Hell's Kitchen features Gordon Ramsay as Head Chef alongside two sous chefs to support the contestants in the competition.
Each week there are a number of challenges to test the culinary skills of the contestants with at least one being eliminated.
The Hell's Kitchen prize is their own restaurant or the option of working alongside top chefs including Gordon.
Below you can read about the Hell's Kitchen winners in order and find out what happened next the Hell's Kitchen Winners from Season 1 to Season 18.
Michael Wray was a professional chef from Fort Collins, Colorado.
His dishes were well received by both Gordon and critics.
Michael Wray was the Hell's Kitchen season 1 winner.
His choice of prize was to either open his own restaurant or to travel to London to apprentice with Gordon in one of his restaurants.
After Hell's Kitchen, Michael accepted to work with Gordon.
Once he realised the strains this would put on his family, he decided not to take up the prize.
He went on to be Head Chef at The Standard in Los Angeles before moving to Arizona.
Michael planned to open his open restaurant HK One, ran his own knife company and taught culinary classes.
He suffered the loss of his newborn daughter, addiction and the loss of his home.
He had a fundraiser to help raise funds for a food truck.
Heather West was a Sous Chef from Port Jefferson, New York.
Heather was the Hell's Kitchen Season 2 winner due to her determination and leadership skills.
After Hell's Kitchen, Heather was Senior Chef at Terra Rossa at the Red Rock Casino in Nevada.
She then moved around restaurants before starting as Head Chef at Monteray Restaurant.
Heather moved to Jellyfish Restaurant.
She was later Broadway Grill before moving to Schafers in Port Jefferson.
She married in 2014 and has three children.
Heather was the sous chef for season 6 of Hell's Kitchen.
Rock Harper was an Executive Chef from Spotsylvania Courthouse, Virginia.
Rock was the Hell's Kitchen season 3 winner due to his confidence in the kitchen, his leadership skills and ability to motivate the team.
After Hell's Kitchen, Rock worked his year contract at Terra Verde restaurant.
Following this he worked at Ben’s Next Door as Executive Chef.
Rock was an instructor at Stratford University.
He wrote a cookbook called "44 Things Parents Should Know about Healthy Cooking for Kids".
Rock appeared on Chef Wanted and won an Executive Chef position at The Precinct but didn't take up the position.
He has been also involved with many businesses in an advisory capacity.
Rock owns a restaurant called Queen Mother’s and bar Hill Prince bar.
He was a James Beard Award Nominee.
Christina Machamer was a student from St. Louis, Missouri.
Christina was the Hell's Kitchen season 4 winner due to her great potential.
After Hell's Kitchen, Christina was offered the position of Senior Sous Chef rather than Executive Chef.
She worked at London West Holywood for 10 months.
After this role she worked at Thomas Keller’s Bouchon Bistro.
Christina returned to school, where she trained to be a sommelier.
She now lives in Napa valley.
Christina was Director of Wine and Culinary at B Cellars Vineyards & Winery.
She now manages the Caldwell Vineyard.
Christina is also a personal chef.
Danny Veltri was an Executive Chef from Edgewater, Florida.
Danny was the Hell's Kitchen season 5 winner.
He won due to his growth on the show, he showed Gordon he had all the necessary skills to be crowned the winner due to his talent and maturity.
After Hell's Kitchen, Danny took up position as a Sous Chef at the Borgata Hotel Casino and Spa but left after a few months.
He started his own catering company called Back From Hell Catering.
Danny moved to Gnarly Surf Bar & Grill, which he helped open with other investors.
He was then executive chef at Vince Carter’s Restaurant.
Danny was arrested in 2012 for DUI.
He was the Hell's Kitchen season 6 winner due to his natural ability in the kitchen.
After Hell's Kitchen, Dave took up the position at Araxi Restaurant.
He worked there until the end of the 2010 Winter Olympic Games.
The position he was offered turned out to be a line cook position.
It was not a Head Chef position as he had expected.
Dave returned to New Jersey where he worked in a number of kitchens.
He was arrested as part of a drugs bust in 2014 but was not charged.
Dave is currently Head Baker at Mara’s Café & Bakery in Denville.
Holli Ugalde was a Banquet Chef from San Bernardino, California.
She was the Hell's Kitchen season 7 winner.
