by Gina Scarpa

Last night, on the season finale of Hell’s Kitchen, it all came down to two chefs - Kevin Cottle from Connecticut and Dave Levey from California.  The two were very different but performed consistently well throughout the season.  In the end, though, Chef Ramsay chose Dave and not Kevin as the winner of Hell’s Kitchen.  Today, Kevin spoke to RealityWanted in an exclusive interview about his experiences on the show.

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: I have to say that I’m surprised you didn’t win.  I was rooting for you the entire season.
A. Kevin: I don’t know why I didn’t win.  I guess that’s what’s Gordo there for.

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: What made you want to try out for the show this season?
A. Kevin: It was just one of those things where me and my wife would watch.  We liked the show and we couldn’t understand how people could mess up the simplest of tasks.

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: Did Hell’s Kitchen end up being more than you bargained for, more difficult than you pictured?
A. Kevin: It’s not more than I bargained for but it’s difficult because there’s twists and turns and not enough time to do things.  It’s basically who can handle these things.

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: Do you think Chef Ramsay tries to make things difficult on purpose when you’re cooking in Hell’s Kitchen?  For example, when he reads off those tickets…
A. Kevin: I don’t think any of us could understand him.  They definitely make it a little bit challenging.  It’s not called Heaven’s Kitchen.

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: How did you feel about your blue team this season?
A. Kevin: I thought it was pretty good.  We seemed to work pretty well together.  There were a few loose links but they were weeded out early on.

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: There was a bit of a surprise among the chefs when Andy was eliminated.  Many of them said that he was talented and Hell’s Kitchen didn’t really show what he could do.  What was your opinion?
A. Kevin: I think Andy is talented.  He’s a really talented chef.  I don’t think he can handle that environment.  He’s more of an owner.

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: Does it surprise you when one of the chefs can’t seem to handle something simple, like cooking risotto?
A. Kevin: It’s disappointing because it’s some of the simplest tasks and you’re like, “Come on.”

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: When you were standing at the door on last night’s finale, you had to have thought that you were going to walk away the winner.
A. Kevin: Oh I totally thought that I was going to win.  There was no reason to think I wouldn’t win.  I didn’t see anything wrong and then… the door didn’t open.

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: Do you think that the fact that Dave worked with an injury throughout most of the season helped him win?
A. Kevin: I think that had to be it.  That had to be the whole “He persevered” kind of thing.  If that’s how you’re going to judge somebody, then I don’t wanna hear from you.

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: Are you going to continue cooking in Conncticut or look to move somewhere bigger?
A. Kevin: We’re going to stay in Connecticut, in Farmington.  I’m cooking at The Country Club there.

(Image courtesy of FOX)

Check out Kevin at ChefKevinCottle.com and follow Gina at twitter.com/ginascarpa

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