by Gina Scarpa

 

Last night, on Hell’s Kitchen, Gordon Ramsay had had quite enough of Tek and sent her packing.  When she landed in bottom, along with Tennille, she was unable to make a strong enough case for herself.  Tennille not only said that Amanda should be in the bottom instead of her but she showed what a passion she has for cooking and for staying in the competition.  Tek tried to articulate why she should stay but Chef Ramsay wasn’t havin’ it and she was eliminated from the competition.  Today, she spoke to RealityWanted in an exclusive interview and you won’t believe who she found love with while in Hell’s Kitchen!

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: What was your cooking experience prior to Hell’s Kitchen and what made you want to be on the show?
A. Tek: My title on Hell’s Kitchen was line cook but I was a sous chef and an executive chef for 4 years.  I have 10 years of experience in the kitchen.  The show had been suggested to me by a friend, who was a fan.   I stumbled upon the ad and I think it’s kind of funny how, in this economy, it was easier for me to get on a reality tv show than it was to actually get a job.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: On the first episode, when everyone presented their signature dishes, was there anyone that really stood out to you as your competition?
A. Tek: I think I rocked the signature dish.  I went into the competition strong.  My plan was to fly under the radar in the beginning but I think that came off too strong.  There were lots of talented cooks there.  I’m tight with Dave and I’m real close with Andy.  I’m a big fan of Jim.  We’ve gotten pretty serious since Hell’s Kitchen.  I found love on the show.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: You and Jim are an item?  Tell me about that.
A. Tek: We were good friends during the show.  It’s an experience that most people don’t go through.  Coming out of it, we had so much to talk about.  We were able to support each other and now, he’s my best friend.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: Do you two live in the same city?
A. Tek: I’m in New York and he’s in New Hampshire.  We’re both looking to move.  I’m trying hard to get him here.  It’s been hard to be so far away.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: So you’re with Jim and you were tight with Andy and Dave.  Is it safe to say you got along better with the blue team than your own?
A. Tek: Yeah, I’ve always been one of the boys.  It’s an interesting crew, the red team.  We clashed while cooking but we got along as people.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: What do you think is the main problem with the red team right now?
A. Tek: It’s a real struggle because it’s a personal competition but it’s also a team competition.  There was teamwork lacking.  The red team needs to work together and realize that every day and every service is a team challenge.  We performed well in challenges but we would fall apart during dinner service.  We cooked scared.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: I’ve been watching week after week, trying to figure out what makes the dinner service on Hell’s Kitchen so tough.  I just noticed that there’s no staggering of orders and everyone wants their food at once.  Does that make things very challenging?
A. Tek: Yeah, not staggering the seating or tickets is definitely a challenge.  Last night, I’m working the grill and surf and turf got hit hard.  There were a lot of different hands on my station and I was getting criticized for not putting the steaks in the oven but meat and fire are the greatest thing ever.  It’s second only to bacon.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: You described yourself as a badass, yet you always backed down when Chef Ramsay would yell in your face.  How do you think you handled the pressure this season?
A. Tek: I’m pretty respectful and I feel good that I came off as being composed.  It’s a bit jarring when he’s yelling.  It makes you falter and second guess yourself.  It’s hard to cook confidently in that environment.  I know I have talent when it comes to cooking but I think I proved that it’s part hell to cook in Hell’s Kitchen.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: What is in your future, when it comes to cooking?
A. Tek: The show really helped maintain the flames of passion I have for cooking.  I want to open a place with Jim.

 

Hell’s Kitchen airs Tuesday nights at 8pm ET on FOX.

 

(Image courtesy of FOX)

 

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