Exclusive Interview: ‘Hell’ of a shocker for Bradenton chef Jamie Gregorich

Jamie Gregorich/Fox.com

The biggest shock of the season on “Hell’s Kitchen” rocked Manatee County and viewers across the country Monday.

Bradenton resident and fan favorite Jamie Gregorich was eliminated.

“My mom was crying because I was crying on TV,” Jamie told the Herald from her parent’s home in West Bradenton shortly after the episode aired. “I was on the verge of tears, but more than that I had a headache because I knew it was coming.”

In a startling move, chef/host Gordon Ramsay decided that the two contestants up for elimination, Carrie and Elise, should stay and called out Jamie, a 25-year-old sous chef at Longboat Key eatery Euphemia Haye.

"It's not a good feeling. It hurts ... deep," she said in a teary confessional.
Colin Wilson, manager at Euphemia Haye, learned Jamie had been eliminated when the Herald called the resturant.

“It’s been so exciting having her be a part of the show,” he said. It has been a big boost for the restaurant and just an exciting time for everyone involved. Lots of people have been coming in asking about Jamie. Everything having to do with Jamie and the show has been positive.”

One of Jamie’s main mentors, Euphemia Haye Chef du cuisine Mark Keckstein texted: “Jamie showed a great deal of integrity and passion for our art and made us all better professionals.”

Raymond Arpke, Euphemia Haye’s owner and executive chef, called Jamie shortly before the Herald spoke with her. The winner of the show receives a $250,000 salary as head chef of the prestigious BLT Steak in New York City.

“I know my chef Mark is proud of me and Chef Ray called from Wisconsin to say he’s super proud and that I should have gone further,” Jamie said — then laughed. “But Chef Ray also said also glad that I’m still at restaurant and loves me.”

Facebook and Twitter were teeming with sympathetic messages about Jmaie within minutes of the on-air moment.

Even Jamie’s rival Elise reached out.

“It shouldn't have been you!” she wrote on the on the wall of Jamie’s personal Facebook page.
Another fellow Red Team member and remaining contestant responded to the Herald directly.

“Saddest day in the house,” Jennifer Normant messaged. “Lost a great friend and huge competitor.”
Jamie had about a half-hour to soak up all the feedback pouring in nationwide before talking to the Herald.

“It gives me goose-bumps to know I made such an impact in the time I was on the show and to know I have a true friend in Jennifer,” Jamie said. “It’s also nice to see the other contestants as shocked as my family was. They know I’m a good chef.”

Jamie added, “I’m still in shock now even though I’ve known for three months that it happened.”

Jamie Gregorich/Fox.com.

The episode started out good with Jamie's Red Team winning the sexy dessert challenge. The team was rewarded with an overnight trip to Las Vegas, complete with a five-bedroom villa, butler service and a visit from Playboy bunny/Hugh Hefner ex Holly Madison. She announced that they all had won a three day/two night return trip with a guest. It's the best reward for a challenge yet.

Dinner service was themed "Date Night" and at the end Ramsay said he would divorce all of them if he could. The Blue Team had problems with tattoed Tommy and his inability to cook seafood, but other than that they were able to finish service.

The Red Team had several problems with dinner service. The worst of which was probably "the hair in the garnish" incident. Jamie was preparing the garnishes and Ramsay called her out because there was a "disgusting, greasy black hair" on the plate. "Is that your hair?" he asked Jamie. After a bit of argument she fessed up and said "I guess it must be mine."

She seemed upset by the incident because she then had trouble on the zuchini side dishes and Ramsay made her taste a burned one she had made. After that though she sucked it up and finished getting the dishes out.

She wasn't the only Red Team member to have a bad night. Both Carrie and Elise got kicked out of the kitchen. Carrie for trying to serve burnt, greasy fish and Elise for her general bad additude, overcooking the oysters and serving vegetarian capellini with lobster. (Does anyone else think it's strange that they serve a large plate of pasta for an appetizer?)

The Blue Team won dinner service and the Red Team was asked to nominate two team members to go up for elimination. After several arguments, the disruptive duo of Carrie and Elise were voted in.

At elimination, Chef Ramsay asked each chef to expalin why they deserved to be there. They each pleaded their case and Ramsay said "both of you" and they both started walking towards him. "Both of you ... back in line!" They were shocked. We were shocked.

"Jamie, you're out of here."

Ramsay told the rest of the contestants that Jamie was in over her head and instead of getting better each week, she got worse.

"Walking out of there without a chef's jacket was one of the hardest things I've ever had to do," Jamie said.

Well don't worry Jamie, Bradenton is still proud of you.

The winner of the reality cooking show will get a $250,000 salary as head chef of the prestigious BLT Steak in New York City.

"Hell's Kitchen" airs 8 p.m. Mondays on Fox.

--post by Jana Morreale, features/day editor, and Wade Tatangelo, features writer/columnist

Carrie, Jamie and Amanda prepare for a dinner service. Fox publicity photo.

