AimzsterYoung vs Old in Hell's Kitchen Season 4 Finale
July 15th 2008 03:22
Despite having only 3 years’ culinary experience, 25-year old Christina Machamer beats 47-year old Catering Director Louis Petrozza to become the winner of Hell’s Kitchen Season 4. Unlike previous seasons where the winner nabbed an executive or head chef position in a restaurant, this season’s winner will be a senior sous chef at Gordon Ramsay’s restaurant London West Hollywood with a salary of $250,000.
BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT
Ben, 29, Electrician & Former Chef, North Carolina
I had pinned high hopes on Ben – he reminded me of Michael Wray (Season 1’s winner) with his assertiveness and seemingly calm influence. Unfortunately, he turned out to be a dick. As much as I hate Matt, Ben didn’t seem to understand the concept of teamwork which I think contributed greatly to the girls’ team winning so many challenges. He was eliminated in episode 7.
BIGGEST LOSER
Matt, 35, Sous Chef, New Jersey
I don’t usually like calling anyone a loser but is there a more pathetic HK contestant than this dud? He’s the kind of guy you’d want to put your arms around, only to dunk his head in the toilet. Where do I start? That constant indignant expression on his face – where he pulls his eyebrows in and manages to pull in the rest of his facial features with them; the way he takes criticism by mumbling and swearing underneath his breath (ie “Shut your fucking mouth and let me work”) like a big child; and the way he resembles a puppy jumping up and down, his tongue lolling out when he gets a compliment. Surprisingly, despite his unpredictable, often negative attitude and his incompetent skills in the kitchen, he lasted until episode 10.
BIGGEST TROUBLEMAKER/SOREST LOSER
Jen, 24, Line Cook, Illinois
Jen started off with some promise, leading the women to a couple of victories with her passion and determination. Unfortunately, that was the best side of her. The worst side was all attitude, especially when she didn’t get what she wanted. Her teamwork with the girls soon turned sour when she started bossing them around and she fared no better when she was switched to the boys’ team when they took a dislike to her superior attitude and her vehement aversion to being called anything else but ‘Jen’. No sweetie, this one. She was finally eliminated in episode 12 when Ramsay finally got sick of her attitude – which she showed in abundance when she had to return in the last episode to help Petrozza out.
WHAT-THE?
The vomit that was Matt’s signature dish when he served Ramsay a combination of ‘raw venison, caviar, raw quail egg, lime zest, olive oil, capers, scallops and white chocolate’, making Ramsay actually vomit.
DUMBEST EDITING
When Matt accidentally cut off an inch of his finger and when someone asked where the cut part was, the camera panned toward a dish, prompting the viewer to think that was the reason why Ramsay, when sampling the dish, said, “It tastes funny”.
I-HAD-HOPED-HE-WOULD-HAVE-MAD E-IT-LONGER
Bobby, 37, Executive Chef, NY and Louross, 24 Hotel Cook, Nevada
Bobby showed some leadership skills from the beginning without stepping on too many tones. I particularly adored him when he coerced Petrozza into not giving up during a service, grabbing him and pulling him up, telling him to ‘wipe his eyes’ and giving him a towel to do so. But I think the reason why he didn’t make it past episode 11 was his self-proclamation that he was the ‘black Gordon Ramsay’, prompting Ramsay to expect highly from him in the beginning then ultimately cutting him off when he didn’t live up to expectations.
Louross may be short but he reminded me of WB’s Tasmanian Devil – he was quick, passionate and full of energy. Granted, I didn’t know at first which team he should have belonged but I was rooting for him when Jen froze him out of one challenge and grew dismayed when he kept bungling in the kitchen, finally being eliminated in episode 9.
STUPIDEST MOVE
I appreciate a good strategy, especially in reality TV competition but anyone can see that Corey putting Christine up for elimination even though she was one of the best during the service, during the second dinner, for ‘strategic reasons’ was a dumb move. And putting up Jen as well ‘for personal reasons’ was plain suicide. Luckily, Ramsay overrode Corey’s elimination choices and voted out make-up wearing Sharon instead. Corey was eliminated in episode 13.
