Hell’s Kitchen winner would do it all again

The winner of this year’s season of 'Hell’s Kitchen USA', Cork chef Ryan O'Sullivan, has said that if he could go back and do his time on the show again, he would.

The MTU graduate fought off the competition of 17 other highly talented chefs to take the top prize of $250,000 and a head chef role in Gordon Ramsay's famous Hell's Kitchen Las Vegas restaurant.

Ryan, 30, was the winner of season 22 of the hugely popular show which, though recorded in 2021, was aired last week.

Posting on X, Ryan’s former college MTU wrote: “Congratulations to MTU Culinary Studies graduate, Ryan O'Sullivan, who just won Season 22 of Hell’s Kitchen USA and an amazing €250,000!”

An Tánaiste Micheál Martin posted: “Huge congrats to Cork chef Ryan O’Sullivan on winning Hell’s Kitchen USA. Proof on an international stage of Ireland’s excellent culinary talent. Well done.”

Speaking to American media, Ryan described his disbelief and shock at winning the competition and said he would do the whole thing over again.

“If I could go back and do it again in the morning I would. It was phenomenal,” he said.

“We didn’t know whose door was going to open. There was never a time where I thought ‘this is it; I’ve definitely won, I definitely have it’.

“I don’t think I’ll ever come down from this,” added Ryan.

The talented Cork chef had previously worked in the Maryborough and River Lee hotels in Cork city before relocating to the USA to further his career, landing a job at the Mirasol County Club in Florida. An X post by Mirasol read: “We are thrilled that our Chef de Cuisine, Ryan O’Sullivan has won season 22 of @HellsKitchenFox! Ryan outlasted 17 talented chefs which is no surprise, as the unwavering passion for culinary excellence he demonstrates at Mirasol was palpable throughout the series. Congrats, Ryan!”

Commenting on Ryan’s win, the man behind Hell’s Kitchen, Gordon Ramsey said: “Ryan is everything I could want in a head chef. I don't think I've ever met a more passionate chef. He's also very creative and a tremendous leader. His amazing journey from Cork, Ireland is proof that the American dream is alive and well. Ryan will be a wonderful asset to Hell's Kitchen Las Vegas.”