'Hell's Kitchen': Who needs luck when you've got talent?

If Dave can cook like this with one arm, imagine what he can do with two?

The one-armed bandit stole victory from 16 other competitors, winning this season of "Hell's Kitchen" and arguably the best job ever offered by Chef Gordon Ramsay: Dave will assume a high-profile spot at the helm of the Araxi restaurant in Whistler, B.C., which will welcome the world come the 2010 Winter Olympics.

And he did it all while wearing a cast on his left hand, and in such severe pain that he was often brought to tears by it and sometimes could not fully lift heavy objects -- like, say, a sauce pan -- with his bad wing. Chef Ramsay at one point considered sending Dave home, out of fear that Dave was doing permanent damage to himself.

Good thing Dave convinced Chef Ramsay to keep him around:

Dave and Kevin edged Ariel out in the round of three, and then Dave went head to head with the hairless one in the finale. In a twist, there were no restaurant wars of seasons past, just flat-out cooking. A handful of competitors who had been eliminated earlier -- including ugh, Suzanne -- came back to help with the Last Supper. (Is Robert insane? What kind of message did he deliver to potential employers. That he would sabotage a chef -- and, ultimately, a customer's dining experience -- if he doesn't get his way? Fire him!)

Kevin's dishes were gorgeous to look out but challenging to prepare. Dave's menu was super simple -- all the better suited to Araxi's emphasis on local, fresh, seasonal ingredients. And it was super simple to execute. It helped give Dave an edge. But really, Dave's willingness to suffer under Chef Ramsay while also in excruciating pain, combined with his natural abilities and sophisticated palate, won him the job. And it earned him an outstanding compliment from Chef Ramsay, who said he wished Dave luck, and then added: "Honestly, I don't think he'll need it."

The show ended with outtakes from the season -- a great touch. Wouldn't you like to see more of those, perhaps with each weekly episode, in future seasons?

-- Rene Lynch 

Comments

[richard]

Best season of "Hell's Kitchen" yet. Anyone know why Teneil was not present for the finale?

[natty]

Dave won for his abilities but also for his humility

Great way to go Dave!

Chef Ramsey...good choice!

[Mike McDaniel]

Dave deserved it all... I hoped he would win from the start. Never took anything personal and was not VINDICTIVE!

[Troy]

Why are people so gullible?

He won't be "helming" anything but he will get a chance to work under the person who does run the kitchen; James Walt.

Like their going to hand over the keys to their kitchen and menu because this guy won a Ramsey tv program. LOL

Oh man

[Spencer3861]

Dave showed culinary skill, courage to overcome his pain and disability, and non-vindictive attitude. A great winner.

[Greg]

How is it that this guy can steal a job at a Canadian Restaurant when we have some of the best Chef's in the world here. There wasn't one Canadian on the show for a job at a Canadian Restaurant at the Canadian Olypics its a national disgrace that he was given a work permit.

[hugh ross]

dave will make a great canadian, he will never leave after the whisler experience.

[Wendy]

When did it become the "Canadian" Olympics? OH PLEASE.

I'm glad Dave won. He deserved it!

[AdeshG]

I am glad Dave won. Honestly I thought it would be Kevin and Ariel in the finale because Dave's injured hand seemed to be the weak link. Kevin seemed to be playing a mean spirited game of getting Ariel ousted by ruining her service (at least that is how it appeared to me) and competing against Dave thinking that he will be an easier contestant to deal with. Regardless Dave deserved the top spot and I am glad he got it.

[John Connolly]

I saw the whole show from start to finish dave did great.