Arts & Entertainment

Hell's Kitchen: Vanessa Burns Her Trail Home

Vanessa, Hell's Kitchen

I quit because I needed to heal.


I really don’t think Chef Gordon Ramsay was very happy with me for quitting. He really insisted that I should continue because he had a friend who lost an arm and then went on to get a Michelin Star. '
Red Team's Vanessa Gunnell
Date Posted: 04/30/08
Reader Rating: rating

I chose to leave Hell’s Kitchen primarily because of my hand. It needed to heal. That was really important. Other people said they could have worked with it, but they didn’t see the blisters, they didn’t know how bad it hurt.

To be honest I was at work last night and didn’t see my elimination episode yet. It was comforting to return to real life – I was really happy to get back to my own restaurant. I love where I work, and it was just nice to go back to a place where people know I have talent and can cook.

The Big Burn

Initially when I burned myself I thought it would be ok. I’ve burned myself a million times. I was in the emergency room after they had drugged me up looking at my hand. I thought, ‘Oh man, it’s perfectly smooth.’ That’s a bad sign when it doesn’t blister immediately.

They told me I’d go see a plastic surgeon, and everything kind of hinged on what the plastic surgeon said. She told me what the consequences were of prematurely popping those blisters. I realized I had to take care of myself; I need my hands.

Quitting

I really don’t think Chef Gordon Ramsay was very happy with me for quitting. He really insisted that I should continue because he had a friend who lost an arm and then went on to get a Michelin Star. He busted that story out on me twice on different occasions. (laughs)

I imagine he opted not to eliminate anyone else last night after I quit because it would probably mess up the episode line up. I heard Christina was up for elimination, but I think she’s a very talented and smart girl. She doesn’t necessarily have superior skills on the line, but she’ll get there. I’m glad Chef didn’t send her home.

I think the women’s team has come out stronger than the men’s team because there are more egos in the men’s kitchen.


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