Holli won due to her growth in confidence and ability during the process.
After Hell's Kitchen, Holli was not given the position in London due to visa issues, something Holli disputes.
She claims she isn't even sure they applied for it as she never completed any paperwork.
Holli instead accepted an undisclosed amount of cash as her prize.
She briefly returned to being a Chef in a hotel in Florida.
Holli started a lifestyle programme called SENS Wellness.
She was an organic farmer at Green Acres Culinary Farm.
Holli was also an Eco-Luxe Designer at Colheita Lighting.
Nona Sivley was a Sous Chef from Atlanta, Georgia.
She was the Hell's Kitchen season 8 winner due to her impressive improvement during the series and her passion for cooking.
After Hell's Kitchen, Nona took up the Head Chef position at LA Market.
Her winning menu was added to the restaurant menu.
She left after three years to help her mentor Kerry Simon open his first restaurant Pork & Beans.
Nona was let go from the business as she didn't fit in.
After the restaurant opened she started her own catering business called Sizzling Peach.
Nona later opened a restaurant called The Local Peach.
She is now Nona Johnson.
Paul Niedermann was a Sous Chef from Davie, Florida.
Paul was the Hell's Kitchen Season 9 winner due to his passion and determination.
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.
He was later Exeucitve Chef at Racks Restaurant Management Group.
Paul was Corporate Executive Chef at SALT7.
He is currently Executive Chef at The Jupiter Grill.
Christina Wilson was a Chef from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Christina was the Hell's Kitchen season 10 winner.
She beat Justin in the final due to her passion, talent and leadership skills.
After Hell's Kitchen, Christina took the Head Chef position at Gordon Ramsay Steak.
She moved to become Executive Chef at Gordon Ramsay BurGR in Planet Hollywood Casino.
Christina worked closely with Gordon, overseeing both his Vegas restaurants as Executive Corporate Chef.
She has appeared on Hell's Kitchen as a Sous Chef on seasons 15, 17 and 18.
Christina also worked in the kitchen behind the scenes on Hotel Hell and 24 Hours to Hell and Back.
She trained chefs and helps develop new menus.
It appears she stopped working for Gordon in 2023.
Ja'Nel Witt was an Executive Chef from Houston, Texas.
Ja'Nel was the Hell's Kitchen season 11 winner.
She did not take up the position after allegedly failing a drugs test.
Ja'Nel was however offered the $250,000 prize money.
After Hell's Kitchen, Ja'Nel was Executive Chef at Corner Table before moving to Sammy's Steakhouse.
She became Executive Chef at Sonoma Wine Bar & Restaurant.
Ja'Nel also did a number of cookery demonstrations, events and hosted cookery classes.
She was Executive Chef at Kulture Restaurant in 2023.
Scott Commings was an Executive Chef from Woodstock, Illinois.
He was the Hell's Kitchen season 12 winner due to his passion, determination and leadership skills.
After Hell's Kitchen, Scott took up his position as the Head Chef at Gordon Ramsay Pub & Grill at Caesars Palace.
He was later Executive Chef of Freedom Beat at The Downtown Grand Hotel and Casino.
Scott is also Co-Founder of BLT Foods Las Vegas.
In 2018, he opened Stove in Las Vegas with co-owner Antonio Nunez.
He is co-owner of The Daily Bread.
La Tasha McCutchen was a Kitchen Supervisor from Winter Haven, Florida.
La Tasha was the Hell's Kitchen season 13 winner.
She won due to her strong leadership skills, cooking ability and her determination.
After Hell's Kitchen, La Tasha took up the head chef position at Gordon Ramsay's Pub & Grill at Caesars Atlantic City for a year.
After this she became a Private Chef.
La Tasha also does pop up dining events and cookery demonstrations.
Meghan was the Hell's Kitchen season 14 winner.
She won due to her passion, determination and leadership skills.
After Hell's Kitchen, Meghan took up the winners head chef position.
She was Head Chef at Gordon Ramsay's Pub & Grill at Caesars Atlantic City until July 2017.
Meghan was Executive Chef at MGM Springfield for a year.
She has been Executive Chef at the Dormie Network since 2019.
Ariel Malone was a Country Club Chef from Hackensack, New Jersey.
