

Out of Hell: Jason Swears He's Not Sexist

partysugar — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 09:57:19 -0700

This week Gordon Ramsay asked Jason to hang up his chef's coat and leave Hell's Kitchen. Jason's obnoxious attitude towards females has bothered me since day one so I wasn't too upset to see him sent home. However, it was incredibly interesting to speak with him after the fact. He felt relieved to be out of Ramsay's hellish kitchen and continues to work at a restaurant off the strip in Vegas. To see what he had to say when we chatted - he swears he's NOT sexist - read more.

PartySugar: How did it feel to be eliminated?
Jason: It felt crappy to be eliminated. It feels good to be out.

PS: Is Gordon really as big of a jerk as he seems?
Jason: It may very well be an act for television, but it sure doesn't feel like it. It's not like the guy is hugging you or shaking your hand after the dinner service. But the prize is worth a lot more. Gordon has to really consider the winner because he will be cooking in his kitchen, not just someone else's restaurant. I think he was harder on us than he was for any other crew. He told us not to look at it as a competition, but to look at is as a real job. That was the worst kitchen I've ever worked in. There is no way I would put up with any of that if it was just a job.

PS: Do you think men are superior to woman?
Jason: Slightly. It's not as bad as they portrayed it on the show. I don't know why everyone has to hate me. People should have taken it as a joke, I was just having fun. It's television. Everyone thinks they know me, but I'm not that bad. I'm sure there are good female chefs out there; it's just that, honestly, I have never run into one in any kitchen.

PS: Why did you give up? What made you want to quit?
Jason: Frustration. I was tired of looking bad. Lack of sleep, I was tired of being tired. There are all these things that happened that you didn't see. I felt relieved to be kicked off. I wouldn't do it again. I was constantly being singled out and really didn't know what I was getting into.

PS: Who are you rooting for?
Jason: As sexist as you think I am, I'm actually rooting for Christina. She seems more professional and quiet than any of the girls. Corey is too stuck on herself. It's girls who act like Corey - girls who use what they got, their bodies - that make guys like me be sexist.

Photos courtesy of Fox.

Out of Hell: Sharon the Barbie Sent Home

partysugar — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 09:55:15 -0700

Sharon - who was affectionately called Barbie by her fellow Hell's Kitchen contestants - was this week's eliminated chef. It was a "first time in Hell's Kitchen history" moment when Ramsay kicked Sharon to the curb because she was not up for elimination. Two other girls - Jen and Christina - were on the chopping block, but since Gordon didn't believe in Sharon or her culinary skills, she was the lucky one sent home. To see what Sharon has to say about her time in Hell's Kitchen, read more.

PartySugar: How did it feel to be eliminated when you weren’t up for elimination? What was it like when Gordon said he didn’t believe in you?
Sharon: I was totally shocked. It felt horrible. My heart just dropped to the floor. I felt like the whole time I was there - just because I wore makeup - he didn't trust me.

PS: Is Gordon really as big of a jerk as he seems?
Sharon: In my opinion, yes. Jesus Christ, when he made that comment about my makeup while we were digging out of the trash, I didn't even have any make up on! We woke up really early in the morning and I didn't have time to put any on. After he said that about Hannibal Lector, I will never stick my tongue out again.

PS: What was it like working in the kitchen? Did you ever really feel like you were in Hell?
Sharon: Yeah, absolutely. It was like boot camp. You're not getting enough sleep, you're not eating healthy, you're working 20 hours a day. It was really hard.

PS: Who are you rooting for?
Sharon: I'm rooting for Louross. I think he's a great cook. He's the only one I would really talk to in the house. Nobody really had any relationships with any of the others. Especially the girls. In all honesty, none of us got along great, none of us liked each other.

PS: Any tips for those applying for Season 5?
Sharon: Be aware of what you are getting into. Those people who don't think we know how to cook should try out. You have to know how to cook and it's really hard. Study your risotto!

Photos courtesy of Fox.

Out of Hell: Dominic the Dad Dishes

partysugar — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 09:57:51 -0700

On the premiere episode of Hell's Kitchen, Dominic, the stay-at-home dad from South Carolina, was sent home. I had the chance to speak with him over the phone yesterday and I learned that he does indeed know how to cook scallops and was completely fooled by Gordon's disguise.

