For the 18th season of “Hell’s Kitchen,” which premieres Sept. 28 at 9 p.m. ET/PT on Fox, the reality TV show is changing up its usual recipe, as a Blue Team of eight contestants who previously lost in earlier seasons — dubbed the veterans — goes up against a Red Team of eight untested rookie chefs. An added twist: For the first time since Season 1, the groups will consist of cooks of both genders. Meet the players, both old and new, in our photo gallery above before they are stressed out by the ever-demanding overseer of “Hell’s Kitchen,” Gordon Ramsay.
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Here’s a closer look at the eight returning vets:
Head chef Roe DiLeo took fifth place in Season 13 and was eliminated during during episode 14 when her performance suffered, but Ramsay saluted her work ethic. She now works at City Tavern in Dallas.
Kevin Cottle, the Season 6 runner-up, lost to Dave Levey and returned to being an executive chef.
Jen Gavin was a “garde manger” or pantry chef, who had a bit of an attitude problem. She was came in fourth place after being cut in week 12 of Season 4 for her lack of team work skills. For a while, she was a chef for a celebrity catering company, cooking for the likes of Paul McCartney and Lady Gaga.
Sous chef Heather Williams was runner-up on Season 16, losing to event chef Kimberly Ann Ryan after her service went downhill.
Sous chef Bret Hauser was forced to leave in episode 8 of Season 14 after an accident caused further injury to a slipped disk, forcing Chef Ramsay to make he leave. He went on to be an executive chef at Pizza Craft Artisan Pizzeria and now does private chef experiences.
T Gregoire (for Torrece) was a line cook who came in second and just missed winning Season 14. She would become an executive chef.
Ariel Contreras-Fox, the onetime sous chef from Season 6, got as far as third place in week 14. She was good enough that Ramsay allowed her to keep her black jacket in recognition of her hard work. She is currently a corporate executive chef for Landry’s SRD Dos Caminos.
Trevor McGrath, the line cook from Season 8, was cut during episode 14, but got points from Ramsay for his determination. He ended up in television, working as a consultant for CNBC and the Food Network.
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