by Gina Scarpa

 

This week, on Hell's Kitchen, Chef Ramsay decided that Fran had run out of chances and eliminated her from the competition. When Nilka had the worst night of her life in the kitchen, Ramsay didn't even wait for an elimination ceremony. He threw her out of the kitchen and demanded that she take off her jacket right on the spot! Today, the two women spoke to RealityWanted in an exclusive interview about their experiences on the show, the way they went out, and who they feel is the frontrunner right now to win Hell's Kitchen.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: What made you want to do Hell's Kitchen and how did you become a part of season 7?
A. Nilka: I applied a few years ago but didn't get it. I got an email from a casting agent and they were saying they remembered me and asked me to try out again. I went on the show for the opportunity and to change my life and my daughter's life.
A. Fran: Believe it or not, my 9 year old son talked me into sending out an application. There was an open casting call in October and everyone told me I had to go. I got an email from Hell's Kitchen asking me to go. I went for the experience!

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: What was the major problem with the red team, in terms of working together?
A. Nilka: The nerves and everyone wasn't in sync.
A. Fran: I don't think it was as bad as they portrayed us on tv. We bonded when we lost and we picked ourselves up. We stayed positive through most of it. We really were good friends. We patted each other on the shoulder and helped each other.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: In our interview with Salvatore last week, he said that it was good that Benjamin left the blue team because he was a backstabber. How did you feel about him?
A. Nilka: At first, I thought it was a plus because he has all this knowledge but then, his arrogance started coming out. It was like, "Who the F are you? You're not God. Let me do what I gotta go." We had to come together and work as a team but when somebody comes with that arrogance, there are gonna be problems.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: Fran, your team was constantly trying to get you eliminated. How did you handle that?
A. Fran: It didn't matter that I wasn't the worst that night. Any little error and they figured I was always the worst. I was always the second one put up and Chef Ramsay kept throwing me back. I wish people knew why he kept me over and over. I wish they saw that part.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: Nilka, the way you went out was really unfortunate. What are your thoughts on it, looking back now?
A. Nilka: Oh my God! I didn't think he was going to tell I was gone. I was like, "No!": I thought I deserved to get a black jacket. If I had gotten that I would've been okay. I'm still happy that I got the opportunity and got to be on tv. I'm cool with everything now. I deal with reality. This is not where I'm supposed to be that just helped me get to where I'm supposed to be.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: Who are the frontrunners right now, in the final six?
A. Nilka: Jay and Holli.
A. Fran: Holli's doing a great job. Everybody's strong at this point.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: What are you up to now and where are you cooking?
A. Nilka: I'm cooking at the Retro Lounge in New York. I'm the executive chef there and I'm going to move forward. I'm going to do open mic nights with music and have different artists come in and play.
A. Fran: I'm a consultant for a caterer in Long Island. I'm still running my small catering business. It's growing every day. I think I'm very lucky. I get to spend my life making people happy. What's so bad about that? Learning from Chef Ramsay, you see food in a different light. We learned a lot. You may not have seen it, but we did. I can speak for Nilka when I say that we came out of it as better people.

 

 

Hell's Kitchen airs Tuesdays at 8/7c on Fox.

 

(Image courtesy of Fox)

 

 

Follow Gina at twitter.com/ginascarpa

 

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