D.C. Chef Finalist in Hell's Kitchen
It has only been a few months since D.C. last had a reality TV star/contestant to fall behind -- unless you include our very own Marion Barry and the saga of his various trials and tribulations.
But somehow it has escaped our attention that local chef Rahman “Rock” Harper, Executive Chef at B. Smith’s in Union Station, has been competing in this summer’s season of Hell’s Kitchen. The oversight could be due to the fact that his bio on Fox’s website indicates that he is from Spotsylvania, VA, a scant 70 miles away from Union Station.
Now into its 10th week, the show began its two-part finale last night, where Rock Harper faces a head-to-head challenge against Bonnie Muirhead… a nanny/personal chef from California. Compared to the semi-stiff competition that local chef José Andrés faced from Bobby Flay, most Hell’s Kitchen aficionados, as well as Gordon Ramsey himself, agree that the final competition is Rock Harper’s to lose.
Last night, mostly through the magic and wizardry of editing, the show’s producers were able to equalize the two contestants, putting Bonnie in a favorable light while having Rock appear to be struggling with his final preparations. Editing or not, Bonnie managed a win in the cooking challenge with her signature shrimp and lobster fettuccine, against Rock’s southern specialty, fried chicken and crab cakes. This leads into the final competition, where Bonnie and Rock will pit their mini-restaurants, menus, and teams against each others.
Putting things into perspective, will Chef Ramsey really consider giving $250,000 to a nanny? Although the competition has been relatively weak this season, Rock is still an eight-year veteran of B. Smith’s and has put out a solid performance despite his floundering teammates. On the other hand, can Rock put aside his Southern/Cajun/American cooking roots to helm an Italian restaurant in Nevada?
The final episode concludes next Monday at 9 p.m. A viewing party are planned at B. Smith’s for the ending.