Although it might not seem like it from the first episode - which was full of stumbles, spills, and kitchen mishaps - according to Dominic, ALL of the contestants have had experience working in a kitchen. To see what else Dominic had to say about being the first contestant kicked out of the kitchen, read more.

PartySugar: How did it feel to be the first eliminated contestant? Were you surprised to hear your name? Dominic: It was a real heartbreaker and caught me totally by surprise. I didn't think Gordon really had any problems with my work in the kitchen. Maybe he saw something he didn't like in me. I know how to make the scallops, it was really a matter of bad timing. My scallops would be perfectly cooked, but the risotto wasn't ready. And I thought I was safe. I thought I had proven myself by not making a dish that was thrown out or thrown up.

PS: Is Gordon really as big of a jerk as he seems?
Dominic: Well I wish I had more time to get to know him. I really respect his work, I consider him one of the world's greatest culinary artists of the 20th century. He is really passionate about his kitchen and his passion comes out in an aggressive way. He cooks with one F-word and I cook with three different F-words: faith, family, and food.

PS: What was it like working in the kitchen? Did you ever really feel like you were in Hell?
Dominic: Being in Hell's Kitchen was like a baptism of fire. It'd been so long since I was in a kitchen, it was really hard. I had forgotten about how important the timing is in a kitchen.

PS: How come none of the men knew what was on the menu? How could anyone possibly expect to control the kitchen when they don’t know what is on the menu?
Dominic: The blue team really dropped the ball on that one. Anybody from our team could have been put to the chopping block. Our big problem was that we didn't prepare properly. It took too long to pick a leader. We should've taken more time to learn the menu and know what we were preparing.

PS: What’s next for you? Will you continue to be a stay-at-home dad or will you go back to work in a kitchen?
Dominic: Well I made a choice ten years ago to be a stay-at-home dad and I'll continue to do it. I have also started a catering and cooking school company called Dominic's Delights.

Photo courtesy of Fox.

Like a Gentleman, the 4-Star General Leaves Hell

partysugar — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 09:15:13 -0700

I was a little bummed to see Bobby, the self proclaimed "4-Star General," booted from this week's Hell's Kitchen. I'm sick of Jen and would have enjoyed another episode with Bobby. When I spoke to him yesterday his cheerful, gentlemanly manner surprised me. Although he's currently working as the head chef of a grocery store in Buffalo, NY, Bobby is interested in making more television appearances. He had a lot to say about the experience - to hear his eloquent words about Gordon Ramsay - read more.

PartySugar: How did it feel to be eliminated?
Bobby: Of course I didn't want to be eliminated. But I feel great. Am I bummed? No. In the moment I was a little shocked, I was certain he was going to say Jen and that I would step back into the line with the others. When I heard him say Gen - as in General - it took me a minute. It didn't register until he said, "Big boy, give me your coat."

PS: Is Gordon Ramsay really as big of a jerk as he seems?
Bobby: No, no, no, no. When you meet Gordon he is like the pope. He gives off a great energy. He's really friendly and genuine. He's not an I-earned-30-million -last-year type of guy. The way he is in the kitchen, it has nothing to do with you personally. It's like he is the governor of food and he believes food has rights. One of the things he bills for is food served the right, best way.
PS: What was it like working in the kitchen? Did you ever really feel like you were in Hell?
Bobby: They don't call it Hell's Kitchen for nothing. It was definitely hell. Working there took me to a place in my life that I've never been.

PS: Is there anything that you would have done differently?
Bobby: No I would not have done anything differently. I walked in as a 4-Star General and I left as a 4-Star General. I didn't have to backstab anyone or plot against anyone to get as far as I did.

PS: Who are you rooting for?
Bobby: I've sat back and watched all of the episodes and I didn't backstab anyone. I'm rooting for Petrozza. He has a heart and is the one person who gave me a sanctuary everyday. I really connected with Ben and Petrozza. Those are the kind of guys I would hire to work in my kitchen. Christina is an honest girl. I could even work with Mattie, there's a place for him in my kitchen always. I can't work with Corey, Jen, or Craig.

