Hell’s Kitchen–The Righteous Choice

Hell’s Kitchen–The Righteous Choice by Roxanne McDonald

The Hell’s Kitchen finale confirms there is justice in the world.

And as well, it reveals the humility and dignity of a well-deserved winner. Heather was gracious about Virginia’s creative and distinctive palette, which won Virginia all but one or two of the challenges and even the mini-taste challenge once the two finalists got to Las Vegas. (Heather had made fish and Virginia chicken, and they and Chef Ramsey stood in a casino and asked passersby to vote on which was best.)

Virginia and her creative way designed her restaurant to include walls of water (which weren’t working until a few minutes before show time); and Heather did a po-mo style décor with a giant video screen of her in action in the kitchen.

In typical Survivor/Apprentice style, HK brought back the losing contestants, and Heather and Virginia chose teams. Of course Virginia got to choose first (having won the last mini challenge) and of course she picked Keith. Not to worry, though, as the first thing she did at her outside staff meeting was slam them all saying how she picked those chefs who were considered failures, or the “weakest” chefs. Heather, on the other hand, showed respect for and faith in her team, who came through for her even in spite of her bulldog leadership in the kitchen.

Heather designed a “simple” menu, while Virginia went a little more creative (though she made a simple hot fudge sundae for dessert, which Hell’s Kitchen diners loved). Her chefs spoke in the diary room of how wise Heather was to do this, and also spoke to her skills and integrity.

By the way, it was obvious that Gordon Ramsey had, as Keith had the balls to say, a “hard-on for Virginia.” It is this humble writer’s opinion that 1) the attraction was obvious; 2) Ramsey knew Heather would win; and therefore 3) his gift of a plane ticket to London and an invite to each of the two finalists (which he didn’t offer in season one) was so he could see Virginia again after the competition. Slick and smooth move, and also very generous for neophyte chefs who could witness the Ramsey operation in London. Lovely, really, despite the guy’s ulterior motives.

So the heat is on (even in the oven which Jacamo checked four times this time and was ribbed about it). Heather is smooth and steady and Virginia is barking wannabe head chef orders in between her “um”s. She is so freakish about spot-on perfecting the appearance of dishes before they leave the pass bar that she slows the team down immensely.

Then Tom cuts himself (a subconscious action which we won’t get into here) and Virginia gets slowed down even more…for a minute. Ramsey goads Tom with the usual humiliation/shaming tactic, Virginia wakes up, and finally catches her team up to Heather. The president of the Red Rock is in the dining rooms—behind the scenes, unbeknownst to either finalist—and is judging and scrutinizing everything that comes out of both kitchens.

He and Ramsey confer, he approaches the two chefs and comments on what works so well for each of them, and then Chef Ramsey goes into deliberation mode while we go to commercial. When we return, the two women are wielding keys, one of which will open the door (metaphorically) to their new multimillion-dollar restaurant. Heather’s opens. Justice is served.

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