by Todd Betzold

 

It was a jam-packed hour in Hell's Kitchen last night, as the final four chefs got surprise visits from their families and loved ones, made a dish with a $15 budget and ran the pass during dinner service and in the end, two chefs were sent home before the finale next week! Barbie Marshall seemed to run a good pass and dinner service, but Chef Ramsay said it was her time to go home. Today, we got an exclusive interview with Barbie as she discussed her experiences in Hell's Kitchen, the tension on the Red Team and much more.

 

Q. Todd, RealityWanted: What made you decide to try out for Hell's Kitchen?
A. Barbie: I have been cyber-home schooling for three years and pretty much just walked away from my career because I had to and they Dad was killed. We were going over college and how important schoolwork was and my kids turned to me and were like, you went to college and you don't even use your degree. I was like, I do so use my degree, I'm a caterer. They were like yeah, you're a caterer. After a couple of weeks of the conversation about the importance of college and how, even with an education and you take a break from it, you can go back to it. Might be a little rusty, but you can go back. They dared me to go on Hell's Kitchen because it was a show that we watched together, so they could see just one side of kitchen life and how it could be. Not every kitchen, but how it could be. So, I said I would look up the show and how to get on if they promise me they will try to be anything they want in life and that's how I wound up on the show.

 

Q. Todd, RealityWanted: You started out with a lot of drama on the Red Team and ruffled some feathers, but then you seemed to quiet down the rest of the season and held your own in the kitchen, but then women still seemed to go after you. Why do you think that is?
A. Barbie: I never tried to ruffle any feathers in Hell's Kitchen. Everyone says that a person can bring drama, but the truth is drama can come to you and it did for me. I chose to handle it the way I've handled all the drama that has ever come into my life. To sit back, reflect and think about what words I would use and how I wouldn't attack people individually based on anything. No matter what, it seemed like I couldn't escape being drug into things and that's just life. Sometimes it happens like that and we got to see it on TV.

 

Q. Todd, RealityWanted: What was it like getting the surprise visit from your family during last night's episode?
A. Barbie: At that moment, not seeing them for as long as I did, that was the longest I have been away from my kids since their father was killed. I was worried about them and how they would handle not seeing me for so long and when I saw their faces and just how much they missed me, I instantly thought they are going to try to do everything they set out to do in life and it couldn't have been a more victorious feeling for me.

 

Q. Todd, RealityWanted: You seemed to be very positive after getting eliminated last night, even though it looked like on the show you thought Dana should go before you. Did that continue after the taping?
A. Barbie: When Chef Ramsay said that I was an amazing woman and that I had grown so much, it didn't matter when I left. I got such positive feedback from him and I appreciated that so much and I am going to take that and run. So when I left, I wasn't bummed and I'm still not. Not every job it for every person. It didn't matter if I left in spot number four, in spot number three, I left in a good place, so that's all that matters to me.

 

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 that experience like for you?
A. Barbie: That was the most unique professional experience I have had in my entire life. I didn't really consider the dorm living situation, so that did freak me out a little bit. I stay in my house most of the time with my kids because we are home schoolers. I've never had the opportunity up until Hell's Kitchen to work with so many chefs from so many different parts of the country at one time. To have Gordon Ramsay over top of us was an adventure. I definitely expected to go in and get a little bit of criticism from him because everyone does. I can't say that I enjoyed every moment in Hell's Kitchen, but every moment that was enjoyable I will remember forever.

 

Q. Todd, RealityWanted: What's the biggest thing you are going to be taking away from this whole Hell's Kitchen experience?
A. Barbie: The biggest thing I am going to be taking away from this whole experience is more personal. It's just having my kids see me on TV and changing the odds. We had pretty bad odds. Five years ago, we were victims of a horrible tragedy in our family, my husband was murdered. My kids thought that odds could only be bad and then I was accepted into Hell's Kitchen out of so many thousands of people and then I got my black jacket and I made it into the Top 4, so the biggest thing I can take from it and share with everyone else is don't be afraid to try and don't be afraid to fail.

Q. Todd, RealityWanted: You left the show with three chefs left, are you personally rooting for anyone to win this season?
A. Barbie: I'm from Philly and even though Christina is a native New Jerseyan, she is Philadelphian as well, so I am definitely rooting for my hometown Philly and I'm definitely rooting for Justin.

 

Q. Todd, RealityWanted: Where are you cooking now and what can readers expect next from you?
A. Barbie: I am working on a few projects. I still own Soop Catering in Philadelphia and I am also on the committee for Stop CAID Now. It is a charity for kids with autoimmune disorders. I'm going to be working really closely with Stop CAID and Lisa Moreno and her projects. I'm really excited about that.

 

Hell's Kitchen airs Mondays at 9/8c on FOX.

 

(Image courtesy of FOX)

 

Follow Todd on Twitter @tbetzold