The cast of Season 6 of "Hell's Kitchen."FOX/Brian Bowen Smith - Tuesday, June, 30, 2009, 7:30 PM

Van, a contestant on Season 6 of "Hell's Kitchen," graduated from Art Institute of Dallas at the top of his culinary class while working full-time preparing breakfast and lunch for more than 100 people a day. Looking to advance his career, Van, a Buford, GA native, landed a job in one of Dallas' top restaurants, which allowed him to work with several celebrated chefs. Van is currently a fish cook who shares his time between work, family, and volunteering. The 26-year-old has five years of kitchen experience and his greatest culinary inspiration is fellow Dallas chef Jason Weaver.FOX/Brian Bowen Smith - Tuesday, June, 30, 2009, 7:30 PM

Tennille, a contestant on Season 6 of "Hell's Kitchen," does not let anything stand in her way. She recently underwent gastric bypass surgery, losing over 100 pounds and still works as an executive chef in Fairfax, VA. She graduated from Johnson & Wales University at the top of her culinary class and has 10 years of kitchen experience. The 28-year-old says it was her grandfather who served as her culinary inspiration. FOX/Brian Bowen Smith - Tuesday, June, 30, 2009, 7:30 PM

Tony, a contestant on Season 6 of "Hell's Kitchen," has lived most of his life in the Chicago metropolitan area. While attending college, he spent a year abroad in Florence, Italy, where he learned the art of Italian cooking. After graduating, Tony was able to apply his knowledge and excitement for cooking as a culinary store manager, where he can help people select proper cooking tools. The 30-year-old has no formal culinary training, but has five years of kitchen experience and considers chef Jamie Oliver to be his greatest culinary inspiration. FOX/Brian Bowen Smith - Tuesday, June, 30, 2009, 7:30 PM

Tek, a contestant on Season 6 of "Hell's Kitchen," grew up in Greenwich, CT and was a self-described rebellious adolescent, immersing herself in the punk scene in nearby New York City. She later worked in the technology field, where she was given the nickname Tek, and despite discovering a desk job was not for her, the name stuck. She then moved south, where she was hired as a dishwasher and prep cook and caught the culinary bug. Tek returned to New York where she's pursuing her culinary career and is raising her son. The 27-year-old has nine years of kitchen experience and currently works as a line cook. She has no formal training and says her father is her greatest culinary inspiration.FOX/Brian Bowen Smith - Tuesday, June, 30, 2009, 7:30 PM

Suzanne, a contestant on Season 6 of "Hell's Kitchen," grew up the youngest of 11 children in Milwaukee, where she studied cooking at Milwaukee Area Technical College. Looking to broaden her culinary horizons, she relocated to Las Vegas and launched her cooking career. Suzanne is passionate about her craft and abilities in the kitchen and credits her mother as her culinary inspiration. The 24-year-old currently works as a sous chef and has six years of kitchen experience. FOX/Brian Bowen Smith - Tuesday, June, 30, 2009, 7:30 PM

Sabrina, a 34-year-old contestant on Season 6 of "Hell's Kitchen," grew up in New Caney, TX where she gained a great appreciation for Southern cooking. She later attended LeChef Culinary Institute in Austin, TX and has since moved to Phoenix, AZ where she works as a restaurant manager. She has 15 years of kitchen experience and says her dad is her greatest culinary inspiration. In addition to being a manager, Sabrina is also a wife and mother. FOX/Brian Bowen Smith - Tuesday, June, 30, 2009, 7:30 PM

In 2003, Melinda, a contestant on Season 6 of "Hell's Kitchen" and Philadelphia resident, changed her life by leaving her corporate job to focus on cooking and pursuing her epicurean dreams. Since graduating from the Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts, the 38-year-old has sharpened her skills on the high seas as a private chef on yachts. She has five years of kitchen experience and her culinary inspiration is her father. FOX/Brian Bowen Smith - Tuesday, June, 30, 2009, 7:30 PM

Lovely, a contestant on Season 6 of "Hell's Kitchen," acquired her moniker thanks to her disposition. With passions for dance, music, and cooking above all, she considers herself a multi-faceted young woman with a lot to learn and offer. Lovely attended the Illinois Institute of Art in Chicago and currently works as executive chef at a children’s camp in her hometown of Chicago. The 23-year-old has five years of kitchen experience and says her mother is her greatest culinary inspiration. She hopes to help others make good choices when it comes to eating. FOX/Brian Bowen Smith - Tuesday, June, 30, 2009, 7:30 PM

Louie, a contestant on Season 6 of "Hell's Kitchen," was born and bred in the New England town of Fitchburg, MA, where he still resides. A third-generation cook and diner-owner, he followed in the footsteps of his father and grandfather. The 45-year-old has no formal culinary training, but has been cooking for 30 years. Louie is a family man with three children and says his culinary inspiration is none other than Gordon Ramsay. FOX/Brian Bowen Smith - Tuesday, June, 30, 2009, 7:30 PM

Kevin, a contestant on Season 6 of "Hell's Kitchen," has been perfecting his craft in kitchens from Philadelphia to Colorado for 13 years. The 35-year-old attended the Culinary Institute of America and now works as an executive chef in Middletown, CT, where he resides with his son and wife. The Plymouth, MA native is a proud family man and in addition to being at the helm of his kitchen, he also established a culinary program for members of his country club, his high school, and for college interns. He finds his culinary inspiration within himself.FOX/Brian Bowen Smith - Tuesday, June, 30, 2009, 7:30 PM

