Hell's Kitchen Season 9 aired July 18 to September 19 2011,there were 18 contestants.
The prize for the winner was a Head Chef position at BLT Steak in New York City, New York.
In this season, Gordon Ramsay was judge, James Lukanik was Maître d', Andi van Willigan was sous chef for the red team and Scott Leibfried was sous chef for the blue team.
Find out what the Hell's Kitchen Season 9 contestants did next after appearing on Hell's Kitchen with Gordon Ramsay. Hell's Kitchen Season 9 where are they now?
Amanda Colello was a Personal Chef from Sun City, California. She was eliminated in Hell's Kitchen Season 9 episode 3 due to her lack of fight in the competition.
After Hell's Kitchen, Amanda is a Private Chef and consultant after being Head chef of Fiore Steak and Seafood.
She has done a number of cookery events, charity fundraisers and has taken part in Reality Rally since 2012. In November 2019 she appeared on Chopped.
Brendan Heavey was a Head Chef from Hoboken, New Jersey. He was eliminated in Hell's Kitchen Season 9 episode 2 for his poor performance and his ego.
After Hell's Kitchen, Brendan was head chef at Irish Exit before he returned to college and graduated with a Masters of Business Administration.
Carrie Keep was a Pantry Chef from Dallas, Texas. She was eliminated in Hell's Kitchen Season 9 episode 10 due to her lack of experience but Gordon praised her for her ambition.
After Hell's Kitchen, Carrie took a break from the kitchen and is now a Pilates instructor.
Chino Chang was an Executive Chef from Hatboro, Pennsylvania. He was eliminated in Hell's Kitchen Season 9 episode 4 for his consistently poor services.
After Hell's Kitchen, Chino worked at Redstone American Grill.
Elise Wims was a Line Cook from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She was eliminated in Hell's Kitchen Season 9 episode 15 but was praised for her resilience and allowed her to keep her jacket.
After Hell's Kitchen, Elise started her own catering/consultancy/food demonstration business The Diva Chef and her own fitness prepackaged food company.
Elizabeth Bianchi was a Line Cook from New York City. She was eliminated in Hell's Kitchen Season 9 episode 12 as Gordon felt she wasn't ready to lead a kitchen.
After Hell's Kitchen, Elizabeth returned to the kitchen and is a Chef at the Union League Club and regularly appeared in cookery segments on Good Morning New York.
Gina Melcher was a Restaurant Consultant from Cape May, New Jersey. She was eliminated in Hell's Kitchen Season 9 episode 5 due to her deteriorating performances, failure to communicate and her lack of fight for her place in the competition.
After Hell's Kitchen, Gina returned to her career as a restaurant consultant and is currently a chef at Morimoto Maui.
Jamie Gregorich was a Sous Chef from Bradenton, Florida. She was eliminated in Hell's Kitchen Season 9 episode 9 due to her lack of fight to win.
After Hell's Kitchen, Jamie returned to her previous career as a culinary instructor at Manatee Technical College.
Jason Zepaltas was a Line Cook from Chicago, Illinois. He left in Hell's Kitchen Season 9 episode 1 after becoming short of breath and being rushed to hospital.
After Hell's Kitchen, Jason returned to the kitchen at Real Kitchen and other restaurants before returning for a later season of Hell's Kitchen.
Jennifer Normant was a Chef de Cuisine from Boston, Massachusetts. She was eliminated in Hell's Kitchen Season 9 episode 14 for her worsening performances but Gordon praised her heart.
After Hell's Kitchen, Jennifer was Executive Chef at Beacon Grille, Kings and is currently Executive Chef at Sea Level Oyster Bar.
Jonathon Plumley was a Head Cook from Memphis, Tennessee. He was eliminated in Hell's Kitchen Season 9 episode 8 due to his poor communication and performances and refusing to accept blame.
After Hell's Kitchen, Jonathon became a travelling Culinary Consultant. Jonathon sadly passed away in February 2022, aged 45.
Krupa Patel was a Private Cook from Queens, New York. She was eliminated in Hell's Kitchen Season 9 episode 7 for her deteriorating performances but praised her heart.
After Hell's Kitchen, Krupa returned to her previous career as a Private Chef and is Executive Chef/Owner at Chef Kru Catering.
Monterray Keys was a Line Cook from Darby, Pennsylvania. He was eliminated in Hell's Kitchen Season 9 episode 6 due to his inconsistent performances but was praised for his effort.
After Hell's Kitchen, Monterray became a Private Chef and Owner of Keys To Catering.
Natalie Blake was a Sous Chef from Harrodsburg, Kentucky. She was eliminated in Hell's Kitchen Season 9 episode 11 for her deteriorating performances but praised her energy.
After Hell's Kitchen, Natalie was Executive Chef at Aramark Refreshment Services and later Head Chef at The Jax, which has since closed. She is currently Executive Chef at Adega restaurant.
Paul Niedermann was a Sous Chef from Davie, Florida. Paul was the Hell's Kitchen Season 9 winner due to his passion and determination and he dedicated the win to his mother who had passed away a few months prior.
After Hell's Kitchen, Paul went to work at BLT Steak but not as Head Chef. He left to become Executive Chef at Hudson at Waterway East and was later Exeucitve Chef at Racks Restaurant Management Group.
