Local Philly Chef on Fox’s Hell Kitchen tonight!

 

UPDATE: Christina ended up winning Season 10!  I had no idea she won when I interviewed her.  See below! 

Exciting news for Philly!   Christina Wilson, former chef at Mercato, is one of the contestants on this season’s Hell’s Kitchen.  The 10th season kicks off tonight on Fox at 8pm.

Christina is a self-taught chef who now lives in South Philly.

I personally love this show so watching Christina this season will make it even more fun!   If you have ever watched the show you know Ramsay is a hard Chef to work for.  (to say the least)   The winner of the Hell’s Kitchen this season will become a head chef at Gordon Ramsay Steak at Paris Las Vegas.

Hell’s Kitchen is already casting for season 11 today in Center City Philadelphia.

I’m #TeamChristina – Are you?!?

Enjoy this exclusive and very honest interview with Philadelphia Chef Christina Wilson below:

Have you always wanted to be on Hell’s Kitchen?

“No. I never considered being on a cooking show, let alone a reality cooking show.  I saw Hell’s Kitchen as a job interview that would give me an education that would otherwise take me years and thousands of dollars to obtain.  Even while sitting in a room with hundreds of people at Philly’s open casting call, I truly couldn’t picture making it to the room with less than fifty.  So walking through those doors with only 17 others, that dream job didn’t seem so far away anymore.”

Have you watched other seasons and what were your expectations going into the show?

“With my work schedule I didn’t even have cable for years, except during football season.  I could never go without my NY Giants.  I remember going to watch the Yankees play at my brother’s house in October during the end of HK Season 8.  I saw the final challenge between Nona and Russell and kind of fell in love.  I liked the competitiveness and how confident both contestants were.  At that point in the season they had every right to be confident!”

“Going into to this I had no expectations.  I honestly mean that.  I knew that I had to come in, pay attention and give my absolute best.  I needed to find a rhythm in a new kitchen with 8 women as teammates, but also competitors, not to mention the other side of the kitchen with 9 men going after the same job I am.  I knew learning the menu and finding my footing in that kitchen was the first thing I would have to do.”

What was the most memorable experience you had from being on the show?

“Well, walking through the doors for the first time is the memory that is the most vivid for me.  After that, it’s such a wild ride, most of it feels like a blur now.”

What’s your favorite dish to make?

“Today it’s rainy and I want to say grilled cheese and tomato soup.  Yesterday was so warm I would’ve loved to make some Mexican street corn and grilled Mahi Mahi with only fresh squeezed lime and salt.  I will get freaky with chili all fall long.  Mac and cheese makes my entire winter.  But the truth is, I think I get that most satisfaction out of cooking that night when I look in the fridge and see that I should have gone shopping two days ago and now I get to make a meal out of loose ends.  It’s challenging and fun and reminds me to be honest with food and not wasteful.”

How was working with Chef Gordon Ramsay?

“Working with chef was an invaluable experience.  He only really yelled if you did something idiotic or he had to tell you something more than once.  At the end of the day he wanted us all to get better.  He wanted us all to learn and raise our standards.  One of us is slotted to be his next head chef after all.”

What are your goals for the future?

“My team and I are working on some projects for this fall.  Hopefully things will continue to progress on time and we’ll have some exciting news sooner than later!  In the meantime, I have committed to a few private events and will be volunteering at MANNA in Philadelphia.”