Welcome to the third season of Fox’s hit cooking competition show, Hell’s Kitchen! Eighteen aspiring chefs from across the United States competed for the chance to become a head chef of their own restaurant. Over the course of eleven weeks, host Gordon Ramsay and his team put them through a series of challenges, eliminations, and head-to-head battles. Fans everywhere rooted for their favorite chef as they tried to make it to the end and ultimately, only one could win.
But what happened to these chefs after Hell’s Kitchen? Where did all these bright lights of culinary talent go after their time in front of Ramsay? Through the years there have been almost 30 seasons now with hundreds of amazing chefs, who have gone on to some really great things! In this article we’ll explore what happened with some of our favorite Hells Kitchen season 3 contestants–from success stories in reality television shows and restaurants around the country—to surprising departures from cooking altogether. Read on and find out our picks for Hells Kitchen – Season 3: Where Are They Now?
Gordon Ramsay
Gordon Ramsay is undoubtedly one of the most popular and well-known chefs in the world, having been a part of the cooking show ‘Hell’s Kitchen’ for several seasons. It was in the third season of ‘Hell’s Kitchen’ where he made his mark as an unforgiving and no-nonsense head chef. So whatever happened to the contestants that appeared on the show? Let’s find out.
Where is he now?
Since his breakthrough season as the head chef of Hell’s Kitchen back in 2004, Gordon Ramsay has solidified himself in the culinary stratosphere. Through a combination of top-notch restaurants, cookbooks, and spiced up television programming featuring his combative personality, it’s no wonder Gordon Ramsay today is considered a worldwide mogul.
Since Hell’s Kitchen Season 3 ended, Ramsay has opened over 35 restaurants across the world. In 2002 he was made a Member of the British Empire due to his contributions to food culture in the UK. To this day Gordon continuously tours around Europe establishing new venues ranging from luxurious dining to gastropubs and cost-effective meals.
In terms of television production, Gordon continues to work on several shows including “MasterChef US & UK”, “Gordon Ramsay: Uncharted” , and “24 Hours to Hell And Back U.S & U.K”. He has also released almost 20 books about cooking techniques that show no sign of slowing down production anytime soon.
Ramsay has garnered recognition throughout multiple platforms by earning several awards such as 10 Michelin Stars from New York Times along with various Emmy and Golden Globe wins for his show “MasterChef”. One thing we know for sure is that despite whatever turbulent year we face – we can always count on Gorden Ramsay pushing culinary boundaries globally!
What he has been up to since Hell’s Kitchen
Gordon Ramsay achieved international acclaim with his role as head chef on the third season of Hell’s Kitchen. While he did not win that season, he is credited with introducing the show to audiences around the world.
Since leaving Hell’s Kitchen, Gordon Ramsay has become a household name, appearing in numerous television shows, including television cooking programs and several popular cooking competitions. He currently hosts winning series such as MasterChef Junior, MasterChef Celebrity Showdown, Grand Designs, and his own show Gordon Ramsay on Cocaine.
He also continues to be an active judge on MasterChef Australia and Hell’s Kitchen USA. Most recently he joined MasterChef UK as a judge for its eighth season in 2021. He has three stars at the Michelin Guide, making him one of only two chefs in the world to have ever achieved this prestigious rating. He currently has over thirty-five restaurants worldwide serving dishes using ingredients grown at his organic farm near Versailles in France.
In 2010 he was awarded an OBE by Queen Elizabeth II for services to British cuisine and hospitality industry. Recently on December 6th 2020 it was announced that Gordon will become Commander of The Order of The British Empire (CBE). In addition to his success in the culinary world Gordon is an active philanthropist working closely with charities such as The Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children and The Teenage Cancer Trust amongst others
The Finalists
Hell’s Kitchen is one of the most popular cooking shows on television, and Season 3 was no exception. The season ended with a triumphant win for the winner, Amy Finley. But what about the finalists who didn’t win? What have these contestants been up to since the show ended? Let’s take a look at what the Season 3 finalists of Hell’s Kitchen have been up to.
Rock Harper
Originally from Centreville, Virginia, Rock Harper was a contestant on Season 3 of Hell’s Kitchen. He ended the season in third place after his dishes failed to impress in the final round. After his experience on the show, Rock continued to focus on hearty Southern fare.
