Hell’s Kitchen Season 12, aired on Fox from March 13 to July 24, 2014, showcased a unique blend of personalities and culinary styles. The contestants faced a series of challenging cooking tests. Scott Commings, an Executive Chef from Woodstock, Illinois, emerged as the victor. His reward was the Head Chef position at the Gordon Ramsay Pub & Grill in Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, where he earned a salary of $250,000.
This season re-introduced the mid-service elimination concept, a feature not seen since Season 7. Ramsay had the power to nominate and eliminate chefs, although some had their nominations reversed. With 20 episodes, it matched Season 10 as the second-longest season. It is the only season where both teams failed the first three dinner services.
The season set a new record with the most contestants nominated in one night during a traditional elimination, totaling six. It also became the first season to witness two chefs quitting, including one black jacket chef who walked out in the middle of service.
Jean-Philippe Susilovic made his last appearance as the maitre d’ this season. Scott Commings later made a brief appearance in a parade during Season 15 and returned in Season 16, with no other significant future appearances noted.
Key Takeaways from Hell’s Kitchen Season 12
- Season 12 featured Executive Chef Scott Commings as the winner, awarded a Head Chef position at Gordon Ramsay Pub & Grill in Caesars Palace.
- Scott Commings was the first oldest winner in the show’s history at age 36.
- The season had a unique elimination process, with chefs being nominated by Ramsay and eliminated without being nominated.
Season 12 Overview and Winner
Season 12 of Hell’s Kitchen showcases intense culinary showdowns and surprises, culminating in the winner’s crowning. The winner of this season was Scott Commings, an Executive Chef from Woodstock, Illinois.
He faced stiff competition throughout the season and had the most nominations, totaling seven. Scott’s undeniable talent and tenacity made him the deserving champion of Hell’s Kitchen Season 12, and his success continues to shine at Gordon Ramsay Pub & Grill in Caesars Palace.
Elimination Process
To navigate the intense competition in Hell’s Kitchen Season 12, chefs faced the challenging elimination process, which included mid-service eliminations, nominations by Ramsay, and even the possibility of elimination without nomination. The elimination process in Hell’s Kitchen Season 12 was filled with culinary showdowns and surprises. Here’s what the chefs had to endure:
- Mid-service eliminations: For the first time since Season 7, chefs could be eliminated in the middle of a service if their performance was deemed unacceptable by Ramsay. This added an extra layer of pressure and heightened the sense of urgency in the Kitchen.
- Nominations by Ramsay: Chefs could also be nominated by Ramsay based on their performance and mistakes made during the challenges and dinner services. This created tension and competition among the contestants as they fought to prove their worth.
- Elimination without a nomination: In a shocking twist, Ramsay could eliminate chefs without them even being nominated. This unexpected turn of events kept everyone on their toes and added an element of unpredictability to the competition.
- Voided nominations: Some chefs had their nominations voided by Ramsay, which meant that they were spared from elimination. This gave them a second chance to prove themselves and added a layer of uncertainty to the elimination process.
Throughout the season, the elimination process in Hell’s Kitchen Season 12 kept the chefs on edge as they battled for survival in the culinary showdowns and faced surprising twists and turns.
Trivia
As you delved deeper into the eventful twelfth season of Hell’s Kitchen, you couldn’t help but be captivated by the intriguing trivia surrounding the show. Here are some fascinating tidbits that will leave you hungry for more:
- Season 12 ties with Season 10 as the second longest season, spanning 20 episodes. The culinary showdowns and surprises just kept coming!
- It’s the only season where both teams lost the first three dinner services. The competition was fierce from the start.
- This season holds the record for the most contestants being nominated in one night during a traditional elimination, with six chefs in the hot seat.
- Season 12 marked two quits for the first time, including a black jacket chef quitting mid-service. The pressure in Hell’s Kitchen was too much to handle for some.
From record-breaking nominations to unexpected departures, the trivia from Hell’s Kitchen Season 12 adds another layer of excitement to this culinary showdown.
Future Appearances
Scott, the Hell’s Kitchen Season 12 champion, didn’t just stop at his victory; he continued to make his mark in the Gordon Ramsay TV franchise. After winning the intense culinary competition, Scott became a familiar face in cooking shows. He was celebrated in Season 15 of Hell’s Kitchen with a parade, showcasing his success and culinary prowess.
His reappearance in Season 16 further cemented his status as a standout contestant. As stated on Hell’s Kitchen’s Facebook page, these appearances allowed fans to witness his growth and development as a chef.
Off-screen, Scott’s victory opened many doors in the culinary industry. He got the opportunity to work in various renowned chef’s restaurants, expanding his reach to a wider audience. According to Hell’s Kitchen’s Instagram, his journey from a Season 12 winner to a respected culinary professional highlights his unwavering dedication and passion for his craft.
