Meghan Gill was chosen as the winner of ‘Hell’s Kitchen’ Season 14 on the finale episode which aired on Tuesday, June 9 on FOX. ‘Hell’s Kitchen’ is an American reality television cooking competition that stars celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay. Meghan and T Gregoire were the two finalists who competed to become the next head chef at Caesar’s Atlantic City in Las Vegas, Nevada. On “Winner Chosen,” the two finalists were judged by five of the world’s most renowned chefs in their last challenge. Meghan is a 28-year-old executive chef from Roanoke, Virginia. T is a 31-year-old line cook from Atlanta, Georgia.
A former winner of ‘Hell’s Kitchen,’ chef Christina Wilson gave both contestants words of advice on how to win it in the kitchen finale. Meghan, T, and Christina went on a plane ride to visit Caesar’s Atlantic City in Las Vegas. Each finalist received a folio to prepare their final menu. “It’s not all about who finishes first,” said Christina. The former winner told them to think up a menu that best fits chef Ramsay’s tastes. She also told them to “pick a good team” and to get their team on their side. After a 16-hour trip to Las Vegas, they returned to Hell’s Kitchen in Los angeles. In the evening, Meghan and T were picked up by a driver in a luxurious Rolls-Royce. The driver told them that he was taking them to Ramsay’s house. Inside,they were greeted by Tilly, his daughter and his wife Tana. An entire crowd awaited the finalists outside the veranda. Ramsay revealed that the location was not his house and that it was the place they will compete.
“You have one hour to create 5 outstanding dishes!” announced Ramsay.
Meghan and T had to prepare a cold dish, hot dish, fish entrée, chicken entrée, and beef entrée as their final challenge on the show. Each dish was judge on a scale of one to ten by five renowned chefs. Each judge rated one particular dish. Chef Anna Kelly, a head chef at London House in London judge the contestants’ cold dishes. Meghan prepared a toasted scallop with tarragon while T prepared a tuna lotus chip dish with avocado. T’s dish was given 8 points while Meghan’s dish received 7 points. The hot dishes were critiqued by chef Hubert Keller from San Francisco restaurant Fleur de Lys. T prepared rosemary lamb which received 8 points and Meghan prepared an abalone dish which received 9 points. They were tied at 16 points each at the end of the second round. Fish entrées were rated by award-winning chef Nancy Silverton. Meghan’s trout received 8 points while T’s red snapper received 9 points. Chicken entrées were judged by San Francisco’s Boulevard owner Nancy Oakes. She gave both contestants 9 points each. The final two dishes, beef entrées were judged by chef Wolfgang Puck. Meghan prepared a New York strip with sweet corn puree while T prepared a seared fillet with blue cheese. He gave both dishes 8 points, resulting in T’s victory in the final challenge.
Challenge winner T was allowed first pick in choosing four team members for her brigade. The brigade would assist each finalist in cooking their unique menu items during their last dinner service at Hell’s Kitchen. T’s team consisted of Milly, Nick, Adam, and Christine. Meghan chose Michelle, Allison, Josh, and Randy. After getting their brigades up to speed on their menus, each team headed back to Hells Kitchen “for the most important dinner service of their lives.” Each member of Meghan’s Blue Brigade dressed themselves in blue chef jackets. T’s Red Brigade wore red chef jackets. Chef Ramsay called both finalists up to his office and gave them each an executive chef jacket. T’s brigade faced difficulties as Adam delivered two raw rib caps. She handled the situation by removing Adam from the meat station and replacing him with Nick. Adam took over Nick’s garnish station. Nick commented that the constant station rotations was like playing a round of musical chairs.
Meghan’s brigade took a hit when Randy failed to deliver on the chicken station. Michelle switched stations with Randy, putting Randy on desserts. Michelle’s chicken came out perfectly. T commented that her “ team wasn’t perfect” but they “kept rolling.” Meghan said “win or lose” she “took so much from this competition.” As each team finished dinner service for the night, chef Ramsay called both finalists up to his office with his decision. He told T that she is an “outspoken leader” and that she thrives “under pressure.” Meghan was told that she was “strong in every challenge” and “strong in every dinner service.” Afterwards, Meghan and T stepped in front of two doors.
“The chef whose door opens will become the winner of Hell’s Kitchen with a salary of a ¼ million dollars,” said Ramsay.
On the count of three they turned their handles at which Meghan’s door opened. Ramsay consoled T with a hug and told her that she did well.
“To go up against meg it was an honor” said an emotional T with tears in her eyes. “Maybe the time that you want it” it is “not the time for it yet. Eventually it will come. Just not today.”
“It’s been an amazing ride. I’ve learned a million things from each and every one of you. You guys have taught me so much about myself. Cheers, you guys,” said Meghan.
“Meghan has every quality I look for in a head chef. She is passionate, determined and has an amazing palate. But most importantly, Meghan is a born leader who makes every chef in the kitchen better. Talent, like hers, comes along very rarely and I have no doubt she'll be a great success in Atlantic City," concluded Ramsay. During the end credits, Ramsay asked members of the Blue and Red Brigades if they were returning next year. He also asked them what their favorite challenges were. “You know my favorite challenge? Getting cameron’s jacket,” joked Ramsay.
The contestants of Season 14 were Sarah Baumert, Josh Trovato, Alison Rivera, Christine Hazel, Michael Dussault, Milly Medley, Meghan Gill, Randy Bell, Monique Booker, Cameron Spagnolo, Brendan Pelley, Chrissa Schmerler, Bret Hauser, Michelle Tribble, Nick Peters, Mieka Houser, Adam Livow, and T Gregoire. ‘Hell’s Kitchen’ was created by chef Gordon Ramsay. It is directed by Sharon Trojan Hollinger. The show is narrated by Jason Thompson. Arthur Smith, Kent Weed, and Gordon Ramsay are the executive producers of the show. FOX renewed the series for a 15th and 16th season.
