Hell's Kitchen (U.S. season 11)
| Hell's Kitchen (U.S. season 11) | |
|---|---|
| Country of origin | United States |
| No. of episodes | 22 |
| Release | |
| Original network | Fox |
| Original release | March 12 – July 25, 2013 |
| Season chronology | |
Season 11 of the American competitive reality television series Hell's Kitchen premiered on March 12, 2013 on Fox.
This is the first season of Hell's Kitchen to feature 20 contestants. Unlike previous seasons, this was also the first season to open up in Las Vegas, where the chefs presented their signature dishes to Chef Ramsay in front of a live audience of 2,500 at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace. This season was also the first season where there wasn't always a challenge per dinner service (with some occasions there being dinner services without there being challenges or vice versa). This was also the second season to feature two female finalists (the first being season 2's Virginia Dalbeck and Heather West).
Executive chef Ja'Nel Witt won the competition and received a head chef position at Gordon Ramsay Pub & Grill in Caesars Palace at Las Vegas. However, on August 23, 2013, it was announced that Witt was denied the position at the restaurant for testing positive for cocaine, though she retained her salary and her title as the winner of season 11. Jon Scallion, who finished third and was deemed by Ramsay the only great chef in the worst team in Hell's Kitchen history, became sous chef at Gordon Ramsay Steak.
Gordon Ramsay returned as head chef as well as Andi Van Willigan as the red team's sous chef. Long-time maître d' Jean-Philippe Susilovic returned for the first time since season 7 due to his work commitments at Ramsay's London restaurant, Pétrus. However, previous blue team sous chef Scott Leibfried did not return due to his work obligation at Fleetwood's restaurant in Maui and was replaced by newcomer James Avery from Wall, New Jersey.
During episode 7 of this season, Richard Brooker appeared in that episode as a samurai on the team challenge. Brooker died on April 8, 2013.
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