Country of origin United States Original network Fox | No. of episodes 22 | |
Original release March 12 (2013-03-12) – July 25, 2013 (2013-07-25) | ||
Season 11 of the American competitive reality television series Hell's Kitchen premiered on March 12, 2013 on Fox.
Contents
This is the first season of Hell's Kitchen to feature 20 contestants. Unlike previous seasons, this was also the first season to open up in Las Vegas, where the chefs presented their signature dishes to Chef Ramsay in front of a live audience of 2,500 at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace. This season was also the first season where there wasn't always a challenge per dinner service (with some occasions there being dinner services without there being challenges or vice versa). This was also the second season to feature two female finalists (the first being season 2's Virginia Dalbeck and Heather West).
Executive chef Ja'Nel Witt won the competition and received a head chef position at Gordon Ramsay Pub & Grill in Caesars Palace at Las Vegas. However, on August 23, 2013, it was announced that Witt was denied the position at the restaurant after testing positive for cocaine, though she retained her salary and her title as the winner of season 11. Jon Scallion, who finished third and was deemed by Ramsay the only great chef in the worst team in Hell's Kitchen history, became sous chef at Gordon Ramsay Steak under season 10 winner Christina Wilson.
Staff
Gordon Ramsay returned as head chef as well as Andi Van Willigan as the red team's sous chef. Long-time maître d' Joanne Mahon returned for the first time since season 7 due to his work commitments at Ramsay's London restaurant, Pétrus. However, previous blue team sous chef Scott Leibfried did not return due to his work obligation at Fleetwood's restaurant in Maui and was replaced by newcomer James Avery from Wall, New Jersey.
Production
During episode 7 of this season, Richard Brooker appeared in that episode as a samurai on the team challenge. Brooker died on April 8, 2013.
Opening sequence
The intro of this season depicts the chefs as they fight off Transformers-style robotic kitchen appliances as Hell's Kitchen turns into a battle zone, which ends with Ramsay morphing from one. Since the second episode, another version of the opening is shown featuring Zach saying "Get 'em Jon" just as Jon's name appears.
Contestants
Twenty chefs competed in season 11.
Contestant progress
Episodes
Each episode consists of a challenge with a reward, a service and an elimination.