She was the Hell's Kitchen season 15 winner due to her confidence in the kitchen, cooking ability and her outspoken nature.
After Hell's Kitchen, Ariel took up the head chef position at BLT Steak at Bally's Las Vegas until January 2017.
She became a private chef and does online cookery demonstrations on social media.
These often feature her children.
Ariel has had three children including twin girls.
She appeared on Dark Side of Reality TV in 2024.
Ariel made claims that she was just paid talent and was not allowed to run the kitchen.
Kimberly was the Hell's Kitchen season 16 winner due to her skills, drive and command in the kitchen.
After Hell's Kitchen, Kimberly took up the head chef position at Yardbird Southern Table & Bar at The Venetian Las Vegas.
She left the position to return home and was head chef at The Cook’s House.
Kimberly has suffered from ill health and has had a number of operations.
Please consider donating to her GoFundMe
Kimberly is a life and recovery coach.
Michelle Tribble was from New York City.
She competed in season 14, where she came in 3rd place.
Michelle was the Hell's Kitchen season 17 winner based on her performance in the finale and throughout the season.
After Hell's Kitchen, Michelle took up the position of Head Chef at the Caesars Palace Hell’s Kitchen in Las Vegas.
She left in 2020 to work for Gordon Ramsay North America.
Michelle was initially Culinary Development Executive Chef and is now Director of Culinary Development.
She is Sous Chef for the red team in Hell's Kitchen Season 23.
Ariel Contreras-Fox was from Brooklyn, New York.
She was a veteran contestant and competed in season 6, where she finished in 3rd place.
Ariel Contreras-Fox was the Hells Kitchen Season 18 winner due to her tremendous growth since her original appearance on Hell's Kitchen.
She proved her talent, leadership and determination throughout and offered runner up Mia a position.
After Hell's Kitchen, Ariel did not take up the Executive chef position at Hell's Kitchen Restaurant at Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Instead she became Executive Chef of Dos Caminos in NYC.
In May 2020, she became Vice President of Culinary at Del Frisco's Double Eagle, Del Frisco's Grille, and Dos Caminos.
Kori Sutton was an Executive Chef from Los Angeles, California.
Kori Sutton was the Hell's Kitchen season 19 winner.
After Hell's Kitchen, Kori continued to offer private chef services.
She took up the position of Head chef position at Gordon Ramsay Hell's Kitchen Restaurant in Lake Tahoe in May 2021.
Kori launched her own salsa brand, Mama Kori Salsa.
Trenton Garvey was an Executive chef from Union, Missouri.
Trenton was the Hell's Kitchen season 20 winner after Gordon reviewed the comment cards for their menus.
After Hell's Kitchen, Trenton is Executive Chef of The Blue Duck.
Alex Belew was a Former Restaurant Owner from Murfreesboro, Tennessee.
He was on the 40 somethings team.
Alex was the Hell's Kitchen Season 21 winner after both of the finalists made the decision very hard for the judges.
After Hell's Kitchen, Alex is owner of AB Hospitality.
Alex accepted the role at Hell's Kitchen Caesar's Atlantic City, where he works part time.
He also appears at a guest chef and at pop up dining events.
Alex is also a podcast host at Cooking, Cocktails & Community.
Ryan O'Sullivan was a Chef de Cuisine from Cork City, Ireland.
He was the Hell's Kitchen season 22 winner due to his passion, ability and leadership skills.
After Hell's Kitchen, Ryan is Chef de Cuisine at Solstice at The Country Club at Mirasol.
He has also cooked for events at The DTLA Dinner Club.
Kyle Timpson was an Executive Chef from Dennis Township, New Jersey.
Kyle was the season 23 winner due to his charisma, expertise, passion and creativity.
After Hell's Kitchen, Kyle has been working at various restaurants in his local area.
He is also providing private chef services, including private dining.
I have predicted each winner within the first 4 episodes.
ReplyDeleteWhy would some of these chefs want to give up such a great opportunity to pursue mediocre jobs. And to those chefs that continue to work at the place they were chosen for great job.
ReplyDeleteSome contestants opted for the cash payout instead.
DeleteChefs don't accept jobs because they pay well, true Chefs have a passion for food and they also have a passion for teaching the junior chefs. It's not always about money.
ReplyDelete