must upvoted comment wins. applies only for the first 3 seasons.

g/l: heather (honorable mention: julia)

🫶🫶🫶

“We have some alumnees coming”

guys like this guy aren't even q chef who just run a culinary store... like how does that even qualify him to be a chef on hell's kitchen...

Hear me out... (hardcore defending from the defender herself)

I rewatched season 12 again and I really do think that Paul was not choking, he did have something caught in his throat. However, the dramatic effects made it too much than what it really was, and they REALLY didn't have to show him in the restroom spitting it out. Too much.

I believe that they had steak for lunch, and sometimes even a small bite of steak can get in your throat if you're not careful or if you eat too fast.

I know there are some non-fans out there and that this is karma for him "backstabbing" Jennifer, but you all can't tell me this wasn't a little too much.

So, I'm doing my first ever rewatch of S18 and Trevor just got eliminated. The way I saw it, Trevor got bullied his way out of the competition and it happened ever since the switch. I'm glad that Scotley and Jose got eliminated first, but let's be honest, the bullying probably stayed in his head. Motto and Bret blamed their mistakes solely on Trevor and yes, he did make mistakes, but he was trying to communicate in a quiet kitchen on his last night. This makes me sad for him, especially since I know he's a USPS carrier. I know what has to be done in order to be a mail carrier and it's really depressing. I wish him the best of luck with his future endeavors, but I hope he becomes a private chef on the side just so he can have a small bit of joy in the kitchen. He honestly tried his best both times.

Hey Y’all! Chef Bradley from season 24 here. If you’re interested in learning a little more about me, my roots, and what I’m currently doing please give me a follow on Instagram! I love being part of this community, it’s so fun getting to talk to fans and see your reactions as it all unfolds and it hasn’t even started! Looking forward to September 25th!!! I will be posting dishes per episode as well (: @b_radwilddudeoffood @bayou.onthebay

Also take in that he would’ve had more drive to win, had he been put in that season, as opposed to RvV

Dunno if this fits the sub, but I thought y’all might enjoy cartoon Gordon Ramsay tossing a salmon at you

Inspired by the "Which chefs from other seasons would lose their minds interacting with Elise?" from a few days ago. Started thinking through other seasons systematically, and....why not just make a new thread.

This is assuming Elise's season 9-17 self gets time travelled to other seasons. Not guessing about early career Elise on season 1 or 2, or current fitness/nutrition thingy Elise on season 22 or 23. I'm also assuming Elise just gets added to whichever team she would be on, but you could also assume she subs for one of the weaker contestants and most of what I write still works.

She seemed to go after contestants seen as weaker (Carrie, Krupa) and/or close rivals with possible weaknesses (Dachelle, Jennifer S9), plus taking part in regular drama (Robyn, Barbie later on), so...

S1

Imagining Elise season 1 takes a bit more work, the tone of the season just doesn't mesh well with how she was shown in her runs (Not nearly as much drama between contestants, cooking is more of a challenge, etc.). Skill wise, she has a legitimate chance to win simply by being a trained cook surrounded by noncooks. Michael marks her as a rival to remove, my gut says he is more organized/effective in this than Elise's attempts to sabotage/manipulate.

S2

Elise again goes far in this season due to being a trained chef with lots of less skilled mixed in, though not so likely she wins is my guess (4th, maybe 3rd is what I'd expect). Probably Elise vs. Virginia takes the role of Elise vs. Carrie in season 9, Virginia as a "weaker in service, rival in challenges" is no question a target.

S3

Hell's Bitches get bitchier. Elise vs. Bonnie is the big rivalry, since Bonnie had some issues earlier on and Bonnie just feels like someone she'd go after. Add Jen after the pasta garbage thing (plus Jen was otherwise pretty skilled, so competition/rivalry is a thing) Gut says Elise and Julia start off fine since Julia generally cooked well, but give it a few episodes and the lack of fine dining knowledge means some conflict here. Could see Elise placing high, leaving 6th, or in between.

S4

Lots of drama/conflict this season, Elise slots right in. Can't think of any obvious targets/rivalries, more likely then not joins in some anti Christina stuff (Since Christina had some inconsistencies but did end up going far.)

