Hell’s Kitchen Coverage: And the Winner is?

After weeks of ruined food and foul language, a new champion is crowned on an emotional episode of “Hell’s Kitchen.”

The finale started with Ramsay announcing Ja’Nel in the final two. Looks like that last dinner service ruined Jon’s chances in the final two. As usual, the two ladies were sent to Las Vegas to stay in Caesar’s Palace via a private jet.

On the jet, Ramsay told them that they had to come up with five appetizers, five entrees and two desserts for their menus. In the Caesar’s Palace suite, which would make anyone not want to leave, the ladies got to work and had their menus looked at by the “Hell’s Kitchen” sous chefs. As usual in “Hell’s Kitchen,” there’s no rest for the wicked.

A Roman centurion came to their room with a message saying Ramsay wanted them to meet a “very important member of Caesar’s Palace family.” That person was the president of Caesar’s Palace, Gary Selesner. After that brief meeting they headed off to “Gordon Ramsay Steak” to meet last year’s winner Christina. She basically gave them advice for choosing their team.

So far, this episode was the typical part one of two season finale episode where the final two go to Vegas and meet all sorts of celebrities. That didn’t change when they had to cook in front of an audience in “Union Station” in Los Angeles. They had to cook five dishes: a cold appetizer, a hot appetizer, a fish, chicken and beef entrees.

Once again, the judges were chefs and owners of big name restaurants and it was tied after the fourth dish. The judges were: Sang Yoon from “Lukshon,” Homaru Cantu from “Moto,” David Lefevre from “M.B Post,” Douglas Keane from “Cyrus” and to decide the winner was the VP of Food and Beverage for “Caesar’s Palace” Jeffrey Frederick. He gave the win to Ja’Nel.

You all know what happened after that, right? If you answered they would choose their teammates from returning “Hell’s Kitchen” contestants, you’d be right. Ja’Nel’s team had Cyndi, Susan, Zach, Amanda and Ray. Mary had Jon, Anthony, Nedra, Michael and Dan.

Back at “Hell’s Kitchen,” after going their menus the final two were ready to prove why they should win. That is, after a ton of mishaps in their kitchens. Not only that, but for the first time, each kitchen would be service chef tables. Ja’Nel had actor Anthony Anderson and Mary had actress Kat Graham and legendary skateboarder Tony Hawk.

Mary’s kitchen’s main problem was Dan and Nedra. Nedra could not keep up with Mary and Mary had to constantly tell her to hurry up. She also brought up a cold short rib. Mary even told her she would throw her out. Dan was a real mess. He cooked at least a dozen steaks that were all either rare or undercooked. He even re-fired a few that came out overcooked. Mary had no choice but to throw him out. Nedra took over his station. This was a first in the final. Despite that, she finished her service.

The situation in Ja’Nel’s kitchen wasn’t any better. Ray had problems with the salad (not enough dressing and oily arugula.) Susan burned a flatbread for a muscle dish and made a cold, under-seasoned mashed potatoes. Zach needed six minutes to cook a chicken when Amanda said her cod was ready in a minute. It took him much longer than six minutes, causing a prawn dish sitting at the pass to go cold. Amanda even had to re-fire a cod, due to Zach’s mistake. Her brigade even stopped communicating with her. She did finally get her brigade back to speed and finished service.

After that Ramsay had to make the huge decision. High tension was abound in the building and for people at home. Finally, Ramsay called both to his office for his final words of praise and for the two to stand in front of the two doors. We all know that whoever’s door opens wins “Hell’s Kitchen.” After a commercial break to heighten the tension, Ja’Nel’s door opened, making her Season 11’s winner.

What a crazy season. Chefs who looked like they would win got eliminated, Mary stayed in the final despite being nominated the most out of everybody and a ton of multi-part episodes. Not the best season, but still an entertaining season. Here’s hoping next season will be entertaining and light on the multi-parters.