WE’LL NEVER KNOW – OR DO WE?
Vanessa, 31, Line Cook, Montana
Vanessa volunteered, albeit reluctantly, to go home in episode 5 due to her burned hand from the previous episode. Despite serving one of the only two signature dishes Ramsay actually liked, I felt Vanessa would have been eliminated soon anyway. I just couldn’t imagine her yelling and swearing at Ramsay when she would have made it to the final 3.
BIGGEST SURPRISE
Petrozza, 47, Catering Director, North Carolina
I was ready to dismiss Petrozza and his ‘I’m done’ attitude during a service when he couldn’t remember the menu and Ramsay was forced to send him back to the dorms. Only Bobby was able to get him out of that quitting attitude. But he persevered and improved throughout the whole season, making him this season’s runner up.
ALWAYS THE BRIDESMAID, NEVER THE BRIDE
Petrozza again. You had to feel sorry for the guy when he just got beat out by Christina in numerous individual challenges. In one of his interviews since the show ended, Petrozza admitted there had been a malfunction on the set during the finale, when he and Christina were getting ready to open their doors to see who would ‘walk into their dream’. Apparently, P’s door opened along with Christina’s. Seeing this mistake, Ramsay immediately grabbed P in a hug – a move which puzzled me when I saw the finale. Again, you had to feel for him.
BEST WORKING TEAM
Christina & Corey
Despite a rocky start, the two showed they were a formidable team, even with Jen and Matt to drag them down.
THANK-GOD-HE’S-GONE
Jason, 29, Sous chef, Nevada
Sexist Pig who hated the fact the women kept winning. I could not have taken more of his derogatory remarks towards the women past episode 3.
BEST CHALLENGE REWARD
In episode 5, as a result of their winning pizza, the girls were taken by helicopter to a Santa Barbara restaurant where they were served a $90 burger with truffle fries. I’d like to try that!
WORST CHALLENGE PUNISHMENT
Ben cleaning up the shit in the petting zoo set up for Family Night outside the restaurant.
Season 4 winner - Christina Machamer
BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT
Ben, 29, Electrician & Former Chef, North Carolina
I had pinned high hopes on Ben – he reminded me of Michael Wray (Season 1’s winner) with his assertiveness and seemingly calm influence. Unfortunately, he turned out to be a dick. As much as I hate Matt, Ben didn’t seem to understand the concept of teamwork which I think contributed greatly to the girls’ team winning so many challenges. He was eliminated in episode 7.
BIGGEST LOSER
Matt, 35, Sous Chef, New Jersey
I don’t usually like calling anyone a loser but is there a more pathetic HK contestant than this dud? He’s the kind of guy you’d want to put your arms around, only to dunk his head in the toilet. Where do I start? That constant indignant expression on his face – where he pulls his eyebrows in and manages to pull in the rest of his facial features with them; the way he takes criticism by mumbling and swearing underneath his breath (ie “Shut your fucking mouth and let me work”) like a big child; and the way he resembles a puppy jumping up and down, his tongue lolling out when he gets a compliment. Surprisingly, despite his unpredictable, often negative attitude and his incompetent skills in the kitchen, he lasted until episode 10.
BIGGEST TROUBLEMAKER/SOREST LOSER
Can you stop being a bitch for once, Jen?
Jen, 24, Line Cook, Illinois
Jen started off with some promise, leading the women to a couple of victories with her passion and determination. Unfortunately, that was the best side of her. The worst side was all attitude, especially when she didn’t get what she wanted. Her teamwork with the girls soon turned sour when she started bossing them around and she fared no better when she was switched to the boys’ team when they took a dislike to her superior attitude and her vehement aversion to being called anything else but ‘Jen’. No sweetie, this one. She was finally eliminated in episode 12 when Ramsay finally got sick of her attitude – which she showed in abundance when she had to return in the last episode to help Petrozza out.