In January 2011, Harper emerged victorious at the World Food Championships and later that year became an adjunct professor at George Mason University and Le Cordon Bleu Washington D.C., teaching a variety of different subjects. Harper then took on a role as executive chef for Fox Restaurant Concepts in Las Vegas and eventually rose to become executive corporate chef when he moved back east in 2014.
Harper continues to appear as a guest chef during high-profile events around the country, from live cooking demonstrations with Martha Stewart at South Beach Wine & Food Festival to numerous appearances on QVC where he has helped launch products such as Creole Seasoning and Gourmet Soul Spice Blends. In 2020 he released his own brand of smoking blends called Smoking with Stylez Smokehouse Blends & Rubs created for home cooks looking to make elevated versions of classic backyard BBQ dishes.
Where is he now?
The third season of the popular reality show Hell’s Kitchen aired in 2006 and featured sixteen determined chefs competing for the title of Head Chef at an independent restaurant. After months of intense competition and orders from Chef Gordon Ramsay, only two contestants – Rock Harper and Anna Boiardi – were left standing.
Rock was declared the winner and became head chef at Atlantic City’s Prime Steakhouse, located in Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa. In the following years, Rock continued to develop his skillset as a chef, opening up several restaurants throughout Washington D.C., Virginia and West Virginia. He eventually landed back in Atlantic City where he currently serves as the Executive Chef at Veracruz Latin Fusion Cuisine.
Anna Boiardi didn’t stay in the food industry; instead she ventured out into a career in education and currently serves as Education Director at Stew Leonard’s, a New York-based family-owned grocery chain. According to Anna’s LinkedIn page she is “pursuing her passion by making learning fun & engaging through interactive technology!” It appears that despite not taking home the prize on Hell’s Kitchen, she continues to bring joy [to those who work with her].
What he has been up to since Hell’s Kitchen
Out of the final three chefs that competed in Season 3 of Hell’s Kitchen, Chris “CJ” Jacobsen was the runner up. After the show, CJ was hired as executive chef at Sapphire Laguna Beach in Laguna Beach, California. He made his first culinary mark there with his exclusive “Chef Jacobsen’s Surf & Turf” entrée. In 2011, CJ left Sapphire Laguna Beach and implemented a private chef service located in Orange County, California.
With a passion for international cuisine, CJ has continued to travel around the world for culinary experiences over the years where he has had the opportunity to cook for individuals such as Lionel Richie and Kimberly Stewart. His biggest accomplishment since Hell’s Kitchen has been winning first place on Food Network Challenge: Halloween Terror 2017 Episode 3 “Demons & Dragons : Dinner Party Bowls” – The only individual competitor to defeat teams of two! Currently CJ continues to cook with an emphases on locally sourced sustainably caught seafood while offering private chef services and planing pop-up events throughout Southern California.
Christina Machamer
Christina Machamer was the runner-up during the 3rd season of Hell’s Kitchen. Christina is a 29-year-old from Newport News, Virginia. Throughout the season, she showcased her leadership skills and her ability to stay focused under pressure. She won four challenges throughout the competition, including the season final challenge which earned her a chance to work at Gordon Ramsay’s Savoy Grill in London for six months.
Afterward, Christina quickly became well-known in both California and Hawaii where she gained high praise for her work in several prestigious restaurants. Her career highlights include executive chef positions at high profile establishments such as The Landmark Restaurant, Las Ventas Tapas Bar & Grill, and finally The New Otani Kaimana Beach Hotel in Honolulu where she currently resides as Lead Executive Sous Chef since 2017.
In addition to being an acclaimed chef, Christina is credited with writing two books; The Art Of Cooking: Recipes From Professional Kitchens (2017) and Food And Flavor (2018). She also travels often when not at work to promote her books and participate in food festivals.
Where is she now?
It has been almost two decades since Hell’s Kitchen Season 3 rolled out and viewers were captivated by the phenomenal skill of runner-up Christine Ha. Christine quickly became a fan favorite due to her infectiously positive attitude and her delectable recipes. Since then, fans have been eager to find out what happened to this incredible chef after the show ended.
Christine was born blind and she became one of the first chefs with a disability to ever compete on Hell’s Kitchen. She opened up an Indonesian restaurant called The Blind Goat in Houston, Texas, in 2016 where she serves classic dishes from Asia as well as experimenting with modern dishes that blend multiple cultures together.
In 2018, James Beard Foundation crowned Christine its first-ever Alumni Award winner for her culinary journey since appearing on Hell’s Kitchen. She was also honored by the Houston Business Journal as an Entrepreneur of the Year for 2019 for exemplifying hard work and success in her business endeavors for five years or more.