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TIFFANY TOMPKINS-CONDIE /ttompkins@bradenton.com Bradenton resident and “Hell’s Kitchen” contestant Jamie Gregorich holds her signature dish, lollipop lamb chops, at Euphemia Haye.

Jamie Gregorich did her hometown proud again tonight on "Hell's Kitchen."

Monday on the reality cooking competition the 25-year-old Bradenton resident Jamie Gregorich earned the nickname "Hercules" for carrying two big bags of ice like they were pair of tomatoes.

The sous chef at Longboat Key eatery Euphemia Haye also came close Monday to being kicked off thanks to the evil Elise, who nominated Jamie for elimination.


In the confessional, the Manatee County native was close to tears.

"I just can't deal with her anymore," Jamie said of Elise.

During the elimination, the show's sadistic celebrity chef/host Gordon Ramsay asked Jamie why she thought she should stay.

"Chef, I have a lot of fight in me," she answered.

Ramsay sent Krupa home.

But in a surprising twist, the unpredictable host said, "We're not done yet."

And the show ended.

Tonight's episode started with Ramsay asking each team — women are Red; boys are Blue with help from Natalie — to choose a leader.

Our class of 2004 Manatee High School graduate and Manatee Technical Institute alumni/instructor remained pretty quiet during the process while Carrie and Elise fought for the umpteenth time.

Level-headed Jennifer, my second fave to Jamie, prevailed as the leader.

The Blue Team nominated large-and-in-charge Will.

Chef Ramsay gathered the teams and asked each leader who was the weakest leader.

Jennifer smartly chose Carrie.

Will went with heavily  tattooed Tommy.

In typical "Hell's Kitchen" twist fashion, the weaklings were to lead their respective teams during the programs challenge of creating five American comfort food classics.

Believe it or not, Elise had a problem with Carrie’s game plan.

Jaw-dropping silence ensued, though, when in walked Wolfgang Puck to judge the dishes.

Jamie Gregorich/Fox.com.

Up first?

Jamie!

Her burger versus Tommy's.

“To me it's a little overdone but good flavor," Puck said to Jamie. "It’s not bad.”

Jamie confessional: “That's probably one of the best compliments I ever gotten.”

Tommy's burger couldn't compete with the one rooted in the rich burger tradition of Bradenton.

Jamie wins!

Paving the way for a Red Team victory.

And a cruise down Sunset Strip to catch a performance by gifted Kira Soltanovich at the Laugh Factory.

"I get to be a pretty girl today," gushed Jamie before Red Team's big night out in Hollywood

Ramsay joke and cut to shot of Jamie dressed up and beaming.

Meanwhile, the Blue Team cleaned and prepped both kitchens and was told to make the dorms spotless before Ramsay barked “piss off.”

Red Team returned to nifty gift baskets of cookware

Jonathan acted like big baby over stiff neck before time for all-important dinner service for specials guests of the U.S. Coast Guard.

“We have really solid cooks on our team with the exception of Carrie,” Jamie said during a confessional.

Carrie then burned some garlic, ruined an appetizer and got ripped by Ramsay.

“Carrie was struggling so I tried to help where I could,” Jamies said in another confessional. “That’s what you have to do with weaker people.”

Ramsay then blasted the Blue Team for bad pasta while Jonathan whines.

Ramsay takes Jonathan in a closet: "Have you given up?" And then the chef reminded Jonathan and viewers about past winner who overcame busted arm.

“Everything is working in harmony, it feels like a symphony,” Jamie said into the camera.

Elise then did wonders with a wellington, burped and Jamie cracked up.

Has the Bradenton hero made up with the big mouth who turned on her last episode?

Probably not.

"Red Team close to finishing their best service." the narrator said.

Elise: “I think we won tonight.”

Jamie: “Don’t jinx us.”

Red Team wins!

Blue Team chooses Natalie and Jonathan to be eliminated.

Ramsay sends super-complainer Jonathan home.

“Elise is on mission to get Carrie kicked off,” Jamie said during a preview clip.

Elise received much praise tonight from Ramsay. Jamie received approval. Our Bradenton ambassador needs to take charge to win the prize she seems capable of attaining.

The winner of the reality cooking show will get a $250,000 salary as head chef of the prestigious BLT Steak in New York City.

"Hell's Kitchen" airs 8 p.m. Mondays and Tuesday on Fox.

Carrie, Jamie and Amanda prepare for a dinner service. Fox publicity photo.

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Jamie Gregorich up for elimination in Hell's Kitchen

Jamie Gregorich/Fox publicity.

Lesson learned from watching "Hell's Kitchen" Monday? Don't drink and cook.

The reality cooking show which features 25-year-old Bradenton chef Jamie "Hercules" Gregorich, was full of wine and beer guzzling and left one hung-over contestant without a chef's jacket.

