(S04E15)
Even if this was the first episode of Hell's Kitchen that a viewer had seen this season, they would have understood what the players were like and what the game was about just by watching this season finale. Jen was bitchy and unreasonable, Matt was bat-shit crazy, Louross was hyperactive, Ramsay swore a lot, food got sent back, some food went out raw. It was like a wrap-up of the season while still being a new episode.
But who won in the end, Petrozza or Christina? The answer after the jump.
It's hysterical (and I mean that in a sad way) that Jen is still complaining that Chef Ramsay made a mistake in not picking her for the final two because she's (in her words) is the most talented chef by far. But when it came down to either Matt or Jen, who would you pick? I'd pick Jen too, because Matt is waaaaaaaay too unpredictable.
I often wonder about bringing back the losing contestants to help the two finalists. Not that they would purposely sabotage the team, but what is really in it for them except "pride?" They certainly don't love the other contestants enough (well, maybe they like Petrozza), and I can see them just not giving 100%.
I thought that both Petrozza (by the way, did you know that's his last name? His full name is Louis Petrozza) and Christina do well tonight. They deal with prickly personalities like Jen and Matt (luckily, both Louross and Ben are fine during the dinner service), they deal with food being sent back (what the hell is wrong with Matt and the monkfish? - though that would be an excellent name for a band.), and they run the pass well, being assertive yet helpful.
So it's really close, but it's Christina's magical door that opens at the end into a roomful of family and friends and cameras and balloons and confetti. As she makes her way down the stairs, you could see Ramsay hugging Petrozza in the background, because he knows how hard he worked, and I thought that was a nice thing to do. Petrozza is shaking uncontrollably and needs help getting down the stairs. Ramsay toasts Christina and he and the sous chefs spray champagne over everyone. Matt kicks a child in the throat, and Jen walks around asking "Did I win? Did I win?"
While I would have liked to have seen Petrozza win, for being 100% likable and a good chef, Christina's win doesn't bother me at all. She was clever, won a lot of challenges, and clearly grew over the season. I can see her being a top-notch chef as she gets older and wiser.
Chef Ramsay says that she will be the Executive Chef at the new London West Hollywood, which opened at the end of May. But that's actually not what happened. Christina was named Senior Sous Chef at the restaurant, but gets the same $250,000 prize.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
7-08-2008 @ 11:58PM
Tom said...
This was an interesting season -- as Ramsey put it, it had alot of ups and downs -- moreso than any previous editions. I definitely think Christina and Petroza (or Louis, now that I know) were the best of the worst -- this season honestly did not have any real shining stars. That being said, I think they were definitely the two right finalists.
If you watch Ramsey's kitchen nightmares -- the UK editions at least -- you can get an idea as to why Gordon may have chosen Christina over Petrozza. After watching several of the 'nightmares' it's obvious that he dotes on the younger chefs -- the ones that are just beginning and show both potential and a true desire to cook excellent food. Given his background and how he began in the culinary arts, it's not hard to see why Ramsey might choose the younger finalist who has much more time left in her culinary career than the older candidate.
This isn't meant as a slap to Petrozza -- this is more just my assumption of Ramsey's think process.
Interesting though as you pointed out that the winner did not become exec chef but rather senior sous. I wonder if, now that this season is over, we'll get more of the story as to why the change in title.
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7-09-2008 @ 12:24AM
Marty said...
Wow. Jen has to be the most miserable excuse for a human being that has ever been on reality TV. I've never seen someone so arrogant, so it's-never-my-fault in all my TV watching. And Matt has to be the dumbest.
The right person won, though I liked Petrozza too.
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7-09-2008 @ 9:19AM
rick cokely said...
Jen was a mess, but I am pretty sure that there are worse reality "stars" out there. Puck comes to mind, as does most of the cast of Flavor of Love.
7-09-2008 @ 8:39AM
Allison Solow said...
Didn't it tick you off that Chef Ramsey doesn't explain why he chose Christina over Petrozza? He devoted one sentence to why, she has more potential, and that was it! Come on, give us some detail. Was her food better? Was she more accomplished as a chef? Did she have a better palate? What did her food taste like? On Top Chef, you get some insight. On The Next Food Network Star you get analysis. Here, Ramsey tells you to f*ck off and throws a pencil at the camera! I like Ramsey, but I think he takes his British shows more seriously. This Fox show is b.s. to him.
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7-09-2008 @ 11:23AM
Richard said...
Allison,
Your points are well taken, but once i saw the executive chefs from Ramsay's other restaurants, it became clear to me that a portly older man would have no chance against a cute young woman, whatever their respective talents.
