18 Aspiring Chefs Battle for a Head Chef Position
at BLT Steak at Bally’s Las Vegas
TV Personality Kris Jenner, Hip-Hop Superstar Lil Jon,
Astronaut Buzz Aldrin, Electronic Dance Musician Steve Aoki and
Comedian Bill Engvall Among This Season’s Celebrity Diners
Host, executive producer and award-winning chef and Critics’ Choice Awards nominee Gordon Ramsay fires up a brand-new season of HELL’S KITCHEN when Season 15 premieres Friday, Jan. 15 (9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX. 18 new chefs from across the country will be tested and challenged as Chef Ramsay puts them through a series of grueling challenges and dinner services to prove they have what it takes to win the HELL’S KITCHEN title and a Head Chef position at BLT Steak at Bally’s Las Vegas.
Click to watch/share a first look at this season’s HELL’S KITCHEN contestants: https://youtu.be/DTSiBOp8ves
Throughout the season, the contestants will face challenging tasks, including a (rubber) duck hunting competition, preparing dishes for 100 high school students, a catered wedding reception for HELL’S KITCHEN sous chef Andi and the fan-favorite blind taste test challenge.
Celebrity diners at HELL’S KITCHEN this season include: TV personality Kris Jenner (“Keeping Up with the Kardashians” franchise), rapper Lil Jon, musician/producer Steve Aoki, rapper/actor The Game, musician Flo Rida, astronaut Buzz Aldrin, comedian Bill Engvall, Cesar Millan (“Cesar 911”), dancers from SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE and “Dancing with the Stars,” comedian Terry Fator, burlesque entertainer Dita Von Teese, actor Omar Miller (“Ballers”), actor Sean Carrigan (“The Young and the Restless”) and Olympian swimmers Jessica Hardy and Dominik Meichtry.
In the Season 15 premiere of HELL’S KITCHEN, Chef Gordon Ramsay welcomes the newest bunch of contestants into the kitchen. The steaks are high when the contestants travel to Las Vegas and see the kitchen where this season’s winner will work as a Head Chef: BLT Steak at Bally’s Las Vegas. And, for the first time in HELL’S KITCHEN history, they will compete in that kitchen for the signature dish team challenge. The winning team will earn a ride on the High Roller – the world’s tallest Ferris wheel – and VIP service at Drai’s Nightclub while the losing team prepares a Vegas buffet service, which includes peeling 50 lbs. of shrimp and 1,000 lbs. of potatoes. Later during their first dinner service, one of the teams will fail early on in the service, prompting Chef Ramsay to kick them out of the kitchen.
-more-
“HELL’S KITCHEN” SEASON 15 CONTESTANTS – Page 2
Below are the 18 chefs competing on this season of HELL’S KITCHEN:
The Red Team (Women) includes:
|
| KRISTIN BARONE Age: 27 Hometown: Chicago, IL Occupation: Line Cook Signature Dish: Grilled Pork Loin with Apricot Mango Puree and Fried Brussel Sprouts and Garlic Aioli
|
|
| SHERKENNA BUGGS Age: 30 Hometown: Grand Junction, TN Occupation: Personal Chef Signature Dish: Crab-Stuffed Blackened Salmon, Mushroom Couscous
|
|
|
MEESE DAVIS Age: 25 Hometown: Upper Darby, PA Occupation: College Chef Signature Dish: Pork Loin Chop with Roasted Sweet Potato and Grilled Asparagus |
|
| JACKIE FUCHS Age: 32 Hometown: Jersey City, NJ Occupation: Line Cook Signature Dish: Seared Scallop with Roasted Corn and Lemon Salsa with Bok Choy and Brown Butter
|
|
| DANNIE HARRISON Age: 30 Hometown: Philadelphia, PA Occupation: Line Cook Signature Dish: Scallops And Vermicelli With Thai Curry Sauce
|
|
|
ARIEL MALONE Age: 26 Hometown: Hackensack, NJ Occupation: Country Club Chef Signature Dish: Shashkouka
|
-more-
“HELL’S KITCHEN” SEASON 15 CONTESTANTS – Page 3
|
| ASHLEY NICKELL Age: 27 Hometown: Orlando, FL Occupation: Chef de Cuisine Signature Dish: Ostrich Filet with Blueberry Sauce |
|
| MANDA PALOMINO Age: 30 Hometown: Atlantic City, NJ Occupation: Sous Chef Signature Dish: Fried Scallops with Rustic Corn Salad
|
|
| VANESSA SOLTERO Age: 33 Hometown: Los Angeles, CA Occupation: Airport Chef Signature Dish: Eggplant Involtini Rolls with Sausage Ricotta Stuffing and Marinara Sauce
|
The Blue Team (Men) includes:
|
| JARED BOBKIN Age: 28 Hometown: Oak Park, MI Occupation: Line Cook Signature Dish: Halibut |
|
| FRANK CALA Age: 25 Hometown: Brooklyn, NY Occupation: Marine Chef Signature Dish: Penne alla Vodka with Grilled Chicken
|
|
| CHAD GELSO Age: 25 Hometown: Philadelphia, PA Occupation: Sous Chef Signature Dish: Confit Cabbage, Celeriac Fondant, Poached pear
|
-more-
“HELL’S KITCHEN” SEASON 15 CONTESTANTS – Page 4
|
| EDDIE JASKOWIAK Age: 27 Hometown: Philadelphia, PA Occupation: Sous Chef Signature Dish: Hunters Edge, Bambi Tenderloin
|
|
| HASSAN MUSSELMANI Age: 24 Hometown: Detroit, MI Occupation: Catering Executive Chef Signature Dish: Pan-Seared Diver Sea Scallops with Roasted Sweet Corn Coulis, Poblano Coulis, Parmesan Risotto and Crispy Capicola
|
|
| MARK PARAS Age: 27 Hometown: Anaheim, CA Occupation: Line Cook Signature Dish: Black Mussels with Chorizo in a Fennel and Tomato Broth
|
|
| ALAN PARKER Age: 42 Hometown: Lancaster, PA Occupation: Sous Chef Signature Dish: Maple-Glazed Arctic Char
|
|
| JOE RICCI Age: 31 Hometown: Philadelphia, PA Occupation: Sous Chef Signature Dish: Veal Braciole with Creamy Polenta and Grilled Broccoli Rabe with Balsamic Red Wine Reduction
|
|
| KEVIN RIDLON Age: 29 Hometown: Warwick, RI Occupation: Culinary Manager Signature Dish: Chicken Caesar Piadina
|
-more-
“HELL’S KITCHEN” SEASON 15 CONTESTANTS – Page 5
HELL’S KITCHEN is produced by ITV Entertainment in association with A. Smith & Co. Productions. Arthur Smith, Kent Weed and Gordon Ramsay serve as executive producers.