Our hometown gal, a sous chef at Longboat Key eatery Euphemia Haye, survived the night ... we think. More on that later.

The episode started right after elimination with Krupa getting loaded on several bottles of wine while the rest of the chefs looked on. Needless to say, Krupa woke up with a very bad hangover.

To make matters worse for her, the competition featured dishes made with different types of beer. The chefs had to taste the beer, then prepare a dish. Some looked like they were enjoying the competition a little too much.

Krupa had apparently killed some brain cells because she couldn't remember the what was in her dish or names of her teammates.

Jamie was not happy. "If we're going to win any challenge, each individual person has to be 100 percent and Krupa is running at 50 percent."

Each team was told to rank the dishes from 1 to 5. Jamie's dish was the topped ranked for the Red Team. While tattooed Tommy was No. 1 for the Blue Team. With the competition tied, Jamie and Tommy both prepared raspberry lambic-marinated duck. Tommy's purple potatoes put his dish over the top, but Jamie's dish also got compliments from the judges.

The Red Team lost the competition (yet again) and was forced to unload supply trucks while the Blue Team test drove Grand Prix race cars.

At once, Elise started complaining about having to do manual labor. The unloading looked daunting with a truckload of ice (20-pound bags) and at least 20 kegs of beer. Jamie just wanted to get the job done and was seen hauling two bags of ice on her shoulders at once! This led Elise to say "I don't need to carry two bags of ice like I was Hercules trying to show off." Hence, Jamie's new nickname.

Everyone on the Red Team is over Elise's attitude and loud mouth. They had a team meeting to confront her bad attitude and as dinner service began the next night she seemed to be trying to work better with her teammates.

Red Team got off to a great start with appetizers but fell short when it came to plate entrees. Jamie and Krupa were having communication problems. I blame Krupa's hangover. Jamie's fish was "pink" and Krupa couldn't cook any meat properly. After being called out by Chef Ramsay, they finally got it together to finish service.

Elise returned to her old ways and lied about her soggy salad, then started yelling out orders at the others.

The Blue Team didn't fare much better. Natalie wasted more than 30 scallops by not knowing how to sear them properly, then she undercooked the fish. Twangy Jonathan had a beef Wellington fiasco which he blamed on others. Both got kicked out of the kitchen.

At the end of service, Ramsay decided that neither team had won. Each team had to nominate two members for elimination.

Krupa nominated herself. I was expecting the others to send in mouthy, lazy Elise. But Elise had other ideas and nominated JAMIE! Jamie was shocked (so was I) and started a shouting match with Elise in which each said the other needed to work on their attitude.

In the confessional, Jamie was close to tears. "I just can't deal with her anymore."

The Blue Team nominated backstabber Jonathan and scallop murderer Natalie.

During the elimination, Chef Ramsay asked Jamie why she thought she should stay. "Chef, I have a lot of fight in me," she said.

Ramsay decided to send Krupa home.

But in a shocking twist, the unpredictable host said "We're not done yet," and the show ended. What does that mean? Jamie looked scared standing up on the chopping block. Will someone else be eliminated? Will it be Jamie? My guess is 'no' because there's a shot of her in the sneak preview for tonight's episode. But really, this was too close for comfort.

A few questions to ponder:
1. Why won't Elise just shut up?
2. Why can't anyone cook scallops or beef Wellington correctly?
3. What happens to all the food that isn't cooked properly? Do you think they give it to the homeless?
4. Will the Red Team ever win a challenge?

The winner of the reality cooking show will get a $250,000 salary as head chef of the prestigious BLT Steak in New York City.

—Posted by Jana Morreale, Day/features editor

"Hell's Kitchen" airs 8 p.m. Mondays and Tuesday on Fox.

Carrie, Jamie and Amanda prepare for a dinner service. Fox publicity photo.

Buzz Worthy: "Jamie Gregorich continues to play it cool on 'Hell's Kitchen'"

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Buzz Worthy: "What will the wrathful Ramsay do to Bradenton chef Jamie Gregorich tonight on 'Hell's Kitchen'?"

Buzz Worthy:  "Jamie Gregorich survives another night in 'Hell's Kitchen'"

Bradenton Herald front page story that ran Sunday, July 24: "‘Hell’s Kitchen’ contestant talks about surviving debut show, returning to Euphemia Haye,"

Buzz Worthy: "Bradenton chef Jamie Gregorich still standing the heat in 'Hell's Kitchen'"

Buzz Worthy: "Bradenton chef Jamie Gregorich on 'Hell's Kitchen' part 2 of the season premiere"

Buzz Worthy: "Jamie Gregorich survives first night on 'Hell's Kitchen'"

Buzz Worthy: "Bradenton chef Jamie Gregorich on 'Hell's Kitchen' season debut"

Bradenton Herald: "Bradenton chef heats up ‘Hell’s Kitchen’"

WATCH previous episodes of "Hell's Kitchen."

Jamie Gregorich page on Fox.com.