by Todd Betzold

 

Last night on Hell's Kitchen, the remaining chefs were fighting for their lives to get that black jacket and be a member of the final team. While Christina and Justin, two of the all stars this season, stumbled during dinner service, Brian Merel struggled through his second straight dinner service and he was sent home. Today, we got an exclusive interview with Brian as he talked about his time on Hell's Kitchen, his sarcastic attitude and much more.

 

Q. Todd, RealityWanted: What made you decide to try out for Hell's Kitchen?
A. Brian: They actually came at me. I was almost on Top Chef. The guy who was doing the casting for Top Chef and I had talked a lot. When he was back in Chicago he sent me an email. I went in and talked with the casting from Hell's Kitchen and we talked on camera for a while about god knows what and that was that.

 

Q. Todd, RealityWanted: You seemed pretty confident going into elimination that you were safe and Robyn was going home. What were you thinking when he told you you were going home?
A. Brian: I didn't even remember my exact reaction until watching it last night. I didn't even know if I shook his hand. I didn't remember, it was all a blur. I didn't think there was any way I was going home. I had a terrible service last night. Granted, I had two bad services in a row, but I didn't think there was any reason for me to not get a black jacket.

 

Q. Todd, RealityWanted: Robyn claimed you all told her to put the garnish in the holding oven during dinner service, but you all denied it. Who's telling the truth?
A. Brian: You don't hold spinach and other garnishes in the oven. Certain things are ok to hold in the oven, but spinach is a bit much. We never said it was okay to hold spinach in the oven. You might as well put your shoes in there too.

 

Q. Todd, RealityWanted: Chef Ramsay gave you crap for your sarcasm and joking all the time. Do you think that is something that led to you being sent home?
A. Brian: I have to be honest, no. Yes, I don't take things seriously all the time, but I took this competition very seriously. Like when he asked me what does this taste like and I said fish, I wasn't being a smartass. That was the first thing that came to my head. I wasn't trying to be a smartass and crack a joke. I messed around a lot. I joked around a lot. I was trying to break up the monotony and have people feel like it was real life. I got eliminated maybe because it was the drama of wanting to see Barbie and Robyn on the same team again, I don't know. There was no way I thought I was going home.

 

Q. Todd, RealityWanted: What was it like working in Hell's Kitchen and under Chef Ramsay and all the chaos/drama and what not? What was the experience like for you?
A. Brian: It's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Like 10,000 people per season audition and 18 get selected. It's an honor to even be considered to get on that show. For me, it was probably the most brutal experiences of my entire life. Brutal and amazing and terrifying and exhausting and memorable. Any descriptive you could possibly imagine and take it to the extreme of a life experience and that was all of it in one bowl.

 

Q. Todd, RealityWanted: What's the biggest thing you are going to be taking away from this whole Hell's Kitchen experience?
A. Brian: I've done that, I can do anything. Nothing scares me.

 

Q. Todd, RealityWanted: Now that you're off the show, are you rooting for anyone to win this season?
A. Brian: I'm rooting for whoever is the most deserved. Bottom line, it might not look like it with how it is portrayed on TV, but every single person there can cook. In their own regard, every person there is extremely fucking talented. I've made more mistakes there than I did in my nine years of cooking. I'm rooting for everybody to whip ass and do their best.

 

Q. Todd, RealityWanted: Where are you cooking now and what can readers expect next from you?
A. Brian: I've been doing private dinners in and around Chicago for the last few years. I go to people houses, I hang out and we cook. That's pretty much the extent of my work. I do events as well and charity events. I did an event a month ago for the Outreach Program in Chicago. It was one of the most amazing experiences of my life. The public has not seen the last of me. I am working on a show that I am developing where I will be allowed to say the word "fuck," which is a very important word once in a while. Obviously I am going to try to utilize my cooking with improvisation and stuff like that. I am going to be anywhere and everywhere you could possibly not want to see me. Maybe Playgirl too...if Playgirl calls, I'll do that.

 

Hell's Kitchen airs Mondays and Tuesdays at 8/7c on FOX.

 

(Image courtesy of FOX)

 

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