by Todd Betzold

 

Last week on Hell's Kitchen, they left us in suspense as the show ended with either Dana, Christina or Justin heading home and the other two heading to the finale! Last night things kicked off right where they ended and we got to see who the finalists would be. Even though Chef Ramsay let Dana Cohen keep her black jacket, he still sent her home and sent Christina and Justin onto the finale. Today, we spoke to Dana in an exclusive interview about her time in Hell's Kitchen, working under Chef Ramsay and much more.

 

Q. Todd, RealityWanted: What made you decide to try out for Hell's Kitchen?
A. Dana: I'm a very competitive person. I kind of thrive under the pressure and I think that is when I perform my best. It is easy to sit at home and say why can't these people cook a scallop, I don't understand it, it's so easy. I guess to prove it to myself, the only way to say I don't understand how they can't do that is to go and try to do it yourself. I guess that is really how it started. I like to win things.

 

Q. Todd, RealityWanted: When it was you, Christina and Justin standing in front of Chef Ramsay, what was going through your mind at that time?
A. Dana: I was really nervous. I think we all were, but I was just telling myself that I did the best that I could and whatever happens is meant to be. I know that that night's dinner service wasn't my best performance, but I was just hoping Chef Ramsay was going to take everything into consideration over the entire competition and not just one dinner service. I was on top on a lot of the challenges. I won a lot of the challenges and I stayed pretty consistent throughout the entire competition during dinner services, so I was hoping that he was going to look at the whole picture. I kind of thought it was going to be me and Christina, so I would have to say I was a little surprised when it wasn't, but I was proud of what I did.

 

Q. Todd, RealityWanted: Why do you think Chef Ramsay chose you to go home and not them? Do you think it was your poor dinner service? Did he explain it to you maybe afterwards?
A. Dana: No, what you saw is the explanation that I got. It doesn't do me any good to looks back and say I don't understand why I didn't get picked, The best thing I can do right now is look forward. It is hard to tell because I didn't really work in the kitchen with Justin, only since we became the Black Team. We all had our strengths and we all had our weaknesses. Christina is a good leader in the kitchen and I think for that reason she got chosen. Justin became a stronger leader more towards the end. I really don't think it's just your cooking ability because if it was, I really think I would have been there in the finale. I think there are a lot of factors that go into making the decision and I try not to harp on it. It is what it is and hopefully there are better things that are going to come in the future.

Q. Todd, RealityWanted: For winning that last challenge, you were able to cook and then got a surprise visit from your parents and you were able to eat lunch with them. What did that mean for you at that time?
A. Dana: It was really nice to see my family. You have people that are there that support you 100%. While Christina and I had a good friendship going on, it is a competition and everyone is there for themselves. To have people there that really have your back was a really nice feeling, but at the same time I think it took my head out of the game a little bit. Winning challenges is great and going on rewards is awesome, but it's not easy being out of the kitchen all day and then come back in and jump into dinner service when everyone has been in the kitchen all day prepping and really focused on the menu and what needs to be done, so I think that put me at a disadvantage a little bit. As much as I loved seeing my parents, I think I needed to have my head in the game at that point and I would have liked to be in the kitchen working like everyone else was.

 

Q. Todd, RealityWanted: What was it like working in Hell's Kitchen and under Chef Ramsay and all the chaos/drama with the other chefs? What was that experience like for you?
A. Dana: It is hard to separate the drama and everything. We are living with all these people. We live together and work together, so it's not a normal situation. Just to have the opportunity to work with such an acclaimed chef is an accomplishment in itself. Chef Ramsay has so much knowledge and really taught us so much throughout the entire journey. I am thankful for that and everything I learned from him. As far as the drama and the stress, Chef Ramsay is just pushing you to be the best that you can be. He is not going to accept anything less than perfection and it's a good thing to push yourself to those levels that some of us didn't even think we were capable of when our instinct just kicks in.

 

Q. Todd, RealityWanted: What's the biggest thing you are going to be taking away from this whole Hell's Kitchen experience?
A. Dana: There is a lot to take away. I think Chef Ramsay works with you in the kitchen not just to make you a better chef, but to make you a better person. Whether it is going to be in your personal life and at work, Chef Ramsay really pushed you to be the best that you can be and not give up in any situation. There are so many times where he is breathing over you in the kitchen and you are trying your best and it's just not good enough and you think to yourself you have two choices: you can either give up and go home or you can keep pushing on. Chef Ramsay really solidified that in my mind. No matter what you do, as long as you keep trying you can do whatever it is you want to do or whatever it is you want to be.

 

Q. Todd, RealityWanted: Where are you cooking now and what can readers expect next from you?
A. Dana: Right now I am looking for my next exciting move. I am just doing appearances at events and stuff like that. I truthfully, want to do something else in TV, hopefully something less stressful and not reality based (laughs). I have a lot of fans on Facebook and Twitter I got over the entire competition. I have more than double the other contestants on this season and it means a lot to me that they have been following me ad d supporting me throughout the entire journey. I think they want to see more of me as well (laughs). I have a very strong passion for cooking and to be able to share that with everybody would be my ideal goal.

Q. Todd, RealityWanted: Is there anything you would like to add?

A. Dana: If you could just put my Facebook and Twitter on there, that would be great.

 

Part 2 of the Hell's Kitchen Finale airs Monday at 8/7c on FOX.

 

(Image courtesy of FOX)

 

Follow Todd on Twitter @tbetzold