It was a little tough watching the show last night, but at the same time the laughs don’t stop for me when I watch the episodes. There’s always something that Gordon says to someone that’s just really funny. Of course I was cringing a little because I knew what was coming for me.
Baby Behind
Leaving my three-month-old baby to do Hell’s Kitchen was a very difficult decision. It wasn’t one I made lightly; I put a lot of thought into it, but at the same time I knew that the pursuit of this was something that was only going to benefit my family in the long run.
My husband is extremely capable. I wouldn’t have left my daughter had I not felt completely comfortable in his ability to care for her, as well as our friends and family who were assisting us.
It was a wonderful thing to be reunited with her. I walked in the house and there was this little girl that I’d left behind when she was kind of…blobbish. I mean, at three months old babies aren’t really doing much of anything. I came back and there she was sitting up supported, she had two teeth and a big smile on her face when she saw me. It just made me feel like it was worth it, it’s okay.
Speaking Of Mothers…
Between the mother and the party planner, I would say the mother was the more annoying one. The party planner was over the top, but he was very pleasant. The mother …not so pleasant.
Speaking Of Not So Pleasant
Corey said some things about me being slow in the kitchen. I didn’t actually hear her say those things about me, but the truth is I was slower than all the other girls at prep in the kitchen.
Part of that I attribute to the style of cooking I was brought up in. I never went to culinary school; I always worked for small proprietary businesses, and the owners and I would do a little work, then sit down and talk over coffee, and then go back to our work. I came from a much more laid back environment.
We did talk about that as a team – about what ways would I not slow the team down. Nobody ever really had a problem with my service though. You’ll recall last night on the show Christina blatantly said, “Her services are fine.”
I would like to say while I was perhaps slower than the other girls, I was portrayed to be at a snail’s pace, which was inaccurate.
The Nicest Chef Gordon Ramsay Elimination Ever
Chef was really very nice to me. I think that was one of the nicest eliminations I’ve ever seen in Hell’s Kitchen history.
I have to say I respect and abide by Gordon’s decision, but the truth is Matt had continually had food returned to him. Rosann had three dinner services in a row that were shoddy at best, and I’m not afraid to say Chef dropped the ball a little bit on that one.
I’m not sure if Chef saw something in Rosann that he didn’t see in me; I think what he was saying was, “Go home to your daughter.” Maybe in his mind a mother should be with her young infant.
At the end of the day he’s a self-proclaimed perfectionist. He wants things done the way he wants them done. His name is attached to this. I can absolutely understand the desire to have the integrity of your creations maintained. I think he’s a wonderful person.
What Now?
I’m still running my catering business and May 20th I open the doors to my café here in Buffalo. It’s going to be a wonderful venture. It’s a café that’s attached to an art gallery that focuses on iron works of art. I’ve had a lot of local positive attention, as well as some positive national attention.
At the end of the day I didn’t do anything that I couldn’t be proud of when I came home. That’s going to carry me a long way with the people of Buffalo.
Predictions
Jen does have a great chance, but she’s got to get her mouth in check. Nothing’s in the bag. I also think Christina has a good chance because I don’t think she’s condescending. She’s smart and she’s a good cook. But Bobby’s from my home town, so I’d like to see him take it.
*****
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Hell’s Kitchen Chopping Block [1]
Song Over For American Idols [2]
People In Peril [4]
