Hell’s Kitchen Winner

Every Hell's Kitchen winner spends a high-stress, fast paced season trying to impress Chef Gordon Ramsay enough to be his next protégé.

If you're a loyal fan of the show, you know that in the beginning of the fourth season most people just loved to hate Christina. She was a young culinary student that seemed to have a bit of a superiority complex, especially after she got a few compliments from Chef Ramsay. Many viewers watched every week in the hopes of watching her fail. It may seem a little harsh, but that's the way it goes on reality television.

At the end of the 2008 season, the young-twenty something found herself facing off against Louis Petrozza.

After both finalists chose their teams from the group of previously voted off chefs, Petrozza and Christina got to work on the race to win the $250,000 prize and one year contract at Ramsay's London West Hollywood restaurant. Before their culinary debuts of what is probably one of the most important nights in either contestant's career, they have to present their food to Chef Ramay for his inspection and critique. Here are their menu breakdowns:

Petrozza chose the following items for his menu:

• Lobster strudel
• Filet mignon accompanied by caramelized onion risotto served in a an aged red wine balsamic vinegar demi-glace
• Vanilla soufflé in a whiskey Crème Anglais

Christina chose a seemingly simple - but tasty - menu of:

• Trio of beef "sliders" – Imagine little fancy burgers served on a bed of greens, with no top bun
• Aged New York strip served with herbed butter and sweet succotash
• Tropical sundae

Both menus impressed Ramsay but he favored Petrozza's just a bit more. Regardless, he gave both finalists some constructive criticism and let them get on with their prep work.

It isn't that the other door has closed, it's just locked. The person behind the locked door is the runner up and the person declared the winner of Hell's Kitchen opens the unlocked door and is greeted by friends, former contestants, family members and of course, Chef Gordon Ramsay, who is - for once - all smiles and hugs. It's nice to see that for change out of the short-tempered chef isn't it?

In the end, Christina beat out Petrozza. Some were stunned, some were angry and others just didn't care much. Petrozza, being the ever-gentleman that he is, seemed genuinely happy for Christina and not at all bitter or angry.

The prize for every winner of Hell's Kitchen is a one year contract as Executive Chef at one of Ramsay's many restaurants. This position comes with a salary of $250,000. Here's a quick look at the winners of past seasons:

Season One - 2005

Michael Wray was the inaugural winner of the competition. His prize was job in London working directly under Chef Ramsay. Wray originally accepted the job, but later respectfully declined, explaining that he and his new wife wanted to start a family and it just wasn't the right time to move.

Season Two - 2006

Heather West won in 2006 and took the job offer at Terra Rosa at the Red Rock Resort Spa and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. Heather left after the contract expired.

Season Three – 2007

Rahman Harper, better known as "Rock" won in 2007. His prize was the Head Chef position at Terre Verde at the Green Valley Ranch and Resort in Las Vegas. Rock is no longer the Head Chef, but remains employed by the Green Valley Ranch in the public relations department.

While the exact date of the premiere episode of season five of the cooking competition has not yet been released, word is that it has already finished taping. If you're a fan of the show and Gordon Ramsay's you probably can't wait to hear him call someone a "donkey" or "doughnut". For someone like Gordon Ramsay, who simply loves his expletives, calling someone a doughnut, banana or donkey out of anger seems really tame…and just a little bit funny.

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