Joseph, a contestant on Season 6 of "Hell's Kitchen," is a Long Island native who enlisted in the United States Marine Corps after graduating from high school. While in the Marines, Joseph was a Food Service Specialist/Corporal. After serving his country, Joseph was able to apply his discipline and skills to excel in the kitchens he has worked. His culinary training took place in the Marines and he has eight years of kitchen experience. His culinary inspiration comes from his siblings. FOX/Brian Bowen Smith - Tuesday, June, 30, 2009, 7:30 PM

After realizing that a 9-to-5 office job was not for him, Jim, a contestant on Season 6 of "Hell's Kitchen," found his calling in the kitchen. The 34-year-old New Jersey native has 15 years of kitchen experience and works as a sous chef in a fine dining restaurant. He has no formal culinary training and no culinary inspiration. FOX/Brian Bowen Smith - Tuesday, June, 30, 2009, 7:30 PM

Raised in Santa Cruz, CA, Ariel, a contestant on Season 6 of "Hell's Kitchen," demonstrated artistic and creative abilities at a young age. She traveled extensively growing up and her international exposure helped her develop an appreciation for all cuisines. After two years of college, she moved to Los Angeles and enrolled in the California School of Culinary Arts, one of the Le Cordon Bleu Schools of North America, where she found she could express her creativity through food. Ariel has been dedicated to her craft since graduating and works as a sous chef in L.A. She has eight years of kitchen experience and credits her grandmother as her greatest culinary inspiration.FOX/Brian Bowen Smith - Tuesday, June, 30, 2009, 7:30 PM

Dave, a contestant on Season 6 of "Hell's Kitchen," is a man motivated by accomplishment and success. The 32-year-old trekked 2,200 miles on foot across the Appalachian Trail and strives to be an innovator and risk-taker in all aspects of his life. Dave grew up in Chester, NJ but currently works as an executive chef in San Diego, CA. He attended the Western Culinary Institute and has 10 years of kitchen experience. His culinary inspiration is his own inner drive.FOX/Brian Bowen Smith - Tuesday, June, 30, 2009, 7:30 PM

Amanda, a contestant on Season 6 of "Hell's Kitchen," was born in Portland, OR, but spent her formative years in Vancouver, Washington. While playing sports in high school, she received the nickname, "Rodman" because of her competitive nature and language. At 17, Amanda became ill but decided to let nothing stand in the way of her dreams of a culinary career. She attended New York’s famed French Culinary Institute and has three years of kitchen experience. She currently works as a sous chef in New York City. Her culinary inspirations are her grandparents.FOX/Brian Bowen Smith - Tuesday, June, 30, 2009, 7:30 PM

Andy, a contestant on Season 6 of "Hell's Kitchen," grew up in Seattle and later attended Johnson & Wales University. He started his culinary career in Boston, MA, and is now the owner and Executive Chef of his own restaurant there. With more than two decades of kitchen experience, the 39-year-old is committed to cooking with seasonal and locally grown ingredients. In addition to being an award-winning BBQ competitor, he is a published cookbook author and a hunger-prevention and nutrition advocate. Chef Rick Bayless is his culinary inspiration. FOX/Brian Bowen Smith - Tuesday, June, 30, 2009, 7:30 PM

Scottish by birth, Gordon Ramsay, head chef of "Hell's Kitchen," was brought up in England after his parents moved south to Stratford-upon-Avon. His first career break came while playing football for Oxford United, where he was spotted by a Glasgow Rangers scout in a F.A. youth club match. After completing trials, he was signed by the Scottish champions at the age of 15. Three years later he had given up professional football and gone back to college to complete a course in hotel management. Ramsay then moved to London, where he joined Chef Marco Pierre White in the early days of Harvey's in Wandsworth. After a couple of years, he moved to Le Gavroche to work alongside Albert Roux. This was followed by three years of working in France in the kitchens of Guy Savoy and Joel Robuchon. Here he was able to enhance his expertise in classic French cooking. In 1998, at the age of 31, Ramsay set up his first wholly-owned restaurant, Gordon Ramsay, on the former site of La Tante Claire in Chelsea. In 1991 the restaurant gained its third Michelin star in the "Michelin Red Guide Great Britain and Ireland." Widely considered to be his flagship restaurant, Gordon Ramsay underwent a major refurbishment in 2006 and remains London's most sought-after dining establishment. 2005 confirmed Ramsay as a major television talent. A second season of his British TV show "Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares" was followed by the very successful U.S. version of “Hell’s Kitchen” for Fox. Head Chef Gordan Ramsay on season six of Hell's Kitchen.FOX/Brian Bowen Smith - Tuesday, June, 30, 2009, 7:30 PM

The cast of season five of Hell's Kitchen.FOX/Patrick Ecclesine - Tuesday, January, 13, 2009, 11:13 PM

Chef Seth (New York, NY) is a contestant on season five of Hell's Kitchen.FOX/Patrick Ecclesine - Tuesday, January, 13, 2009, 11:13 PM

Chef Wil (Elgin, IL) is a contestant on season five of Hell's Kitchen.FOX/Patrick Ecclesine - Tuesday, January, 13, 2009, 11:13 PM

Chef Robert (Quogue, NY) is a contestant on season five of Hell's Kitchen.FOX/Patrick Ecclesine - Tuesday, January, 13, 2009, 11:13 PM

Chef Paula (Coconut Creek, FL) is a contestant on season five of Hell's Kitchen.FOX/Patrick Ecclesine - Tuesday, January, 13, 2009, 11:13 PM

Chef Ji (Palisades Park, NJ) is a contestant on season five of Hell's Kitchen.FOX/Patrick Ecclesine - Tuesday, January, 13, 2009, 11:13 PM