S5

Fighting with/targeting with Andrea for sure (Since Andrea has inconsistencies but did end up lasting far into the competition, plus Andrea no question argues/punches back.) The biggest person of many going after Lacy. If Giovanni switches to red as happened, she probably reacts badly to his attempts to calm things down and get everyone working together.

S6

Lots of fun interpersonal stuff without a straight up villain (apart form contestants who left really early. They can speak for themselves...you know the drill)....man would Elise ruin this season. I'm not thinking of any obvious targets, maybe Amada, maybe just generally gets on everyone's nerves.

S7

Fights with Fran and Siobhan is my guess, plus attempted leadership struggle with Scott and Benjamin if they still get switched over. Can't say if she joins in against Autumn since we don't see where the dislike came from (if anything). Possibly gets into it with Holli if she lasts long enough, and has a similar crying reaction to S17 when Holli wins (if season plays out that way again)

S8

Russell and Elise...whoo boy (And Sabrina, and some other random drama.....). Season probably isn't that different, Elise may or may not give special attention to a few people, no doubt argues with Sabrina a lot.

S9 No Elise

I've forgotten a lot of this season thanks to the subject of this thread taking so much attention, and me not rewatching much of anything as a result. Obviously season is a lot calmer unless Elise's substitute is also a drama creator. Some people have said Chino becomes the big villain and I don't remember enough to argue against it, maybe he gets to stick around way too long as a result. Will almost certainly wins for reasons we all know. Carrie probably out at about the same time, she was a medium level cook from what I remember.

An an alternative universe, alternate me starts a thread. "Elise probably fights a lot with Elizabeth after the Hawaiian/Asian thing. Hard to know if she fights anyone else, Carrie, Jamie, and others didn't stand out much, and Jennifer was usually pretty calm. She'd get frustrated at Will's win, but I don't see this changing, he was solid all the way through" :) (Now to make even more predictions.)

S10

Elise plus terrible Trio, and Dana, and gets into it with Barbie a few seasons early....this season for a lot worse. Dana and Christina don't worm any obvious smash togethers, so we miss out on a cute name. Elise probably doesn't get 3rd, since other drama contestants were there to fill that role just as well, but producers didn't keep Robyn around as long.

S11

Fights with Nedra, possibly, as others have said. I could also see her going after Susan after the Lamb thing, maybe some earlier contestants. Possibly the fighting means the red team is less dominating.

S12

Remember Melanie volunteering for leadership and it not going well? Bet Elise would react badly to that. Might also start some stuff with Nicole or Sandra or such. If Jason interacts with her.......Not sure if she joins in the Scott nominations if team switches play out the same way, Scott was inconsistent but gut instinct is that not much personality conflict there.

S13

Roe becomes a big target/rival, though instinctively I'd expect a one way thing. (Elise attacks Roe, Roe mostly ignores it/waves it off.) I can imagine any number of reactions to Sterling, from very bad to no conflict at all, if team switches go similarly.

S14

Michelle, Nick, Josh, and Milly are in this season, so...same thing as season 17 when she gets into it with people who can hit back. T likely punches back as well. Meghan I imagine would grate on Elise more and more over time, since she does what Elise seemed to want to do but better, and the frustration of never being the best would rub over the season. Elise I see going after Sarah early on, and flaming out in the upper middle section before black jackets. (As close as you can get to S17 black jacket lounge episode in regular services and challenges.)

S15

Jackie and Elise argue a lot. (beyond normal), possibly leads to a physical fight. Both contestants kept for drama, but not much longer since Jackie was already somewhat close to black jackets. Reacts badly to Hassan coming over and deliberately undermines him. Frank mostly stuck to confessionals it seemed, but I do wonder what might happen if he and Elise end up on the same team.

S16

I saw this season once and didn't watch it too closely for obvious reasons. So, I remember almost nothing that happened (Paulie up a lot, Andrew and Heather, and one comment about Heidi in Maine are the only specific moments I remember, everything else is blurred.) So....Elise adds to the drama I guess.

