Hell's Kitchen Heat
Occupation: Sous Chef
Hometown: Port Jefferson, NY
What you should know about her: She's a strong leader who has shown superhero kitchen skills, such as the time she continued to delegate even after severely burning her hand. Said Ramsay, "I've never seen that in 21 years of cooking. Very impressive."
<b>Eliminated in Episode 9</b>
Name: Virginia, 25Occupation: Salad Chef
Hometown: New York, NY
What you should know about her: She's a garde manger in Manhattan. Come again? A garde manger prepares cold dishes exclusively. Speaking of cold, Ramsay is quite chilly with Virginia. She complained in episode one: "Of course he's riding me, he always rides me."
<b>Eliminated In Episode 8</b>
Name: Keith, 28Occupation: Chef / Bartender
Hometown: South Hampton, NY
What you should know about him: Ramsay described dopy looking Keith as "slightly demented." In one challenge he struggles with perspiration (telling one grossed-out customer as he wipes his brow, "Sweat. Don't mind it."). He has a knack for cutting steak, "I've butchered like 200 of them."
<b>Eliminated In Episode 7</b>
Name: Sara, 31Occupation: Deli Manager
Hometown: Dallas, TX
What you should know about her: She has a tendency to scream in the kitchen when she gets excited. During one challenge, Ramsay shut her up real quick: "You're not a (insert expletive) cheerleader ... we have got nothing to smile about."
<b>Eliminated In Episode 6</b>
Name: Garrett, 27Occupation: Former Prisoner / Chef
Hometown: Cedar Park, TX
What you should know about him: A veteran of the food services industry, Garrett, who served five years behind bars, likes wrestling and drinking beer. He took heat from Heather in one episode when he said the women should cook for the men.
<b>Eliminated In Episode 5</b>
Name: Maribel, 31Occupation: Cafeteria Chef
Hometown: Brooklyn, NY
What you should know about her: Ramsay said one of her soup concoctions looked like "baby vomit." The ballsy contestant chalked it up to a weak tongue, "I don't think (Ramsay) could take the spice. I think he's a wimp when it comes to that." Why she could win: "I want it more than I want air."
<b>Eliminated in Episode 4</b>
Name: Rachel, 39Occupation: Personal Chef
Hometown: Dallas, TX
What you should know about her: She's studied under European chefs and now owns a personal chef company. This tough cookie told the world in the premiere that she's "proud to be a redneck."
<b>Eliminated in Episode 3</b>
Name: Tom, 43Occupation: Former Stockbroker
Hometown: Belleville, NJ
What you should know about him: Tom, or "Big Boy" as Ramsay calls him, got laid off from his job as a stockbroker and then went to the French Culinary Institute. Sounds great, except for the fact that he sweats IN the food and is prone to starting fires in the kitchen.
<b>Eliminated in Episode 2</b>
Name: Giacomo, age unknownOccupation: Pizza Maker
Hometown: Euless, TX
What you should know about him: The floppy-haired contestant's daddy is a restaurateur. Giacomo gave clues about his age when Ramsay made contestants dig through a filthy dumpster. "I've lost my retainer five or six times in the school trash can," he said. "That was nothing."
<b>Left Due To Illness In Episode 1, Part 2</b>
Name: Larry, 38Occupation: Fishmonger
Hometown: Arlington, TX
What you should know about him: Larry was scary when he said: "I'm used to being underestimated all my life but don't piss me off or you'll get a pit bull." But his bark was bigger than his bite. During one challenge Ramsay said: "Stop standing in one spot like the Statue of Liberty."
<b>Eliminated in Episode 1, Part 2</b>
Name: Gabe, 27Occupation: Marketing Executive
Hometown: Chicago, IL
What you should know about him: He has only six months of culinary school under his belt but he's competitive. "It's time to play the game, it's time to see who can hang in the kitchen and who can't," he said.
<b>Eliminated In Episode 1, Part 1</b>
Name: Polly, 43Occupation: Caterer
Hometown: Ben Franklin, TX
What you should know about her: Polly, the mother of six home-schooled boys, revealed in episode one: "I have had six sons and I did it all naturally and if I can endure that, Hell's Kitchen is going to be nothing for me." E'nuff said.