Paul is currently Corporate Executive Chef at SALT7.
Steven Paluba was a Chef from Ridge, New York. He was eliminated in Hell's Kitchen Season 9 episode 1 for having the worst performance of the service.
After Hell's Kitchen, Steven opened his own restaurant Tauk at Trails End and has very good reviews and runs Wave Crave food truck.
Tommy Stevens was a Line Cook from Brewster, New York. He was eliminated in Hell's Kitchen Season 9 episode 15 but was praised by Gordon for his passion and energy in the kitchen.
After Hell's Kitchen, Tommy cooked at Ancient Mariner, appeared on Cutthroat Kitchen and now is owner and Executive Chef at Iron & Wine Restaurant.
Will Lustberg was a Sous Chef from Jersey City, New Jersey. He was the Hell's Kitchen season 9 runner up, losing out to Paul and took his defeat graciously.
After Hell's Kitchen, Will returned to work at The Waldorf Astoria before moving on to work at The Princeton Club of New York. He later became Former Culinary Specialist at Hudson Table and is currently Executive Sous Chef at Highgate Hotels.
Elise is a horrible, selfish person. So glad she didn't win this season.
ReplyDeleteI agree. I stopped watching the show when Elise got the black jacket. I had watched the show's first runs on tv then stopped watching at some point. When I ran into it on Amazon I could not remember why I stopped watching, so I started at the beginning season. Season eight's Sabrina irritated me so much I threatened to stop watching, but Elise was over the top. Watching streaming episodes reminded me why I stopped watching. I stopped watching season nine when Elise got the black jacket.
DeleteI totally agree, her smugness and the fact that she literally got in everyone's face just got to me. I did not stop watching though because I relish the moment where the horrible people get put in their place and kicked out.
DeleteThey needed Elise for the drama, that's it.
DeleteI have to encourage myself to keep watching until she FINALLY gets kicked off and when she does i swear I will jump up and down! She and Sabrina were why i stopped watching too. It annoys me when the worst cooks or worst people are kept on for drama's sake only and then praised.
DeleteI swear that Gordon kept her on the show JUST because of the drama she created. From the first elimination votes, I was wishing that Elise would be the one kicked off, even over chefs that had way worse services. She was soooo much worse than Sabrina (I was totally thrilled when she got booted). And the faces that Elise made, O.M.G. Wow. I seriously can't believe he let her keep her jacket. She did NOT deserve that honor, however, Jennifer sure did.
DeleteAnd all that talk from Will and Paul about "oh, I just spoke the truth". Bull. Jennifer was a WAY better cook than Elise. She screwed up on ONE risotto, Elise screwed up on like 10 batches of fish on JUST THAT NIGHT.
All that Gordon did keeping Elise around, was to make sure that future participants act like jerks to each other, abotage their teammates (Like Elise did to Will in the Hot Plate service) and refuse to take ANY responsibility whatsoever for the mistakes they make.
I couldn't agree with you more! Elise was the WORST! And I truly liked Jenn~ That moment when Will and Paul sang her praises (Elsie) I lost mad respect for the show cause I just KNOW that must have been PAID to do it~
DeleteI just started watching it again and had to stop during the second episode due to Elise’s huge and ugly mouth and aggression. Sometimes when I watch a season for the second time, people that I couldn’t stand before seem not so bad. But Elise?! I’m getting flat out angry and I refuse to watch her ever again! To me she’s the worst of the entire show.
ReplyDeleteStopped watching due to elise...
ReplyDeleteElise is the worst contestant on any season of hk
ReplyDeleteI m glad Paul didn't get the head chef position. I really don't like him.
ReplyDeleteI didn't want Paul to win either. And I'm still confused on how Tommy lasted that long.
DeleteI'm surprised Elise lasted as long as she did.
ReplyDeleteWill should have won. I kinda felt Paul got a pity win.
ReplyDeleteStopped watching this season when Elise got a black jacket. I understand the audience needs someone to root against but Elise was too much.
ReplyDeleteStopped watching after the 3rd or 4th episode due to Elise. I checked this site to see how long she was on and when I saw she was kept long enough to get a black jacket, I quit. Drama is not worth the integrity of a show. Shame on Ramsey and/or Fox for keeping her that long.
ReplyDeleteElise ruined the show. I plugged my ears and shut my eyes when she was on. She should have been taken off sooner as she ruined this season for the contestants and also for the viewers.
ReplyDeleteI really felt bad for Natalie, she was such a nice contestant. Elise was out of her mind and should have been eliminated earlier, even though she was quite a good cook. Paul as winner, fair enough, he deserved it. Quite a nice season in my opinion, even though some of it got ruined by Elise.
ReplyDeleteI can’t stand Elise. Last season it was Sabrina and this season it was Elise. Made the whole show hard to watch. Jenn got screwed over and was a way better cook and team player than Elise.
ReplyDeletePaul was the most passionate chef agree with Gordon Ramsay suggestion I really hated Elise though she couldn't stop talking
ReplyDeleteElise was a strong woman and competent chef. I've seen way worse women and competitors on the show. I don't necessarily like her but she held her own.
ReplyDeleteElizabeth was the best one competing. She should have advanced to the finals and won.
ReplyDelete