'Hell's Kitchen': It's Christina

Looks like a woman's place is in the kitchen -- "Hell's Kitchen."

Christina, the wide-eyed 25-year-old culinary student from Missouri, has bested the competition to become Chef Gordon Ramsay's newest protege. Not only did she survive the boot camp that is the "Hell's Kitchen" but she thrived -- blossoming during the course of the competiton from a mousy, insecure cook to a creative, authoritative chef. Her prize: A job as executive chef in Ramsay's newest restaurant, London West Hollywood, and a $250,000 paycheck to show for her troubles.

"Christina had the least amount of experience coming into 'Hell's Kitchen' but I saw something in her that was quite special," Ramsay said in explaining his decision. "She had the best potential across any of the chefs. . . . And in my business, I think long-term. I definitely, definitely made the right choice."

That choice pitted Christina against Petrozza, the humanist catering director from North Carolina. But it was a tight race -- it wouldn't have been a shock had Petrozza won. He too came into his own over the course of the show, and proved to have a motivational touch with his "staff" made up of his former competitors. But in the end, Christina's creative approach to food won her the job.

It was a fitting finale -- but frankly too short on the fireworks. C'mon. I was totally waiting for either Matt or Jen to get thrown out one last and final time. No such luck. By turns, Christina and Petrozza suffered ups and down during dinner service, and to their credit found ways to turn it around. When Petrozza ran out of the key ingredients for two of his menu's three appetizers, he improvized and came up with a tasty risotto backup. When Matt kept serving up raw monkfish -- and sushi was nowhere to be seen on the menu -- Christina kept kicking it back to the kitchen.

Jen thought she was coming back to "Hell's Kitchen" for the finale to prove that Chef Ramsay was wrong to boot her off the show. But, as she was picked to join Petrozza's team, she only proved herself to still have the bad attitude, coming across as sloppy and slow, and pissy to boot. Chef Ramsay wondered whether her larger game was "sabotage." At one point, she failed to deliver a single crispy onion ring, leading Petrozza to wail: "C'mon, put up a decent onion ring! . . . Onion rings! You're frying onion rings! With one arm I could have done a better job. . . ."

Meanwhile, Matt once again came across like he was in need of mental health care as he joined Christina's team. Perhaps he would claim it was all in the editing. But he talked to himself, sang a song about his herbs, imitated an Indian accent when he should have been prepping and made repeated inappropriate comments. (When Christina asked for a pea puree he asked whether she wanted him to "pee in the puree.") And then there was the muttering at Chef Ramsay under his breath.

But, alas, none of that ever came to a head.

I'm scheduled to interview Christina by telephone Wednesday morning before she hops on a plane to do publicity in New York. Any lingering questions out there you'd like me to ask? And what do you think? Did the best chef win?

-- Rene Lynch

(Photo courtesy Fox)

Comments

[David Hawkins]

HELL NO the best chef didn't win!

NOBODY on the show came into their own more than Petrozza. Christina may have won 9 challenges in a row, but by the end of the show Petrozza was the better chef. I was heartbroken when he lost.

Best as I can tell he didn't have a single dish returned. And if it really was "anybody's game" on the last episode, he certainly had the superior showing.

[arggie]

Yes, the best cook out of a sorry bunch won. I have never seen such an inept group calling themselves "chefs". It just goes to show you it's a big world outside of the New York culinary scene.

[pattie]

I think the right person won. I wouldn't really feel comfortable eating what P cooked, he wasn't all that clean in the kitchen, and heaven only knows how much food he cross contaminated.

[Tim]

I've been a long time fan of the Ramsey shows, American and BBC and yes, this was hands down the worst season. Way over produced. Yes I watched it, and I knew she would win, a part of me hoped the right person would win, but alas. The second her door opened I changed the channel. I don't think I even want to watch Kitchen Nightmares now, this was a major let down for any Hells fan. I enjoyed Top Chef a million times more this year.

[dennisil]

its difficult to see how a 25 year old culinary student is going to be able to run the kitchen at the london west hollywood unless its more of a prize than a job... ramsay is brilliant but fox must be paying the 1/4 mil to the contestant not ramsay as i dont believe he made the best choice. i hope petrozza finds a better job at another restaurant where he isnt just being given a job but he gets to earn his money that will inevitably be less than the amount that christina wone.

[John K.]

I have to disagree with a few of the commentors before me. Christina shows herself to have talent, pose, and leadership qualities. Petrozza did rise to the occasion, but Christina won. She performs to a higher standard more consitently, and I'd eat in her restaurant any day. As Ramsey said, he "definitely, definitely made the right decision."

[Susan]

STOP PUTTING THE SPOILER IN THE HEADLINE!!!! Yeesh.

[Oscar]

Here's a few questions:

What plans does she have for the menu?

How does she plan to add an LA touch to London west hollywood?

Since being in LA has she tried a real taco - like from a cart?