S17 No Elise

All the plausible returnees are less conflict and drama then Elise, so less of that. Otherwise, eliminations, services, challenges, etc. probably go similarly. Red team has less conflict, but Barbie and possibly Robyn sticking around might lead to some anyway. The name "Dachelle" never enters the world, and this would be a tragic, civilizational loss, I think we can all say.

S18

Gets into it with Roe, maybe Trev before the team switch is my guess, at first. Joins in disliking Mia and Heather but more extreme. Also Bret....you know, Elise just argues with half the cast again like she did before, but even more. That about sums it up.

S19

Lots of personalities that could metaphorically punch back against Elise: Cody and Declan probably act similarly to how they handle Mark, Mary Lou I'd guess acts friendly for a while but eventually gets fed up and gets more cutting or silent treatment or similar, Kori I'd guess acts like Michelle where she argues back and then gets on with her business and probably wins just like the real season. Elise most likely picks Lauren and/or Kori as enemies, plus the usual flak everyone collects. Flames out at Black jacket lounge like in 17: several actual black jackets are plausible rivals, and general pressure.

S21 (not a typo)

Elise's season 9 self and a bit after could enter. Doesn't start bad since the 20's contestants won the early stuff, though she rolls her eyes at Ileana sticking around. I don't remember too many exact details this season (was losing interest in the show in general, this season I remember as enjoyable generally but I wasn't paying as much attention), best guess is Elise joins in more then usual with some Tara friction.

S20, S22, S23

Elise isn't technically allowed on these seasons as far as I know (never was a head chef or any close ancestors from outside the U.S., and an early career Elise young enough for 20 is missing some experience/skills, possibly, so wouldn't be the same contestant.) Which is good, because I have little to say about these seasons. Season 20 I barely remember, (Brynn and Steve were on it, and...that's about it. Plus lots of silly "look at the young people" memes), Seasons 22 and 23 I haven't seen, due to just generally losing interest in the show. (Tried watching signature dishes for one of these recently, and realized i wasn't paying any attention at all partway through. Same deal when I try watching occasional episodes from older seasons, so I think it is the entire show that's lost my interest. Why am I on this reddit? I came up randomly, I've checked it every few days for the past monthish.)

So...Elise creates drama if a version of her existed that could go on these seasons, but I have no solid idea how.

So there you go, Elise on most seasons. Very glad it didn't happen/is impossible.

Who are some chefs that were in the show that made you question their participation?

One example for me is Josie S20, who was competing to work at Gordon Ramsay’s Steak but is a vegan. I have no issues with vegans but it just seemed like a terrible fit. Can’t taste the food that is going out so it kinda defeats the whole position and purpose, no?

Others would be: Mike S12 Matt S20 Lacey S5

These are my opinion of “Why are they here?”

Note - Male chefs only

Sterling didn’t even do anything

We know who was the best in challenges overall (probably Mia), but who was best in challenges during the black jacket phase alone?

Leigh and Dahmere should not have left!!!! Even though I liked Johnathan, he was being a baby and was messing so many things up. I really saw dahmere in the finale.

Inspired by another post:

I’ll often see comments on here that some people feel the “real villain” of certain seasons was not who HK basically made the edit out to be and/or the consensus agreement.

I’ll start in that I consider Amber the villain of Season 19 and not Marc, who at least made attempts to change his behavior even if he would revert back, and did pretty well in the finale, while Amber was pretty much bitter and argumentative right to the very end.

Who is your “I know what everyone says- but this person was the real villain of (insert season here)”

The women all HATED Jackie and Jared was a talented black jacket chef. How is it possible that Jackie was a first round pack and Jared was last? Did the finalists coordinate it just for the bit?

Seriously, those salmon and risotto dishes were better looking that some on Ramsay’s menu ngl

I want to use the people that were there once.

I'd honestly say Sakari. He really sucked on the Black Jacket Olympics and he wasn't good for Dafne either but overall he had a lot of good challenges and services.

Anthony, Alison and Frank C* are also in this tier but they have very poor challenge records.

*I'm eagerly awaiting "Why do you defend that sexist prick!" as if this is a personality contest lol