'Hell's Kitchen' Finale: The old winners return and a new one revealed

'Hell's Kitchen' Finale: The old winners return and a new one revealed

More »

What I want to see every year on the penultimate episode of "Hell's Kitchen" is the preparation for the final service. I want to see the sweating and hair-pulling and teeth-grinding involved in getting ready for the service that controls the finalists' fate. We get that, but we have to sift through a whole lot of filler, too. More »

Danny, my choice to win it all on "Hell's Kitchen," did not perform as well as I would have liked tonight. Okay, I'll admit it, he embarrassed himself repeatedly, he stunk. Don't worry, I've still managed to come up with a couple of reasons for him not to be eliminated tonight. Read on.

More »

I think that Hell's Kitchen has done something truly amazing this season -- they've actually managed to go out and get a couple of good chefs. Oh sure, heading into tonight's episode Ben and Andrea were still there too, but Danny and Paula? They seem legit. Also, let's not forget, we all knew that either Ben or Andrea was going home tonight, which would only increase the percentage of real contenders left.

More »

Let's face it, Ramsay saying that he was going to close the restaurant last week on "Hell's Kitchen" was pure lunacy. The fact that the chefs looked as though Ramsay might have been telling the truth was equally insane, and it was just the sort of insanity I think we've come to expect from them and the show. More »

It was black jacket week tonight on "Hell's Kitchen," and true to form, Ramsay opted to scare a couple of chefs before handing them out. I like that sort of thing -- give out a few heart attacks here and there for no other reason than the fact that you're the boss and people will believe anything you say. Play with the little people, pull the strings. Be the puppet master, it's a good thing.

More »

When the chefs in "Hell's Kitchen" take on one of my favorite foods I get nervous. There's always that chance that they'll do something to so destroy a food I love that I'll never be able to look at it the same way again. Risotto. I can't order risotto anymore at restaurants. Have you seen what the chefs have done to risotto? With the king crab I was nervous tonight.

More »

There's always that one contestant on "Hell's Kitchen" who overstays their welcome. This season, it's been Lacey. Honestly, how long did Ramsay think that Lacey could stick around? If all the other chefs have been beef, Lacey has been tuna masquerading as beef. If all the other chefs have been scallops, Lacey has been sea bass masquerading as scallops.

More »

Last week I ended my recap by suggesting that which was relatively clear -- Gordon Ramsay needed to rejigger the teams on "Hell's Kitchen" or the women would continue to lose. The first thing that happened tonight? Ramsay moved Giovanni to the Red side. Captain Obvious -- 1, The Other Side of the Argument Which No One Took -- 0.

More »

It is nice to know that despite the tweaks that have been made to "Hell's Kitchen" this season some things remain the same. You have still got your infighting. You have still got your imploding. And you have also still got your sparkalicious party planner, Francisco. Who could ask for more?

More »