Country of origin United States Original network Fox | No. of episodes 15 | |
Original release January 29 (2009-01-29) – May 14, 2009 (2009-05-14) | ||
Season 5 of the American competitive reality television series Hell's Kitchen began airing on the Fox Network starting on January 29, 2009. The season concluded on May 14, 2009.
Contents
Executive Chef Daniel Veltri won the series and was awarded a sous chef position under Stephen Kalt at Italian restaurant Fornelletto at the Borgata in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Danny also received $250,000 in prize money from the show.
This season also featured a high amount of unusual eliminations; with two chefs leaving due to medical issues, and two chefs eliminated during service. Also this season marked the first time a chef was eliminated despite being on the winning team, which would become more prominent in later seasons.
Format
The first half of each episode consists of a team challenge, in which the winning side gets a reward of some sort of leisure activity, while the losing side has to clean up and prepare both kitchens, as well as some activity that is not so pleasant. Afterwards, the teams compete in executing a dinner service, during which Ramsay can impose additional punishments or kick chefs out of the kitchen. The losing team(s) nominates chefs to be considered for elimination. Ramsay can also nominate chefs, and ultimately sends a chef home. At six chefs left, the teams merge to one, and the chefs compete as individuals.
Staff
Gordon Ramsay returned as the head chef, sous chefs Scott Leibfried of blue team and Gloria Félix of red team, and Maître d' Jean-Philippe Susilovic as well.
Opening sequence
The chefs are shown alongside an elaborate Rube Goldberg machine as it plays out in the kitchen.
Contestants
16 chefs competed in Season 5, and were initially separated by gender. The chefs were:
Contestant progress
Each week, the best member (as determined by Ramsay) from the losing team during the latest service period is asked to nominate two of their teammates for elimination; one of these two is meant to be sent home by Ramsay. On some weeks, there is a variation in the nomination process, depending on the losing team's (or even winning team's) performance.
Episodes
Each episode consists of a challenge with a reward, a service, nominations for elimination, and an elimination.
Epilogue
Danny worked at Fornelletto for a few months and then resigned in August 2009 to become a consultant. He later returned as one of the special VIP guests for Hell's Kitchen's "black-tie" 100th dinner service on October 13, 2010.
In March 2012, Danny was arrested for DUI after being found at a local gas station in his car at 4:15 am and heavily intoxicated with a blood alcohol level of 0.12, which is above the legal limit of 0.08, he was released a few hours later on a $500 bail.
Robert returned as a contestant the following season and made it to tenth place. He was eliminated after nomination by Dave but later returned to help in the final service.
Colleen made an appearance in the first episode of season 6, telling that season's hopefuls to taste their dishes before serving to patrons.
Ben returned in season 9 as part of an All-Stars team which competed against that season's final five chefs at dinner service. The All-Stars lost to the current chefs.
Paula returned in season 10 as part of an All-Stars team which competed against that season's final six chefs at dinner service; the All-Stars were deemed the clear winners of the service.