For all of the reality cooking show fans out there: the name Chef Ryan might ring a bell. And for the rest of you, Broad College of Business alumna Chef Kimberly Ann Ryan (BA Hospitality Business ’08) was recently named winner of the 16th season of FOX’s Hell’s Kitchen, hosted by celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay, after outpunching 17 other contestants.
Broad alum Kim Ryan was named “the tough-to-beat chef” by host and celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay (photo credit @HellsKitchenFOX)
Along with taking home the winning title, Ryan, former event chef at Traverse City’s Alliance Restaurant, also received a grand prize of $250,000 and a head chef position at Yardbird Southern Table & Bar at the Venetian Hotel in Las Vegas.
“I won Hell’s Kitchen — I won!” said Ryan in her final one-on-one with the camera. “Everything was worth it. I went so far, I worked so hard to push myself through culinary school, to be a single mom. I’m so thankful. I’m proud of myself.”
In addition to graduating with a degree in hospitality business, Ryan also attended Baker College’s Culinary Institute of Michigan, located in Muskegon, Michigan.
Ryan, deemed by Ramsay the “tough-to-beat” chef, recently paid a visit to her alma mater for the bi-annual, and final, visiting chef event at the Kellogg Center. Ryan is the 108th chef to entertain guests with a one-night on-site cooking demonstration, followed the next evening by an exclusive dinner with the chef. The visiting chef series, in its 19th year, is an opportunity to bring renowned chefs from around the country to East Lansing to share their culinary talents and prepared recipes with registered guests.
Speaking for food-loving Spartans around the world, we say congratulations, Chef Ryan (and where can we get our hands on your Scallops with Mango Jalapeño Salsa and Spicy Toasted Rice Crispies?)!