Photos courtesy of Fox.

Christina on Her Hell's Kitchen Win

partysugar — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 09:15:41 -0700

Yesterday I spoke with Christina, the young culinary school graduate from the Midwest, who won this season's Hell's Kitchen. Elated about her win and eager to get started at Gordon Ramsay's Los Angeles restaurant, Christina was bubbly and confident. She's kept in touch with Vanessa, but isn't friendly with runner-up Petrozza. To see what she had to say and find out what her real job title at the London will be, read more.

PartySugar: How did it feel to be the winner?
Christina: It feels really good. I've known for a long time now. When I won it was so strange, at that moment I couldn't think anything. I have no idea what Chef Ramsay said to me. I can't remember anything except thinking, don't fall down the steps.

PartySugar: Why did you win?
Christina: The thing about the competition is that at some point you see the worst and best of everyone. Gordon said I won because of my potential, but I think I won because of a combination of things. My ability to deal with stress, my quick wit, and my potential are all reasons why I won.

PartySugar: What was it like when you went back to culinary school, but couldn't tell anyone about the win and your experience?
Christina: That was horrible. Being on the show I was constantly challenged. To go back to culinary school was really hard. It wasn't exciting and I didn't feel challenged. The hardest thing about the show was not being able to rely on the formulas, recipes, and time frames they spend so much time teaching at culinary school. On the show you had to constantly create things off the top of your head. It only became easier when I realized I could do this without a recipe.
PartySugar: Have you started working at the London yet?
Christina: I haven't started there yet, I hope I do soon. Right now I am doing things like this, appearances in public. After graduating from culinary school I was working in a restaurant, but I quit my job on Tuesday. I'm getting everything in order to move. I haven't had a detailed meeting with the staff to know exactly what I will be doing at the London, but I do know my title is "Senior Chef."

PartySugar: What is it like to be a female in the kitchen?
Christina: I think a lot of the things you hear about being a female in the kitchen are not true. I don't think of it like it's hard and "boo-hoo, I'm a female in the kitchen I'm treated differently," females are treated differently in a lot of ways. Being a female in the kitchen gives me strength. Women are amazing multitaskers and it's beautiful to see a woman in that role.

PartySugar: On a previous episode of HK Ramsay said, "Nice girls don't make great chefs." Do you consider yourself a nice girl?
Christina: I don't think so. I come across sweet, I'm from the Midwest, but I'm mean as sh*t. Maybe I'm nicer than Ramsay is when he's in the kitchen, but I don't consider myself nice or mean. I consider myself fair.

Photos courtesy of Fox.

Always a Gentleman, Petrozza Bows Out Gracefully

partysugar — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 09:00:26 -0700

Many of you were disappointed by the outcome of the Hell's Kitchen season finale. Gordon Ramsay chose the young, inexperienced blonde over the seasoned, bearded male. I wasn't surprised by his decision, but I was bummed for Petrozza. Over the course of the fifteen episodes, he's the one character who I actually admired and enjoyed. Yesterday morning I spoke with the optimistic caterer, who chatted with me while he sat on his front porch nursing a soda. To see what he had to say, read more.

PartySugar: How did it feel to be the last person eliminated?
Petrozza: You know what, I feel happy and a little tired. Would I have rather won? Yeah, I would be lying if I didn't say I wanted to win. I'm accepting it. I like where I am. I love my job and my family. There are a lot of awesome opportunities out there for me and I'll find something interesting to do.
PartySugar: What was it like working for Ramsay?
Petrozza: At the beginning, working for Gordon sucked. I can understand how the people who got kicked off early would have nothing nice to say. They probably see him as a butthead in the kitchen. But, once you know the guy and you know yourself, you see he is a decent person. He's not a total moron, you get to appreciate him. He's a cool guy, with a big heart. He's a maniac in the kitchen, but he's a good man.