Can you make sure she visits all of the greasy spoon standards (Tommys, Pinks, Carney's, Hamburger Habit, Skooby's, etc...?

Avocados...need I say more?

[Rich]

You mention in the article that Christina became a more creative, however, in the show Ramsey himself mentioned that the menus were so different with Christina "playing it safe" and Petrozza's as "very daring" and different.

I was let down this season, I couldn't connect with any of the chefs like I did with Rock last season.

[Mike]

I agree that this season of HK was a let down. Top Chef was a lot better. His BBC America shows are a lot better.

[Webbster]

I accuse Gordon Ramsey of ageism with this one.

I can understand him thinking long term with Christina, but Petrozza is twenty years from retirement.

Anyone agree ?

[Cassiope]

I actually didn't watch it since I believe these two were not the right choice. Maybe Cortney. What a disapointing season. But I am glad I didn't waste my time watching it.

[Nancy]

I enjoyed this season, just as much as I enjoyed the others. I love Gordon Ramsay! BTW, I liked both finalists and didn't care which one won, but I can see why Chef picked Christina.

[Justin]

I believe Christina was the best choice. She is young, motivated, empathetic, always prepared, and has a more refined approach to cooking.

Chef Ramsey made the right choice. I will agree that this season's selection was nothing short of white trash, with the execption of very few.

[JackinPhx]

Forget about Christina being the Executive Chef at London West (you get look up the chefs on its website). She is going to be the Soux Chef at the Restaurant. Still a good gig for a quarter of a million dollars.

[Grge]

Ramsey picked Christina because of potential. Even tho Petrozza may have put out a slightly better service last night, Christina is more decisive in the kitchen which is important for an executive chef. Petrozza kind of paniced and needed Bobby and Ben to help him get through the service. Plus, as bad as Jen is, Matt is way worse, and she got through a service even with that crazy guy on her team. Anyway, it's no Top Chef, but I'll watch anything with Ramsey. He's pure entertainment.

[Hugo]

Normally, I wouldn't care about any reality show, but HK finale sucked. Reality shows are entertainment first and foremost, I get that. But still, it has some basic premise like winning challenges and moving on. Clearly during the final challenge, Petrozza beat Christina in every dimension possible. First, Petrozza's team sent out their food and appetizers faster than Christina's. Second, Petrozza showed excellent managerial skills by asking one of his team members for ideas about substituting one of the appetizers (Risotto). Third, Petrozza didn't have a single plate brought back to him (Christina had 2 or 3 returned). Fourth, by Ramsay's own admission, Petrozza created a menu that was technically more complicated to pull off (Gordon said "Daring"). Since the viewer does not see the results of the ratings the customers submitted, it really mystified and bothered me as to why Petrozza didn't win.

So here's what I figured: the young, blondie, mousy-turned-go-getter gets the job because it keeps the 18-35 demographic tuned in. While the bearded, overweight, glasses-wearing guy loses.

So Ms Lynch I would like you to ask her the following: Chef Ramsay said you had more potential and creativity relative to the other contestants. Why then did you include such a safe appetizer as Arugula salad in your showdown with Petrozza? Looking at it now, do you think Petrozza's menu was under-appreciated?

[Jonathan]

I was throughly disappointed with the finale of this season's Hell's Kitchen. Moreover, I thought that Christina shouldn't have even been in the finale. I was disgusted that she made it to the finals and Corey did not.

That being said, I think that Petrozza should have won. He had to deal with Jen who obviously was not there for the final contestants and was there to prove Chef Ramsey wrong and to get a recommendation for herself. While I understand why the writers of the show brought her and Matt back, Petrozza had a bigger problem on his hands than Christina had with Matt.

That being said, I think that Petrozza out-classed and out-cooked Christina in the final dinner service. He was able to think on his feet and was clearly a better quality-control supervisor than Christina was -- as he didn't have any food coming back and was able to spot mistakes before they left the kitchen. I'm disappointed in this season. Will I watch the next season if there is one? Yes. But, I hope that Petrozza finds an amazing job at an awesome restaurant. I would eat at his kitchen any day.

[Gary]

This seasons show sucked, period!

[matt]

No no no the best chef didn't win.

The show keeps getting worse and worse each year. Most of the chefs in season one could all cook and the two in the finale in season 1 would've been well deserved to win.

The drama created by casting dishwashers at best is makes sense, I guess, but it takes away from the level of respect a cook/ aspiring chef puts into their work. Did what's her name deserve to win? out of the group casted she deserved to win the game, but she in no way should be handed the title of Executive Sous Chef. Gordan Ramsey would tell you that himself off the record. Takes more than yelling at a group of loons for a mere weeks to deserve a title like that.

Come on Hell's Kitchen! Get some real talent in there! Show those who have never stepped foot into a restaurant kithen the real "drama".

Now I'm of to watch Top Chef, a show that showcases a cast of individuals who live and breathe the kitchen.