20 competitors are ready to be called donkeys and be humiliated in front of their peers on the 12th season of Hell’s Kitchen. Chef Gordon Ramsay’s back putting chefs from a wide variety of backgrounds to the test with the season 12 debut on March 13, 2014 at 8pm ET/PT.
Per Fox: “In the premiere episode, Chef Ramsay offers the newest batch of contestants a never-before-seen welcome: the first-ever flash mob in Hell’s Kitchen history. Then, after splitting the chefs into two teams – men (blue) vs. women (red) – Ramsay asks them to present their signature dishes in another battle of the sexes, but this time they will be cooking in front of a live audience!”
This season’s winner will receive a Head Chef position at a Gordon Ramsay restaurant and a salary of $250,000.
Hell’s Kitchen Season 12 Chefs:
The Red Team (Women) includes:
Beth Taylor Age: 43
Hometown: Independence, LA
Occupation: Line Cook
Signature Dish: Pecan Crusted Catfish with Wilted Spinach and Smoked Gouda Grits
Bev Lazo-Gonzalez Age: 42
Hometown: Whittier, CA
Occupation: Food Truck Chef
Signature Dish: Southeast Asian-Style Fish Tacos
Jessica Vogel Age: 28
Hometown: Sparta, NJ
Occupation: Line Cook
Signature Dish: Rosemary Crusted Venison Loin with Cranberry Ancho Chili Gastrique over Goat Cheese Polenta and Roasted Brussels Sprouts
Joy Parham-Thomas Age: 25
Hometown: Philadelphia, PA
Occupation: Kitchen Supervisor
Signature Dish: Chilled Corn Soup
Kashia Zollicoffer Age: 23
Hometown: Carthage, MS
Occupation: Line Cook
Signature Dish: New York Strip and Blue Cheese Crab Butter with Roasted Asparagus
Melanie Finch Age: 23
Hometown: Woodland Hills, CA
Occupation: Line Cook
Signature Dish: Pan-Seared Scallops with Mashed Lentils, Roasted Pear and Crispy Raspberry Gastrique
Nicole Rutz Age: 33
Hometown: Morganville, NJ
Occupation: Baker
Signature Dish: Halibut Filet with Squash and Tomatoes in an Herb Butter Sauce
Rochelle Bergman Age: 27
Hometown: Riverside, CA
Occupation: Caterer
Signature Dish: Mushroom Chicken with Asparagus
Sandra Flores Age: 36
Hometown: Queens, NY
Occupation: Sous Chef
Signature Dish: Tender Cod Filet with Macadamia Nut Fig Butter and Fire-Roasted Corn with Applewood Bacon
Simone Hammond Age: 43
Hometown: Henderson, NV
Occupation: Buffet Cook
Signature Dish: Peach and Crab Apple Chutney Pork Chop, Cornbread Dressing with Pecans and Haricot Verts with Fig and Cranberries in a White Wine Butter Sauce
The Blue Team (Men) includes:
Anton Testino Age: 39
Hometown: Butler, NJ
Occupation: Head Chef
Signature Dish: Pork with Crabmeat Crust
Chris Eversole Age: 27
Hometown: Las Vegas, NV
Occupation: Line Cook
Signature Dish: Poule Rôtie
Guarav Navin Age: 34
Hometown: East Stroudsburg, PA
Occupation: Executive Chef
Signature Dish: Afreen Tuna Met Komyn Parfume Pulao
Jason Zepaltas Age: 31
Hometown: Chicago, IL
Occupation:Sous Chef
Signature Dish: Seared, then Braised Wild Salmon with Vegetables
Mike Aresta Age: 38
Hometown: Keyport, NJ
Occupation: Chef Instructor
Signature Dish: Herb-Fried Tortellini with Romesco
Michael DeMarco Age: 29
Hometown: Scranton, PA
Occupation: Line Cook
Signature Dish: Ricotta Gnocchi with Roasted Tomato Crème and Sausage
Michael Gabriel Age: 25
Hometown: Spring, TX
Occupation: Executive Chef
Signature Dish: Stuffed Chicken Breast with Asparagus and Diced Rosemary Yukon
Ralph Johnson Age: 28
Hometown: Boston, MA
Occupation: Chef De Partie
Signature Dish: New England Lobster Dinner
Richard Mancini Age: 48
Hometown: Bloomingdale, IL
Occupation: Executive Chef
Signature Dish: Pan-Roasted Sea Bass with Roma Tomato and Basil Sauce over Sauteed Kale and Pancetta
Scott Commings Age: 36
Hometown: Woodstock, IL
Occupation: Executive Chef
Signature Dish: Herb Roasted Rack of lamb with Parsnip Puree and Sherry Jus
