Award-winning chef Gordon Ramsay welcomes 20 new competitors on the 11th season premiere of HELL’S KITCHEN airing Tuesday, March 12 (8:00-9:00 PM) on FOX 50. These aspiring restaurateurs will endure an intense culinary academy, including a series of grueling team challenges and dinner services to prove to Chef Ramsay that they have the perfect blend of skill, poise and determination to win a life-changing grand prize: a head chef position working under Executive Chef Jeremy Berlin at Gordon Ramsay Pub & Grill at Caesars Palace.

For the first time in HELL’S KITCHEN history, the newest batch of 20 aspiring restaurateurs will head to Las Vegas to present their signature dishes before a live audience. The contestants will split into two teams – the red team (women) and blue team (men) – to show Chef Ramsay and the live audience that they have what it takes to make their mark in the restaurant world. The winning team with the most impressive dishes will earn a VIP night on the town and attend a special concert, while the losing team will take a long, sweltering eight-hour journey back to Los Angeles on a school bus. 

This season, the chefs will compete in an obstacle course involving lobsters and prepare a meal for hungry runners and world-renowned athletes as they vie for a chance to win lavish rewards, including a luxury spa day on a yacht and a trip to wine country on a private jet. Meanwhile, the losing teams will scale hundreds of pounds of fish or scrub down HELL’S KITCHEN in preparation for dinner service. Throughout the competition, the teams will be winnowed down until two chefs are left standing to compete for the ultimate prize.

Below are the 20 chefs competing on this season of HELL’S KITCHEN:

The Red Team (Women) includes:

Amanda Giblin                   Age: 28  Hometown: Orange County, NY Occupation: Executive Chef Signature Dish: Pan-Seared Sea Scallops over Roasted Corn and Crispy Prosciutto Risotto

Cyndi Stanimirov               Age: 25  Hometown: Queens, NY Occupation: Head Chef Signature Dish: Tri-Color Pepper-Crusted New York Strip with Black Truffle, White Cheddar Macaroni and Cheese with Asparagus

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Danielle Boorn                   Age: 33  Hometown: Atlanta, GA Occupation: Executive Chef Signature Dish: Parmesan-Encrusted Chicken with Herbed Orzo and Grilled Asparagus

Gina Aloise                         Age: 49  Hometown: Bronx, NY Occupation: Line Cook Signature Dish: Penne Pasta with Meatballs and a Petit Braciola

Ja’Nel Witt                          Age: 31  Hometown: Houston, TX Occupation: Executive Chef Signature Dish: Thai Grilled Prawns with Asian Pesto

Jacqueline Baldassari       Age: 27  Hometown: Florence, NJ Occupation: Roundsman Signature Dish: Magret Duck Breast, Sweet Potato Rosti, Caramelized Brussel Sprouts with a Currant Au Jus

Jessica Lewis                     Age: 26  Hometown: New York, NY Occupation: Chef Tournant Signature Dish: Wahoo with Vegetable Succotash and Lemon Thyme Vinegar

Mary Poehnelt                    Age: 26  Hometown: Belchertown, MA Occupation: Butcher/Cook Signature Dish: Seared Duck Breast with a Red Wine Reduction, Pommes Anna and Arugula Salad

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Nedra Harris                       Age: 24  Hometown: Detroit, MI Occupation: Kitchen Manager Signature Dish: Honey-Glazed Lamb Chops with Grilled Potatoes

Susan Heaton                     Age: 29  Hometown: Whittier, CA Occupation: Culinary Student   Signature Dish: Moroccan Lamb with Couscous

 

The Blue Team (Men) includes:

Anthony Rodriguez             Age: 27            Hometown: New Orleans, LA  Occupation: Line Chef   Signature Dish: BBQ Scallop “Po’ Boy” with a Tasso Jambalaya Pilaf

Barret Beyer                       Age: 35  Hometown: Long Island, NY   Occupation: Head Chef   Signature Dish: Pork Loin Roulade with Mushrooms and Spinach Cream Sauce with Smashed Roasted Garlic Potato

Christian Rosati                 Age: 38  Hometown: Boston, MA    Occupation: Line Cook/Sandwich Maker Signature Dish:  Pasta alla Norma

