This graduate of Teaneck High School beat out a Chicago line cook for a job at BLT Steak in Las Vegas
Ariel Malone, a 27-year-old chef from Bergen County, was crowned the winner of season 15 of "Hell's Kitchen" by Gordon Ramsay in Friday night's finale.
The focused and remarkably profane Malone beat out Chicago line cook Kristin Barone for the title, a job at BLT Steak at Bally's Las Vegas and $250,000.
Early in the finale, Malone looked to be in trouble, after losing the weekly challenge to Barone by a half-point. Things turned around during the final dinner service, where actor Larenz Tate and Eurythmics musician Dave Stewart were among the guests. Despite a hiccup involving some under-cooked pork chops, Malone ran a much smoother and more confident final dinner service than Barone. Ramsay called it one of the most difficult final decisions he's had to make, but ultimately declared Malone the winner.
"She is an out-of-the-box thinker who will make a great chef at BLT Steak," Ramsay said, explaining his decision.
Malone is the first "Hell's Kitchen" winner form New Jersey since season six champ Dave Levey, a Chester native who worked at Il Giardino in Cedar Knolls and the Publick House Tavern and Inn (and who was arrested in 2014 during a traffic stop and charged with being under the influence of a controlled dangerous substance). There have been three runners-up from New Jersey: Livingston's Ralph Pagano the first season, Will Lustberg of Jersey City in season nine; and Justin Antiorio of Lyndhurst in season 10.
Malone graduated from Teaneck High School and was living in Hackensack while working at Alpine Country Club when she auditioned for the Fox reality show. Her resume also includes stints at The Kitchen in Englewood and Local Seasonal Kitchen in Ramsey, both of which are now shuttered, but her dream is to own a bed-and-breakfast and working farm, she told NJ.com in an interview earlier this week.
"I do love the stress and fast-paced environment of working in a restaurant kitchen," she says, "but again my love and my passion for food is more from a homey point of view and spending time making sure that every vegetable is cut properly and every herb is preserved so that the flavor is the best."
Vicki Hyman may be reached at vhyman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @vickihy or like her on Facebook. Find NJ.com/Entertainment on Facebook, and check out TV Hangover, the podcast from Vicki Hyman and co-host Erin Medley on iTunes, Stitcher or listen here.
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