The Winner of 'Hell's Kitchen' and Gordon Ramsay's New 'Executive Chef'
Last night the season finale of the ratings powerhouse Hell's Kitchen aired, pitting Louis Petrozza, catering director, against 25-year-old Christina Machamer, the culinary school student. Gordon Ramsay, known for expecting his chefs to be physically fit, picked Machamer as the winner over 47-year-old Petrozza, basing his decision on her "potential and drive." She gets the position of "executive chef" (in title only) at Ramsay's new Los Angeles restaurant, a prize "worth" $250,000.
Hitting the inbox today was a press release from the cooking school Machamer attended, the Culinary Institute of America, that helped explain why she was labeled a "culinary student" for the duration of the show.
The backstory, after the jump.
Here's the back story: She took time off from school to take part in the show, and, "when she returned to school, she could not tell her classmates about her experiences on the show or how well she did."
In other words, she went back to school and had to lie to her instructors and classmates about where she'd been, what she'd done, and the fact that she won a ton of money and already had an "executive chef" position all lined up at Ramsay's restaurant.
Previously
The Prize of Winning 'Hell's Kitchen': Executive Chef by Title Only
In Videos: Don't Burn Gordon Ramsay
'Hell's Kitchen,' The Game: A Review
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13 Comments:
Apparently she is a good student. In her commentary, she exclaimed "F*** me!" more times than I've heard Ramsay say it in a single show.
baboo at 11:25PM on 07/09/08
I had tivo'd this to watch later. thanks for spoiling the outcome with your picture.
Jayhawk at 11:39PM on 07/09/08
haha
Prairie at 12:23AM on 07/10/08
the thing that blew me away was that she said at least twice "this is my last service" as well as "the hard work is over". WTF? those statements are ridiculous, even if the real hell's kitchen prize equates to head dishwasher at a ramsey joint.
sailordave at 12:29AM on 07/10/08
@sailor -- I took the "last service" comment to mean that it was the last service in the unreal world of Hell's Kitchen. And as far as the hard work being over, I also took that to mean the Hell's Kitchen part of it as well. All the work into winning the contest -- which is much differerent that working at a job. And seriously, for her the hard work of working her way up to a decent position is over. Much less the hard work of actually landing a job.
dbcurrie at 12:58AM on 07/10/08
In the episode where there were just three left (her, the guy, and the other blonde girl), she was the worst out of the three! She kept burning the meat and definitely performed the worst. Haha.
Then the part when he went out to dinner with her and the fam set off the alarm in my mind. Gordon picked her dish and made the other two chop ice... hmmm? Cute little blonde girl VS. Aggressive type A personality girl and fat catering guy. I would have picked her dish too!
But now that she is the winner its clear they are shagging.
collegekid19 at 2:39AM on 07/10/08
I have never watched this show and can't take Ramsey or the show seriously. After reading "Alice Waters and Chez Panisse," a real life story of a talented home cook who started a food revolution, I would much rather watch her do anything. Those early days at Chez Panisse would make for much more entertaining comedy.
sugarstack at 8:27AM on 07/10/08
Thought some might like to read the story in our local newspaper on Petrozza's viewing party:
http://www.heraldonline.com/129/story/672049.html
Babzee at 8:32AM on 07/10/08
Does anyone really take this show seriously??
izatryt at 8:47AM on 07/10/08
No... I certainly don't take it, or the F-bomb king, seriously.
ronzoni at 8:58AM on 07/10/08
Oh c'mon! Petrozza had WAY more experience--but Christina is definitely doing well for a young'n.
You know, I avidly looked forward to this show all season; not because the food is awesome, but because the drama tastes great!
Congrats Christina!
hungrychristel at 9:14AM on 07/10/08
Who really takes these type of show serious, but I must say I liked Petrozza he reminds me of a few bosses and friends...... great guys all the way around
Markbb at 10:20AM on 07/10/08
That is reality tv for you: completely full of bullshit....reality television on all levels is truly the dumming down of america and as for cooking reality shows; it is shameful for the industry also on all levels and all shows...especially but not limited to the food programming shows on the Food Network.
blondee47 at 1:03PM on 07/10/08