PartySugar: At the end of the episode, Ramsay grabbed you and said something. What did he tell you?
Petrozza: He said, "it's going to be okay Petrozza" and I said, "I'm okay, I'm okay." I was happy to be done with the challenge of HK. I ran with the pack and ended up out in front, right behind the winner. It sucks a little, but I'm very happy with the people I met along the way. Everybody was super cool and super nice to me.

PartySugar: Is there anything you would have done differently?
Petrozza: They didn't show it on last night's episode, but I would have cooked my ducks less. I would have done the lobster strudel differently. I would have not had Jen on that station, although I think she would have screwed me wherever she was. Not consciously, but she can't change herself, she can't help herself. I'm not using her as an excuse to why I didn't win. But I'm happy, being on HK gave me more confidence. My style of cooking has taken a little bit of a turn. Now I'm more adventurous when pairing foods. I learned that what's good for the soul is good for the heart and good for the career.

PartySugar: A lot of people think you have a great heart. What's your response to this?
Petrozza: I'm very fortunate. I have a good family, good parents, good people around me all the time. I'm blessed to be thought of in that way. Hopefully I showed everyone that you don't have to be a backstabber, you don't have to be sneaky to get far in the game.

Photos courtesy of Fox.

"Nice" Girl Corey Couldn't Cut it in the Kitchen

partysugar — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 08:01:05 -0700

While she may not be celebrating a Hell's Kitchen win anytime soon, this week's booted contestant, Corey, is celebrating something: her recent wedding! Corey was in good spirits yesterday when we spoke over the phone. She's enjoying her time out of the kitchen free-lancing and hopes to someday have a cooking travel show. To see what she has to say about HK, Gordon Ramsay, and her fellow contestants, read more.

PartySugar: How did it feel to be eliminated?
Corey: It didn't feel fabulous, but I felt like he made the right choice. Christina had her heart in the right place, she's ready for that next step, and she played the game while staying true to herself. Petrozza is the same, you know, he had his heart in the right place too.

PartySugar: What was it like working in the Kitchen? Did you ever really feel like you were in Hell?
Corey: Yeah, it was beyond Hell. It was like a living nightmare for four weeks. It's such an intense experience. There's an intense pressure when you are all living in a house together, you know sharing a bathroom with Bobby. You have to do interviews every five minutes and you walk into the kitchen and Chef is there waiting to tell you the next challenge.

PartySugar: Who are you rooting for?
Corey: I'm rooting for both of them, but I think Christina will end up winning. She's young, she's just out of culinary school. You know it's not that Petrozza is a bad cook but he's a 50 year old man who's sloppy in the kitchen. I don't really think that's the image Ramsay wants send to the world with his executive chef. Christina is moldable, fresh and Ramsay can create something out of her.
PartySugar: Do you think being sneaky and strategic helped you make it to the final three?
Corey: Not at all. See? That's how they edited it to look, but I didn't go in thinking strategy. It doesn't matter if you do think like that, Chef Ramsay puts his own spin on everything and he's not going to ignore it if you can't cook. Without my talent I couldn't have almost made it to the top two.

PartySugar: You talked a lot about being able to seduce men, how do you think your husband felt when he was watching you use your body/image to get ahead?
Corey: When I see that [laughs] that was editing. My husband doesn't like it because he is Columbian. It was a TV show, they have to edit it to make it entertaining. What Louross and I had was a friendship. I was just being funny, being myself when I was in the hot tub. They portrayed it in a different way than it was.

PartySugar: At the end of last night's episode, Ramsay said, "nice girls don't make great chefs," do you agree?
Corey: I don't know. I thought that statement was funny because I don't really think I was that much of a nice girl on the show. I wasn't all that nice. You can't be a nice person and be afraid to be mean if you are chef. I think what Ramsay was referring to was being emotional. Sometimes I would get upset and let my emotions be involved in what I was doing, but as a chef you can't let that happen.

Photos courtesy of Fox.

Jen and Her Attitude Have Left the Kitchen

partysugar — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 09:00:59 -0700

There's no denying that Jen was portrayed as the villain on this season's Hell's Kitchen. The energetic young chef wasn't afraid to lie and cheat to get to the top, and was vehemently disliked by her competitors. I was relieved to see her go, but I wasn't excited to interview her. However, it was interesting to hear what she had to say. An optimistic Jen knows she's hated and she's perfectly okay with it. To find out what happened when we spoke yesterday, read more.