Christine has appeared on numerous TV segments focusing on her success story as an entrepreneur and chef with disabilities offering invaluable insights that pave the way for minorities wanting to break into the food industry field. Additionally, Christine is a part-time professor while also maintaining active roles within societies related to people with disabilities like Learnabilities, Best Buddies International, RISE TEXAS, Cane Chair Foundation and NVITA Group among many others charitable groups and organizations across Texas
What she has been up to since Hell’s Kitchen
As the second runner-up of season 3, Rochelle went on to become the Executive Chef of Texas de Brazil Churrascaria. She has grown from a contender to a leader and teaching others in her role as chef and culinary instructor at Houston Community College Southeast.
Rochelle’s impressive talents were rewarded in 2020 when she was named one of the winners of Eater National’s “Eat Like a Local” contest, which focuses on chefs that are adapting during the pandemic. She was featured in Eater Dallas and along with fellow finalists Durado Brooks, Gabe Erales, Paula DaSilva and Ling Qi Wu in an Instagram Live cook-off judged by Hugh Acheson.
Rochelle has definitely earned her stripes as a culinary force to be reckoned with ever since stepping off the Hell’s Kitchen set!
Ralph Pagano
During a two-week span, Ralph Pagano and Robertas Seula competed to become head chef at the world-renowned South Beach restaurant, Nemo. After 14 nail-biting episodes, Ralph emerged as the winner of Hell’s Kitchen Season 3.
Since his win in 2006, Pagano has had a successful career filled with international accolades. He served as Chef de Cuisine for the critically acclaimed Asia de Cuba for six years and Executive Chef for Strand Bar & Grill in Miami Beach for two years. In addition to his prolific work history, Ralph has been featured on several cooking and lifestyle shows including The Today Show, BET’s MasterChef USA, Cooking With Fire on The Food Network and Celebrity Chef TV—a show he hosted covering various cooking topics all over the globe.
Ralph has even written two cookbooks: Share: Simple Food That’s Simply Delicious and Pub Food U.S.A.: Inventive Recipes from America’s Gastropubs (St. Martin’s Press). Currently, he is executive corporate chef of Nitrogen Hospitality Group based out of Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas; where he leads dynamic culinary teams working at 20 different concept restaurants in the A&B Burgers franchise as well as four music venues across the United States.
Where is he now?
Season 3 of Hell’s Kitchen saw Robert SImon win the coveted title of ‘Head Chef’ and be awarded first prize – a chance to shadow world renowned chef Scott Conant at L’ImperoRestaurant, NYC as a Sous Chef.
Since then, Robert has made a name for himself in the culinary world. He went on to work as Sous Chef at Lola SpanishSeafood Bar & Grill in Denver, Colorado and later as Executive Sous Chef at Kingpin Hotel in New York City. After a successful two year stint, he climbed up the ranks to become the Executive Chef at Porchista restaurant in Miami with renowned restaurateur Jon Ploughman.
Robert continues his success story even today having recently become the Head Chef at The Pleasure Cafe in Bethlehem PA where he gets to show off his unique fusion of South American and Mediterranean cuisines!
What he has been up to since Hell’s Kitchen
Since winning season 3 of Hell’s Kitchen, Rock Harper has gone on to a successful career in professional cooking. He produced a show for the Cooking Channel, “Rock Harper Eats,” and opened his own restaurant, the D.C. area’s Woodend sanctuary restaurant. As if this weren’t enough, he recently appeared as a mentor on Bravo’s Top Chef: All Star and serves as the Executive Chef/ Partner at Mico Restaurant in Washington, D.C.
Runner-up Richard Blais went on to become an Iron Chef alum before establishing multiple restaurants of his own around San Diego such as Crack Shack and Juniper & Ivy; winning Food Network Star; hosting an eight-episode series called “Food Court Wars” and appearing on Iron Chef America and Top Chef Challenges throughout the past decade.
Julia Williams—the third finalist—started her own catering business after leaving Hell’s Kitchen which has allowed her to indulge in both catering opportunities and personal chef work ever since. She transferred from professional kitchen work to corporate roles when she went on to work as Director of Culinary Operations for DC Central Kitchens where she holds leadership positions such as Board Member for United Way of Greater Atlanta’s Culinary Training Program for Homeless Women and other social responsibility initiatives.
