Hell’s Kitchen Season 6 Winner

Ariel was eliminated in Hell’s Kitchen Season 6 Episode 14, bringing us down to a final two of Dave Levey and Kevin Cottle, one of whom will be the Hell’s Kitchen Season 6 winner.

Their night has just begun. There’s a limo waiting outside for them. They arrive at a hotel just before midnight because Ramsay wants to see them on the roof. Just as I think he’s ready to throw one of them off the roof, he announces a final challenge, giving them 45 minutes to create dishes worthy of Araxi. Kevin will prepare a petite clambake with poached lobster and corn pudding. Dave is cooking a rack of venison with a sour cream and chive parsnip puree.

To win the challenge, they will need to receive three votes. Alain Gayot of Gayot guide books votes for Dave’s dish. Jamie Maw, former food editor of Vancouver Magazine, votes for Dave as well. Tanya Steel, editor in chief of Epicurious, votes for Kevin. Warren Geraghty, executive chef of West Restaurant in Vancouver, also votes for Kevin, which ties them at 2 each. Colman Andrews, the restaurant columnist for Gourmet Magazine, votes for Dave. Dave wins the challenge.

Working on a couple hours sleep, they must now create their own menus for the final service of the season. Kevin gets Heather, while Dave gets Scott. Of course, they’re going to need more help than that. As the challenge winner, Dave will pick first.

Dave’s team: Ariel, Robert, Suzanne
Kevin’s team: Van, Amanda, Sabrina

Kevin’s gone with an elaborate menu, while Dave’s goal is simple cooking that his team can easily pick up.

Kevin’s menu features: caramelized scallops, coffee cured beef tenderloin, and creme brulee trio
Dave’s menu features: wild mushroom risotto, roasted loin of venison, and dark chocolate mousse

Each kitchen will serve 13 tables and 50 diners. Included amongst the diners is Chef James Walt of Araxi Restaurant and Bar, who will be Kevin or Dave’s future employer.

Amanda starts things off on the wrong foot out of the gates. Her scallops are not done yet.

Robert’s fast feet deliver the first appetizer of the evening, risotto that Dave approves.

Back in the red kitchen, Kevin’s still waiting on Amanda’s scallops. How long? Right now. Are they ready? No. So like do you want them cooked or something? Her next attempt at scallops are overcooked. At Ramsay’s suggestion to shake things up, Kevin pulls Amanda off scallops and replaces her with Van. This works. Van delivers scallops, and Amanda does well on risotto.

Meanwhile, Dave’s almost done with his appetizers. Problem is he’s almost out of mushrooms for the risotto. Dave blames Robert, while Robert blames Dave.

Well, it doesn’t look like Amanda did so well on the risotto. A diner rejects it. The rice is not cooked properly. Kevin puts Van in charge of overseeing Amanda.

Ariel misses her meat again, but this time she acknowledges responsibility, saying she has no excuse for overcooking it. She recovers in her next attempt.

Amanda’s still confused, and she seems to be confusing Kevin in the process. He wants medium rare from her, he thinks.

After much yelling, Kevin decides to take a different approach. He calms down and gets his chefs back on track. Once they’re recovering, Kevin wants to do two tables at once in attempt to catch up.

On the other side, the venison is getting messed up. Then they get salmon returned raw.

Kevin catches up and makes a run to finish service right around the same time as Dave.

It’s time for the moment of truth. Whoever’s door opens will win. The Hell’s Kitchen season 6 winner is Dave. Not quite the outcome I was expecting, but he deserves credit for doing what he did with one arm the whole time.

We are expecting Hell’s Kitchen season 7 some time next year, but no additional details are currently available.