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Around The World In 80 Plates: Exclusive Interview with Keven Lee

Posted on 05/29/2012 by Gina in Around the World in 80 Plates and Cast Interviews

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Keven Lee from Around The World In 80 Plates

 

by Gina Scarpa and Kylene Hamulak

 

The latest chef eliminated from Bravo's Around the World in 80 Plates is Keven Lee - also known as "Cheven". Though his boisterous personality and constant chatter have been held against him in the past, this week it was actually his front of house silence that seems to have done him in.  We talked to him today in an exclusive interview about his experience competing on the show and got his thoughts on his early elimination.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: What made you decide to do Around The World In 80 Plates?
A. Keven: To be perfectly honest with you, I had been, for about four or five years... when I first heard about Top Chef, I had a lot of encouragement about my peers to go and try out. There were about three seasons that I auditioned for Top Chef. Magical Elves had my portfolio on file. Last year, they said they had a brand new show, they didn't have a title yet, but that it was a hardcore competition. They gave me a synopsis and I was like, "Oh yeah! This is totally me!" I was completely overwhelmed with the concept and as we got a little more in depth with the interview process, it was becoming to be a little bit more of a reality. For some reason, I just knew I was going to get on the show.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: What was the most surprising aspect of the show for you?
A. Keven: What people don't understand about reality tv... whatever you see on tv is actually true. With editing, they filmed a lot of stuff and since they only have an hour, you can only make certain things hit the screen. The general public doesn't realize how intense it is to be in front of the camera and compete in challenges. It's not about doing what you do best. It's really weird. You're kept caged and away from everybody. They open the gates and it's like, "Hey you've got a camera in your face and what do you think about this guy?" We're not allowed to communicate or get to know each other without a camera in front of us. It's crazy! You get used to it and start adapting.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: You were one of the most confident chefs in the competition and noted after your elimination that the others likely voted for you because they didn't want to compete against you. Looking back now, do you still think the elimination was more about your abilities than clashing personalities?
A. Keven: Last week, I cooked for everyone for American Idol and did the finale. I had every celebrity and literally, their mothers, because parents were there! Everyone was talking about the show and people were pointing me out. After, I sat down with my wife and we watched it. I think the whole thing of people saying I'm annoying is a coverup. I'm good with all of them on a personal level but this was a competition. I would not want to go up against me in the grand finale. Period. I respect every single one of them. I think they're all amazing. I think Magical Elves did an amazing job casting them but at the end of the day, I feel that the levels of experience on food... if it was a culinary competition, I would've taken the cake.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: You seemed much more comfortable in the kitchen than mingling with the diners as the front of house manager - do you regret taking that position in Spain?
A. Keven: No! That's so not true! I was watching it with my wife and saying, "That is not me!" My team was so disorganized and behind the eight ball. Who was going to do the dessert?! Nobody was doing it. They were all consumed in their own dishes and I helped out. And they needed me to go into the dining room and pamper. I'm running back and forth. I'm constantly in my dining rooms. I just felt that it was about the food first.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: There were some tense moments on your team in Spain, but were there any hard feelings from you towards Chaz after London, when he (basically) won immunity by taking credit for your bread putting?
A. Keven: It was a competition! I posted a picture on Instagram after my elimination. It's a picture of Chaz's shocked face and me looking over at him right after Avery stepped up when he started to take credit the second time. Chaz is a great guy but I don't know... I don't know where he was in his own head. I didn't say anything because we were so exhausted. I knew I came up with the dessert because there were no other desserts talked about. It wasn't the time to fight. It was the first episode. The look on my face said it.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: What's next on your menu - any thoughts about opening your own restaurant, or will you continue with your event catering company?
A. Keven: I'm gonna be contracted to sell insurance, too. No, just kidding! I opened a restaurant after I got back, as well as got married. October 23rd was my wedding. We hitched it and got married! A couple weeks after, we opened up Sherbourne restaurant on Beverly and Sherbourne in Hollywood. It's doing phenomenal, it's doing really good. My event company is flourishing right now! This is my busiest quarter yet and this month, I did more than my first quarter alone. I'm so grateful. I think my next challenge, what I really want to do, is I'm looking for some celebrity branding and open up a place I can call my own, not partnered with somebody else. I want a Keven Lee restaurant.

 

 

Around The World In 80 Plates airs Thursdays at 10/9c on Bravo.

 

(Image courtesy of Bravo)

 

 

Follow Gina @ginascarpa and "Like" her on Facebook!

 


  


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