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Hell's Kitchen Season 10: Exclusive Interview With Clemenza Caserta

Posted on 08/21/2012 by Todd in Hells Kitchen and Cast Interviews

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Clemenza Caserta from Hell's Kitchen Season 10

by Todd Betzold

 

With only five chefs left in Hell's Kitchen, it leaves little room for error when it comes to the dinner service. Clemenza Caserta seemed to make it through dinner service with a few scarpes and bruises, but Barbie seemed to be the one that struggled and seemed more likely to go home. Chef Ramsay decided, after seven times being up for elimination, it was time for Clemenza to go home. Today, we got an exclusive interview with Clemenza as he discussed his experiences in Hell's Kitchen, being in the bottom so many time, his own TV show and much more.

 

Q. Todd, RealityWanted: What made you decide to try out for Hell's Kitchen?
A. Clemenza: Honestly, I got tired of watching these shows and saying you know what, if some of these people can get on there. It's one of those things that I got fed up and said enough of this. Screw everything else. I'm trying for this, this is really what I want and I just went for it.

 

Q. Todd, RealityWanted: You stood in front of Chef Ramsay seven times being up for elimination. Why do you think you were nominated so many times?
A. Clemenza: It definitely is scary being up there, without a doubt. It is what it is. It's a competition. I think sometimes I was just thrown up there and maybe people are afraid of a little competition. I don't think I should have been up there all the time, especially last night. There is no way I thought I should have been up there, but it is what it is.

 

Q. Todd, RealityWanted: What were you thinking when it was you and Barbie in the bottom two?
A. Clemenza: I honestly thought what in the hell am I doing up here? I really couldn't believe that they could come to a decision. I'm not going to throw Barbie under the bus because Barbie is a great cook, but it was not a good service.

 

Q. Todd, RealityWanted: What was it like working in Hell's Kitchen and under Chef Ramsay and all the chaos/drama that does happen between the chefs? What was that experience like for you?
A. Clemenza: I grew up in an Italian family, so I'm used to people yelling and screaming and the craziness. That didn't scare me. Being put together with 17 other people that you didn't know, it's just weird. It definitely is a hard thing to do at first and oddly enough, with all the screaming and drama we become like a family even though you are against each other. You don't even notice the cameras anymore. I had a lot of people in my family. There was always five, six, eight people in the household. There were definitely some tempers flaring. When you get down to being in the Top 10, you become a tight group of people because you are all going through the same grueling and agony and fun. We are all going through the same thing, so there was some kind of bond between all of us. Even though we are against each other, we still had love for each other.

 

Q. Todd, RealityWanted: What's the biggest thing you are going to be taking away from this whole Hell's Kitchen experience?
A. Clemenza: It was a great experience and made me realize you remember where you come from. A lot of these chefs, including myself, you get to the point where you don't work the line anymore. You gotta remember the grudge work and remember what it takes. I came up through the ranks. I washed dishes, I cleaned floors, boxes and boxes of grudge work every day and you forget that.

 

Q. Todd, RealityWanted: With only four chefs left, are you personally rooting for anyone to win this season?
A. Clemenza: Any of the four I would be happy with winning, I don't necessarily have a favorite. You get to the point where you are all so tight, it gets hard to pick someone.

 

Q. Todd, RealityWanted: Where are you cooking now and what can readers expect next from you?
A. Clemenza: I'm working as the executive chef at Stuzzi in Richmond, Virginia. I go back and forth from there and New York. I have a private catering business I do there for a select group of clientele and some corporations I do some work for. I want my own show is what I really want to do. To have the ability to teach people. To have the ability to captivate an audience. I love what I do. I wake up thinking about food and go to bed thinking about things and planning menus. I really want my own show.

 

Q. Todd, RealityWanted: Is there anything you would like to add?
A. Clemenza: It has definitely been an emotional rollercoaster and definitely been the greatest experience I've had in my life, especially to work next to, or even in the same room as Gordon Ramsay is amazing. The guy is an absolute amazing chef and I am really lucky to have it.

 

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

 

(Image courtesy of FOX)

 

Follow Todd on Twitter @tbetzold


  


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