The eighteenth season of the American competitive reality television series Hell's Kitchen (subtitled as Hell's Kitchen: Rookies vs. Veterans) premiered on Fox on September 28, 2018, and concluded on February 8, 2019. Gordon Ramsay returned as host and head chef, while James "Jocky" Petrie and Christina Wilson returned as the Blue Team and Red Team's sous-chefs respectively. Marino Monferrato returned as maître d'. This season featured eight new contestants (rookies) battling eight returning veterans. It is also the last season to be shot in California until Season 21 where the show returned to the state for two more seasons.
The season was won by season six third-place finisher Ariel Contreras-Fox, with private chef Mia Castro finishing second.
Chefs Sixteen chefs competed in season 18.
Rookies Contestant AgeAge at the time of filming Occupation Hometown Result Mia Castro 28 Private Chef Miami Beach, Florida Runner-up Chris Motto 35 Executive Chef Baton Rouge, Louisiana Quit before finals Kanae Houston 25 Sous Chef Los Angeles, California Eliminated after Black Jackets challenge Jose DeJesus 34 Chef de Cuisine Bronx, New York Eliminated after eighth service Scotley Innis 35 Sous Chef Atlanta, Georgia Eliminated after seventh service Elizabeth "Gizzy" Barton 32 Sous Chef Atlanta, Georgia Eliminated after "Cook For Your Life" challenge Chris Mendonca 25 Executive Chef Boston, Massachusetts Quit before fifth service Scott Popovic 39 Executive Chef Cleveland, Ohio Eliminated after first service
Veterans Contestant Age Occupation Hometown Competed Finished Result Ariel Contreras-Fox 36 Chef de Cuisine Brooklyn, New York Season 6 3rd Winner Bret Hauser 33 Personal Chef Fort Lauderdale, Florida Season 14 11th Eliminated before finals Heather Williams 28 Executive Chef Easton, Pennsylvania Season 16 Runner-up Eliminated after tenth service Trevor "Trev" McGrath 38 Lead Chef New York, New York Season 8 4th Eliminated after ninth service Rosanne "Roe" DiLeo 36 Head Chef Dallas, Texas Season 13 5th Eliminated after sixth serviceTorrece "T" Gregoire 34 Director of Operations Chef Draper, VirginiaSeason 14 Runner-up Eliminated after fifth service Kevin Cottle 44 Executive Chef Middletown, ConnecticutSeason 6 Runner-up Eliminated after fourth service Jen Gavin 34 Private Concert Catering Chef Chicago, Illinois Season 4 4th Ejected during second service
Notes
Contestant progress No.Chef Original teams 1st switch 2nd switch Individuals Finals 1801/1802 1803 1804 1805 1806 1807 1808 1809 1810 1811 1812 181318141815/18161 Ariel WIN WIN LOSE WIN LOSE IN LOSE WIN WIN WIN IN IN INWINNER2 Mia LOSE WIN LOSE WIN LOSE IN NOM WIN WIN WIN IN NOM IN 3 Bret WIN WIN LOSE LOSE WIN NOM WIN LOSE LOSE NOM IN IN OUT Ariel's team 4 Motto LOSE WIN LOSE LOSE WIN IN WIN LOSE LOSE LOSE IN IN LEFT Ariel's team5 Heather WIN WIN LOSE WIN NOM NOM LOSE WIN WIN WIN IN OUT Mia's team6 Kanae LOSE WIN LOSE WIN LOSE IN LOSE WIN WIN WIN OUT Ariel's team7 Trev WIN WIN NOM LOSE WIN IN WIN NOM NOM OUT Mia's team8 Jose NOM WIN LOSE LOSE WIN NOM WIN NOMJose was also nominated by the team OUT Mia's team9 Scotley LOSE WIN LOSE NOM WIN NOM WIN OUT Ariel's team10 Roe WIN WIN LOSE WIN LOSE NOM OUT Mia's team11 Gizzy LOSE WIN NOM WIN LOSE OUT12 T WIN WIN LOSE WIN OUT 13 Chris NOM WIN NOM LOSE LEFTChris withdrew from the competition for medical reasons14 Kevin WIN WIN NOM OUT15 Jen WIN EJEC 16 Scott OUT
Episodes
References