WHAT-THE?
Ramsay about to sample Matt's 'vomit' signature dish
The vomit that was Matt’s signature dish when he served Ramsay a combination of ‘raw venison, caviar, raw quail egg, lime zest, olive oil, capers, scallops and white chocolate’, making Ramsay actually vomit.
DUMBEST EDITING
When Matt accidentally cut off an inch of his finger and when someone asked where the cut part was, the camera panned toward a dish, prompting the viewer to think that was the reason why Ramsay, when sampling the dish, said, “It tastes funny”.
I-HAD-HOPED-HE-WOULD-HAVE-MAD E-IT-LONGER
Bobby, 37, Executive Chef, NY and Louross, 24 Hotel Cook, Nevada
Bobby showed some leadership skills from the beginning without stepping on too many tones. I particularly adored him when he coerced Petrozza into not giving up during a service, grabbing him and pulling him up, telling him to ‘wipe his eyes’ and giving him a towel to do so. But I think the reason why he didn’t make it past episode 11 was his self-proclamation that he was the ‘black Gordon Ramsay’, prompting Ramsay to expect highly from him in the beginning then ultimately cutting him off when he didn’t live up to expectations.
Louross may be short but he reminded me of WB’s Tasmanian Devil – he was quick, passionate and full of energy. Granted, I didn’t know at first which team he should have belonged but I was rooting for him when Jen froze him out of one challenge and grew dismayed when he kept bungling in the kitchen, finally being eliminated in episode 9.
STUPIDEST MOVE
I appreciate a good strategy, especially in reality TV competition but anyone can see that Corey putting Christine up for elimination even though she was one of the best during the service, during the second dinner, for ‘strategic reasons’ was a dumb move. And putting up Jen as well ‘for personal reasons’ was plain suicide. Luckily, Ramsay overrode Corey’s elimination choices and voted out make-up wearing Sharon instead. Corey was eliminated in episode 13.
WE’LL NEVER KNOW – OR DO WE?
Vanessa, 31, Line Cook, Montana
Vanessa volunteered, albeit reluctantly, to go home in episode 5 due to her burned hand from the previous episode. Despite serving one of the only two signature dishes Ramsay actually liked, I felt Vanessa would have been eliminated soon anyway. I just couldn’t imagine her yelling and swearing at Ramsay when she would have made it to the final 3.
BIGGEST SURPRISE
Petrozza, 47, Catering Director, North Carolina
I was ready to dismiss Petrozza and his ‘I’m done’ attitude during a service when he couldn’t remember the menu and Ramsay was forced to send him back to the dorms. Only Bobby was able to get him out of that quitting attitude. But he persevered and improved throughout the whole season, making him this season’s runner up.
ALWAYS THE BRIDESMAID, NEVER THE BRIDE
The perennial bridesmaid...
Petrozza again. You had to feel sorry for the guy when he just got beat out by Christina in numerous individual challenges. In one of his interviews since the show ended, Petrozza admitted there had been a malfunction on the set during the finale, when he and Christina were getting ready to open their doors to see who would ‘walk into their dream’. Apparently, P’s door opened along with Christina’s. Seeing this mistake, Ramsay immediately grabbed P in a hug – a move which puzzled me when I saw the finale. Again, you had to feel for him.
BEST WORKING TEAM
Christina & Corey
Despite a rocky start, the two showed they were a formidable team, even with Jen and Matt to drag them down.
THANK-GOD-HE’S-GONE
Jason, 29, Sous chef, Nevada
Sexist Pig who hated the fact the women kept winning. I could not have taken more of his derogatory remarks towards the women past episode 3.
BEST CHALLENGE REWARD
In episode 5, as a result of their winning pizza, the girls were taken by helicopter to a Santa Barbara restaurant where they were served a $90 burger with truffle fries. I’d like to try that!
WORST CHALLENGE PUNISHMENT
Ben cleaning up the shit in the petting zoo set up for Family Night outside the restaurant.
Ramsay & the Season 4 contestants
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