Contestants:
| Contestant | Age | Occupation | Hometown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mike Aresta* | 38 | Chef Instructor | Keyport, NJ |
| Rochelle Bergman | 27 | Catering Chef | Riverside, CA |
| Scott Commings* | 36 | Executive Chef | Woodstock, IL |
| Michael DeMarco | 29 | Line Cook | Scranton, PA |
| Chris Eversole | 27 | Line Cook | Las Vegas, NV |
| Melanie Finch | 24 | Line Cook | Woodland Hills, CA |
| Sandra Flores | 36 | Sous Chef | Queens, NY |
| Michael Gabriel | 26 | Executive Chef | Spring, TX |
| Simone Hammond | 43 | Buffet Cook | Henderson, NV |
| Ralph Johnson | 28 | Chef de Partie | Boston, MA |
| Bev Lazo-Gonzalez | 42 | Food Truck Chef | Whittier, CA |
| Richard Mancini | 48 | Executive Chef | Bloomingdale, IL |
| Gaurav Navin | 34 | Executive Chef | East Stroudsburg, PA |
| Joy Parham-Thomas | 25 | Kitchen Supervisor | Philadelphia, PA |
| Nicole Rutz | 33 | Baker | Morganville, NJ |
| Beth Taylor | 43 | Line Cook | Independence, LA |
| Anton Testino | 39 | Head Chef | Butler, NJ |
| Jessica Vogel | 29 | Line Cook | Sparta, NJ |
| Jason Zepaltas* | 31 | Sous Chef | Chicago, IL |
| Kashia Zollicoffer | 23 | Line Cook | Carthage, MS |
Episode Rundown and Highlights:
| # | Title | Description | Airdate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | 1201 – 20 Chefs Compete | The twenty chefs arrived at Hell’s Kitchen, a returning chef promised to stay longer after their very short stint last time, another was put in their place during the signature dish challenge, and the worst opening night in the show’s history occurred. | March 13, 2014 |
| 02 | 1202 – 19 Chefs Compete | The teams competed in a relay race, dinner service was another nightmare, and a satisfying elimination of an early bitch took place. | March 20, 2014 |
| 03 | 1203 – 18 Chefs Compete | The chefs paired side dishes with main proteins, a special wedding brunch service took place, and one chef finally bit the bullet after surviving multiple eliminations. | March 27, 2014 |
| 04 | 1204 – 17 Chefs Compete | Ravioli was the main dish; one team finally won a dinner service, and one chef was put in their place for yelling at needing help. | April 3, 2014 |
| 05 | 1205 – 16 Chefs Compete | Hell’s Kitchen hosted a sorority anniversary party; one chef showed their rude side to the committee, and another gave up their station after performing poorly. | April 10, 2014 |
| 06 | 1206 – 15 Chefs Compete | Leaders were chosen, one team returned at dinner service, and one leader proved ineffective. | April 17, 2014 |
| 07 | 1207 – 14 Chefs Compete | Pizza was the main dish, a Family Night dinner service took place, and one chef wasted a lot of ingredients on what should have been an easy dish. | April 24, 2014 |
| 08 | 1208 – 13 Chefs Compete | The twenty chefs arrived at Hell’s Kitchen, a returning chef promised to stay longer after their very short stint last time, another was put in their place during the signature dish challenge, and the worst opening night in the show’s history occurred. | May 1, 2014 |
| 09 | 1209 – 12 Chefs Compete | Ramsay gave out progress reports, and for the first time, two chefs competed in an individual challenge to stay in the competition, leading to an emotional exit. | May 8, 2014 |
| 10 | 1210 – 11 Chefs Compete | Ramsay took the chefs out for lunch, one team dominated over the other at dinner service, and one chef changed their team’s nominations to save their butt. | May 15, 2014 |
| 11 | 1211 – 10 Chefs Compete | One chef got their revenge against their former teammates during the challenge, a private dinner service took place, and one failed to impress their new teammates and Ramsay. | May 22, 2014 |
| 12 | 1212 – 10 Chefs Again | The teams tested their menus, a shocking elimination took place, and the second team switch occurred. | May 29, 2014 |
| 13 | 1213 – 9 Chefs Compete | The teams put their menus to the test, a shocking elimination took place, and the second team switch occurred. | June 5, 2014 |
| 14 | 1214 – 8 Chefs Compete | The annual Blind Taste Test took place, an unexpected chef returned at dinner service, and an arrogant chef pushed their Sous Chef to their limit, leading to a satisfying elimination. | June 12, 2014 |
| 15 | 1215 – 7 Chefs Compete | Potato was the main ingredient; two chefs got ill before service, another disastrous dinner service had Ramsay order a record-breaking nomination number, and one chef gave up at elimination. | June 19, 2014 |
| 16 | 1216 – 7 Chefs Again | The final five worked with leftovers, fingertips were lost, a comic book legend dined at dinner service, and the most shocking exit of that season’s consistent chef occurred. | June 26, 2014 |
| 17 | 1217 – 6 Chefs Compete | The winner of the Black Jackets challenge was revealed, dinner service was rough on both ends, and one chef did not make it through the entire night. | July 3, 2014 |
| 18 | 1218 – 5 Chefs Compete | The teams tested their menus, a shocking elimination took place, and the second team switch occurred. | July 10, 2014 |
| 19 | 1219 – 4 Chefs Compete | The final four reunited with their loved ones and took turns running the pass, and Ramsay picked two chefs for the final two. | July 17, 2014 |
| 20 | 1220 – Winner Chosen | The teams cooked dishes on a budget and, for the first time, competed in an individual challenge for the first black jacket of that season. | July 24, 2014 |
In The End
Get ready to be blown away by the intense culinary battles and unexpected twists in ‘Hell’s Kitchen Season 12: Culinary Showdowns and Surprises.’
From start to finish, you’ll be on the edge of your seat as 20 aspiring chefs compete to become the next culinary superstar. Witness their determination, skill, and creativity as they face grueling challenges and high-pressure dinner services.
And don’t miss the incredible journey of Scott Commings, the winner of Season 12, as he rises to the top and earns himself a prestigious Head Chef position. Prepare to be captivated like never before in this thrilling culinary adventure.
Last Updated on December 17, 2023 by John Siracusa