“Like” HELL’S KITCHEN on Facebook at facebook.com/hellskitchen. Follow the series on Twitter at @hellskitchenfox, and follow Ramsay at @GordonRamsay.
About ITV Entertainment:
ITV Entertainment is one of the largest entertainment producers in the U.S. market and a leading force in acquiring, developing and producing non-scripted programming. Its extensive slate of series for a wide range of networks and syndicators includes: HELL’S KITCHEN (FOX), “Best Time Ever With Neil Patrick Harris” (NBC), “The First 48, After The First 48” (A&E), “#RichKids of Beverly Hills” (E!), “Cesar 911” (Nat Geo WILD), “The Chase” (GSN), “Secret Space Escapes” (Science), and “The Bill Cunningham Show” (syndicated).
ITV Entertainment is the flagship production arm of ITV America - the largest independent non-scripted producer in the U.S. - which is a part of ITV Studios. ITV Studios is a world leader in television production and distribution. It has international production centers also include the U.K., Germany, France, the Nordics and Australia. Through its distribution business, ITV Studios Global Entertainment, the company is a distributor of programs to all regions worldwide. For further information visit: https://itvstudios.com/studios/itv-entertainment
About A. Smith & Co. Productions:
A. Smith & Co. Productions creates some of the most innovative, highly rated, and high-quality programming for the domestic and international television marketplace. The company has produced more than 3,000 hours of award-winning programming - with budgets totaling over one billion dollars across more than 45 broadcast and cable networks. Current productions include HELL’S KITCHEN, “American Ninja Warrior,” “Spartan Race,” “Ellen’s Design Challenge,” “Unsung,” “Full Throttle Saloon,” “Team Ninja Warrior,” “Container Homes,” and “The Dunk King.” Past hits include "Kitchen Nightmares," "Wizard Wars," "Conspiracy Theory with Jesse Ventura," "UFC Countdown," "Joe RoganQuestions Everything," "Paradise Hotel," "I Survived a Japanese Game Show," "The Swan," "Trading Spaces," "Pros vs. Joes," "Skating with Celebrities," and many others. For more information, visit www.asmithco.com.
-more-
“HELL’S KITCHEN” SEASON 15 CONTESTANTS – Page 6
About BLT Steak at Bally's Las Vegas:
BLT Steak at Bally's Las Vegas brings sophisticated design, quality service and classic steakhouse fare to the classic hotel and casino. Since first opening in New York City in 2004, BLT Steak has become one of the most recognized steakhouses in America and abroad with an earned reputation for superior service and classic steakhouse fare in a bistro-like setting. The signature popovers, airy golden Gruyère-laced puffs of dough served warm, start every meal, while weekly blackboard specials highlight the best the season has to offer. BLT Steak staples also include tuna tartare, chopped vegetable salad, Dover sole, peanut butter chocolate mousse and, of course, legendary USDA Prime and Certified Angus® steaks, from the 28 day dry-aged NY strip to the bone-in rib eye. The wine list, which is modeled after other BLT Steak Wine Spectator "Best of Award of Excellence" award-winning lists, will feature more than 300 wines with Old World selections from the regions of Burgundy, Bordeaux, Piedmont, Tuscany, Riojo and many others. BLT Steak at Bally's Las Vegas is also home to the premier brunch in Las Vegas, the famous Sterling Brunch. A Las Vegas institution, Sterling Brunch features the finest fare of caviar, lobster tails, fresh-shucked oysters, Alaskan king crab legs, and never-ending glasses of Perrier Jouët Champagne.
[EDITOR’S NOTE: For photos and more information on HELL’S KITCHEN, please visit http://www.foxflash.com.]
-FOX-
Contacts:
| Laurence Glasscock |
| 310-369-0979 |