Dan Ryan                            Age: 27  Hometown: Westchester, NY    Occupation: Head Cook Signature Dish: Eggs Benedict

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Jeremy Madden                 Age: 22  Hometown: Los Angeles, CA    Occupation: Lead Cook Signature Dish: Stuffed Porterhouse Steak with Caramelized Onions and Smoked Gouda

Jon Scallion                        Age: 27  Hometown: York, PA    Occupation: Chef de Cuisine Signature Dish: Seared Scallops and Foie Gras with Truffle and Smoked Gouda Risotto

Michael Langdon               Age: 33  Hometown: Plains, PA    Occupation: Executive Chef Signature Dish: Seared Striped Bass and Ratatouille with a Saffron Tomato Jus

Ray Alongi                         Age: 51   Hometown: Boston, MA    Occupation: Executive Chef Signature Dish: Stuffed Veal Cutlet Damiano

Sebastian Royo                 Age: 32   Hometown: Brooklyn, NY        Occupation: Sous Chef   Signature Dish: Sea Bass “Sea Farce” (aka Salmon and Shrimp Corndogs)

Zach Womack                     Age: 34  Hometown: Philadelphia, PA  Occupation: Head Line Cook          Signature Dish: Pork Chop with Apple Fig Purée

 

HELL’S KITCHEN is produced by ITV Studios America 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 www.facebook.com/hellskitchen and follow the series on Twitter at @hellskitchenfox and Gordon Ramsay at @GordonRamsay01. Join the discussion at #hellskitchen.

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. Founded in 2000 by Arthur Smith and Kent Weed, the company has produced more than 2000 hours of award-winning programming. The company’s current production slate includes such hits as HELL’S KITCHEN, KITCHEN NIGHTMARES,  “American Ninja Warrior,” “Chainsaw Gang,” “Surprise with Jenny McCarthy,“ Conspiracy Theory with Jesse Ventura,” “Full Throttle Saloon,” “Unsung,” “UFC Countdown” and many others. A. Smith & Co.’s library of programming includes hit shows such as “The Swan,” “Skating with Celebrities,” “Paradise Hotel,” “Trading Spaces” and “Pros vs. Joes.” A. Smith & Co. has developed and produced the No. 1 show in America an astonishing 25 times and a Top 10 show more than 200 times. The company has produced programs with budgets totaling approximately one billion dollars, for more than 40 broadcast and cable networks. In 2011, A. Smith & Co. joined forces with Tinopolis Group and in doing so became the leading North American television production entity within the Tinopolis organization with the ability to tap into that company's resources on a worldwide basis.

About Gordon Ramsay Pub & Grill
Gordon Ramsay Pub & Grill at Caesars Palace made history on the famed Las Vegas Strip when Ramsay opened Pub & Grill and Gordon Ramsay's BurGR at Planet Hollywood in December 2012, making him the first chef to open two restaurants within one week. The 290-seat restaurant offers the U.K. chef’s take on an authentic English pub experience – a lively and friendly setting, featuring elevated British pub food, 24 beers served on tap and 63 bottled beers, including a selection of large format varieties. For more information on the restaurant please visit www.gordonramsay.com.

About Caesars Palace
World renowned Las Vegas hotel and casino, Caesars Palace features 3,960 hotel guest rooms and suites, including the brand new Octavius Tower and 181-room Nobu Hotel. The 85-acre resort offers 25 diverse dining options, including celebrity chef-branded restaurants by Gordon Ramsay, Bobby Flay and Guy Savoy, the award-winning Bacchanal Buffet, nearly 130,000 square-feet of casino space, a five-acre Garden of the Gods pool oasis and the luxurious Qua Baths & Spa. The Forum Shops at Caesars showcases more than 160 boutiques and restaurants and the 4,300-seat Colosseum spotlights world-class Las Vegas entertainers such as Celine Dion, Elton John, Rod Stewart, Shania Twain and Jerry Seinfeld. For more information, please visit www.caesarspalace.com or caesars.thedigitalcenter.com to access media materials and request high-resolution images. Find Caesars Palace on Facebook and follow on Twitter.