PartySugar: How did it feel to be eliminated?
Jen: Ah, I'm sorry about it. But when one door closes another one opens. I have a lot on my plate right now. There are a lot of things in the works. I'm absolutely definitely doing stuff that's food related. I'm in talks to appear on upcoming television shows, I'll be at Taste of Chicago. I'm in talks to open an upscale martini bar and grill. I'm taking full advantage of all the culinary opportunities that arise.
PS: Who are you rooting for?
Jen: Now that I'm off the show, I'm not rooting for anyone. I think chef Ramsay himself should just be in charge of his restaurant. I think he should get rid of the whole lot of them. I don't even want to watch anymore. Now that I'm gone there is no one to laugh at.

PS: Did you write Christina's name twice?
Jen: Yeah, I wrote her name twice. I didn't care, I knew they were going to gang up on me. That meant I was a good, strong chef. If I was a crappy chef than they would've wanted me around so they could beat me. They knew I was an awesome cook, so they had to say I had an attitude problem. They had to get me off some how so they said, "it's her attitude."

PS: Have you worked on your attitude problem?
Jen: No, I don't have an attitude problem. Some stuff I said was meant to be funny. But I know I'm a sore loser. I would like to apologize for being mean to Louross though. I would forget the cameras were around. I was just doing the same thing Gordon Ramsay was doing, being tough on my teammates. When he does it, everyone is ok with it. But when I do it, everyone says I'm mean. They call me evil, a bully, but you know it's just the same thing.

PS: Do you have a heart?
Jen: Everyone who knows Jennifer, not Jen from Hell's Kitchen, knows I'm very fun loving. I have a heart and a big personality. I have a lot of fans that contact me. They understand that it was a competition and I did what I had to do when I wanted to win. My fans see through the reality and realize I'm a funny character. But, you know, I know. Last night in America hundreds of Champagne bottles were popped by all the people who hate me and who were glad to see me go. Everyone needs someone they love to hate, and I'm fine with being that person. My haters are motivators, they motivate me to be a better person.

Photos courtesy of Fox.

Mattie Out of Hell, But Working As an Executive Chef

partysugar — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 14:15:56 -0700

Although he didn't score the job at Ramsay's up and coming restaurant in LA, Matt - the latest cheftestant to be kicked off of Hell's Kitchen - recently started a position as executive chef of Pizzicato in New Jersey. When I spoke with Matt yesterday he was in good spirits and happily expressed his feelings towards the HK experience. To see what the chef - whose now rooting for Bobby or Jen to win HK - had to say, read more.

PartySugar: How did it feel to be eliminated?
Matt: It felt great! No, seriously I was hoping I would go farther, but I accomplished what I wanted to accomplish. I went there to have the experience, to work with Chef Ramsay and that's what I did.

PS: Is Gordon Ramsay really as big of a jerk as he seems?
Matt: I have nothing but respect for Chef Ramsay.

PS: Why did you decide to go on the show in the first place?
Matt: I needed someone else other than my wife yelling at me.

PS: Ramsay was shocked by your interesting flavor combinations, where did you come up with them?
Matt: I've learned a lot from my mentor Chef Keith Mitchell. I learned all about flavors from him. You know I didn't do anything disgusting. I've done that dish after the show and people have liked it. It really is just a raw scallop with a little shaving of white chocolate. A lot of chefs became successful for being adventurous.

PS: Did you prefer working on the all-girl or all-boy team?
Matt: I got along with both teams. One girl on the girl's team - Corey is a manipulative bitch - but you know when it came to the dinner service the girls put everything aside and really worked as a team. I liked Bobby and some of the guys, but the girls were more professional.

PS: How did you feel when everyone started calling you Mattie? Is that a nickname you chose for yourself?
Matt: Ben started it. Ben is not that normal. I liked Ben, but I didn't realize he was a backstabber and was planning on kicking me off. I didn't really mind it [the name Mattie], no not really. My dad called me Mattie when I was little. I get called worst things by my best friend.

Photos courtesy of Fox.