I thought Petrozza should have won, too. His menu was much more ambitious and interesting, his kitchen seemed to run more smoothly, and he got the food out more promptly. Christina had a rationale for her less interesting menu, that she wanted the food to be easy for her teem to cook. Not a bad strategic decision, but, for a $250 K position, one should be willing and able to take risks.
That said, Christina seems like a very nice, talented young woman, and i can't say I feel her win was an injustice, especially after she had won so many challenges. And I did think her restaurant was a lot nicer than Petrozza's.
7-09-2008 @ 9:18AM
rick cokely said...
I think that if the prize were for another restaurant and not Ramsey's own, he would have chosen Petrozza. Honestly, it makes sense to take the young (and cute) one so you can mold them into what you want them to be.
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7-09-2008 @ 9:30AM
Tom said...
Allison,
I think you're pretty much on the mark to a degree -- I think Ramsey takes the UK editions of his shows very seriously. However, I'd be more inclined to point a finger at Fox, notorious for sensation over substance.
I've never watched the American version of Kitchen nightmares, but I hear that it focuses mostly on the melodrama, fighting and other silliness rather than the food and the resturaunt that Ramsey is there to save.
Alternatively, my wife and I record and watch almost every edition of Nightmares off of BBC America. In every episode, Ramsey seems to actually give a damn about the people and the resturaunt, and there's alot of focus on the food.
Granted, I'm sure Fox is handing him a chunky paycheck and so he's more than happy to give them what they ask for.
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7-09-2008 @ 12:32PM
Sarah said...
well, Ramsey is not the person responsible for how the show is produced or editted. im pretty sure that he gives a damn, but Fox being Fox edits the show to focus more on the drama. not to mention, USA actually values that crap. drama and sex sells, unfortunately.
7-09-2008 @ 10:01AM
kevjohn said...
I thought all along (well, ever since the field got whittled down to the last 6 or so) that L. Petrozza should win. The final service was very close though. Both the finalists finally showed some signs of leadership while running their teams, though it seemed to take some prodding from Ramsay to get them to put their boots in the asses of their weaker chefs.
I still think L-Pet should have won, but I can see Ramsay's point about selecting a younger person with talent and potential who can still be molded into what he's looking for. I didn't think that's what this competition was about though. Louie P. should have won.
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7-09-2008 @ 2:21PM
Mitch said...
Fairly certain that there was some compensation involved for the 6 losing contestants that were brought back. There would be zero motivation otherwise. You think Jen would want to lift a finger to help ANYONE after she was there unless cash was involved?
Maybe, if you were on the winning (Christina's) team, you got $10,000 each, and losing team got $2K each, or something. I have a hard time believing otherwise.
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7-09-2008 @ 3:26PM
GL said...
I can't complain about the outcome. Matt and Jen were serious tools though. The monkfish fiasco and the onion ring incident were tragicomedy.
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7-09-2008 @ 3:41PM
Sebastian Cabet said...
Clearly Ramsay got it right this time.
Petrozza is a complete SLOB. Disorganized and lacking in self confidence (remember the first episode?).
Christina will become a *star* and it makes total sense that Ramsay wants to develop her. But it is very misleading to advertise that the winner is going to become executive chef.
Frankly Christina is not ready for that position--but neither was anyone else on that show. What a joke most of those people were--clearly a show built for tv ratings.
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7-09-2008 @ 4:16PM
mj said...
I am very happy Christina won. She was very clever, and worked well with her team. I personally liked her menu over P's. I liked them both, but she had the edge. Jen is still such a horror! To ask Ramsey for a recommendation? The nerve! Bet she didn't get one. And I must say I was proud of Louross. He became such a good team player, and was all gung ho, and willing to do the job. Yeah!!!! Can't wait for next season!! Please, no monkfish.
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7-09-2008 @ 5:51PM
roger said...
Keep in mind that even though it "looks" like Petrozza did this better or that better, it really is the job of the editors to make the show entertaining. "Reality" television is anything but that.
Recall the uproar in Top Chef this season when Dale left. Colicchio felt a need to write on his blog about the outrage, even noting that he was surprised at the results after seeing the final cut.
For all we know, Christina kicked Petrozza's ass but they just highlighted a couple of the foul ups to make things interesting.
That being said, given what I was fed by Fox, I am happy with either Christina or Petrozza as a winner. Christina did seem to grow a lot during the show. A part of me feels that while he won't get the $250K salary, Ramsey may have something lined up for Petrozza somewhere else.
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