The sixteenth season of the American competitive reality television series Hell's Kitchen premiered on Fox on September 23, 2016, and concluded on February 2, 2017. Gordon Ramsay returned as host and head chef, while Aaron Mitrano returned as the Blue Team's sous-chef, and Andi Van Willigan-Cutspec returned as the Red Team's sous-chef, replacing Christina Wilson, after the former had appeared as a guest in the previous season. Marino Monferrato returned as maître d'.
The season was won by event chef Kimberly-Ann Ryan, with sous-chef Heather Williams finishing second.
This season was filmed between November and December 2014, shortly after the completion of the previous season, about two years before airing.
This was the first season since season 13 to take a hiatus due to Fox's coverage of the 2016 World Series, in addition to the holiday breaks. The remaining episodes were moved to Thursday nights, starting on January 5, 2017, as part of the network's midseason schedule.
This is the first season to have episode titles other than the usual "(Remaining number of) Chefs Compete" and "Winner Chosen".
Chefs Eighteen chefs compete in season 16. Note: Hell's Kitchen official site erroneously lists Season 15 chefs.
Contestant Age Occupation Hometown Result Kimberly-Ann Ryan 29 Event Chef Traverse City, Michigan Winner Heather Williams 26 Sous Chef Easton, Pennsylvania Runner-Up Heidi Parent 33 Executive Chef Auburn, Maine Eliminated before Finals Paul "Paulie" Giganti, Jr. 34 Executive Chef Brooklyn, New York Eliminated after Thirteenth Service Kimberly Roth 34 Sushi Chef Ontario, New York Andrew Pearce 27 Sous Chef Prospect Park, Pennsylvania Eliminated after Black Jackets Challenge Devin Simpson 33 Assistant Restaurant Manager Mount Pleasant, South Carolina Eliminated after Twelfth Service Wendy Mendez 32 Line Cook/Pastry Chef Bronx, New York Eliminated after Eleventh Service Matt Hearn 27 Sauté Chef Los Angeles, CaliforniaEliminated after Tenth Service Shaina Hayden 28 Banquet Chef Long Island, New York William "Koop" Wynkoop 28 Kitchen Manager Carey, Ohio Eliminated after Ninth Service Johnny McDevitt 29 Burger Chef Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Eliminated after Eighth Service Aziza Young 34 Kitchen Manager Harrisburg, Pennsylvania Eliminated after Sixth Service Aaron Smock 22 Culinary Student Frankenmuth, Michigan Eliminated after Fifth Service Rajeeyah "Gia" Young 31 Catering Chef Queens, New York Eliminated after Fourth Service Jessica Boynton 32 University Chef Raleigh, North Carolina Eliminated after Third Service Genaro Delillo 26 Sous Chef Lebanon, Pennsylvania Eliminated after Second Service Pat Tortorello 47 Culinary Instructor Belleville, New Jersey Eliminated after First Service
Notes
Contestant progress No.Chef Original teams 1st switch 2nd switch Individuals Finals 1601 1602 1603 1604 1605 1606 1607 1608 1609 1610 1611 1612 1613 1614 1615 1616 1 Ryan WIN WIN LOSE WIN WIN LOSE LOSE WIN WIN LOSE LOSE LOSE IN IN IN WINNER 2 Heather WIN WIN LOSE WIN WIN LOSE LOSE WIN WIN LOSE WIN WIN IN IN IN 3 Heidi WIN WIN LOSE WIN WIN LOSE LOSE WIN WIN LOSE WIN WIN IN INOUTRyan's team 4 Paulie LOSE LOSE WIN LOSE LOSE NOM WIN NOM NOM LOSE NOM LOSE IN OUTRyan's team 5 Kimberly WIN WIN LOSE WIN WIN LOSE LOSE WIN WIN NOM WIN WIN IN OUTHeather's team 6Andrew LOSE LOSE WIN LOSE LOSE LOSE WIN WIN WIN LOSE WIN WINOUTHeather's team 7 Devin LOSE LOSE WIN LOSE NOM NOM WIN LOSE LOSE LOSE LOSE OUTHeather's team8 Wendy WIN WIN LOSE WIN WIN NOM NOM NOM LOSE NOM OUTRyan's team 9 Matt NOM LOSE WIN LOSE LOSE LOSE WIN WIN WIN OUT 10 Shaina WIN WIN LOSE WIN WIN LOSE NOM LOSE LOSE OUTHeather's team 11 Koop LOSE LOSE WIN NOM LOSE LOSE WIN LOSE OUTRyan's team 12 Johnny LOSE LOSE WIN LOSE NOM LOSE WIN OUT 13 Aziza WIN WIN LOSE WIN WIN OUT 14 Aaron LOSE NOM WIN NOM OUT15Gia WIN WIN NOMOUT 16 Jessica WIN WINOUT 17 Genaro LOSEOUT 18 PatOUT
Episodes
Ratings
U.S. Nielsen ratings
No. Episode Air date Timeslot (ET) Rating/Share(18–49) Viewers(millions) Nightlyrank DVR 18–49 DVRviewers(millions) Total(18–49) Totalviewers(millions) 1 "When the Wall Comes Tumbling Down" September 23, 2016 Friday 8:00 p.m. 1.1 5 3.37 4 1.49 4.85 2 "Crepe Grand Prix" September 30, 2016 1.0 4 3.28 6 0.6 1.6 3 "The Yolks on Them" October 7, 2016 1.0 4 3.13 4 1.34 4.44 4 "Surf Riding & Turf Riding" October 14, 2016 1.0 4 3.38 4 5 "Walking the Plank" October 21, 2016 1.1 5 3.38 3 6 "Let the Catfights Begin" November 4, 2016 1.1 5 3.38 3 7 "Don't Tell My Fiance" November 11, 2016 1.1 4 3.30 4 8 "Dancing with the Chefs" November 18, 2016 1.0 4 3.14 4 9 "Spoon Fed" December 9, 2016 1.0 4 3.31 3 10 "Dancing in the Grotto" December 16, 2016 1.0 4 3.31 3 11 "Aerial Maneuvers" January 5, 2017 Thursday 8:00 p.m. 1.2 4 3.66 6 12 "Fusion Confusion" Thursday 9:00 p.m. 1.1 4 3.49 7 13 "Black Jacket Lounge"January 12, 2017Thursday 8:00 p.m 1.2 4 3.97 4 14 "Playing Your Cards Right" January 19, 2017 1.3 5 3.92 5 15 "Tequila Shots?" January 26, 2017 1.2 4 3.98 5 16 "Leaving It on the Line" February 2, 2017 1.1 4 3.67 8
Notes
References