Meet the 15 Culinary Entrepreneurs Competing in 'Gordon Ramsay's Food Stars'
It’s goodbye kitchen, hello boardroom when Gordon Ramsay returns with an all-new series, Gordon Ramsay’s Food Stars, a search for the next great food and drink industry entrepreneur, rather than a cooking show.
“This is like nothing I have ever done before,” says Ramsay. “I’ve handpicked some of the most promising culinary innovators to compete for not only an investment, but my partnership in business. They will have to hustle through tough challenges, break through, and set themselves apart from the other competition, and make noise to prove they have what it takes to be successful.”
Following is the list of 15 culinary innovators who will take on the business challenges devised by Gordon—think The Apprentice in which the contestants had to raise money to stay in the game—in hopes of convincing him to make a personal investment of $250,000 in their business and become a partner in their enterprise.
Related: Gordon Ramsay Reveals the Most Challenging Part for Cooks on Next Level Chef Season 2
Launch the gallery to get a look at the 15 competitors:
Aaron Valentine
CR: Michael Becker/FOX
View the 15 images of this gallery on the original article
Aaron Valentine
Currently Resides: Mission Viejo, CA
Hometown: Oak Grove, MO
Occupation: Founder of Snow Cone King
Ashley Davies
Current City and Hometown: Norco, CA
Occupation: Entrepreneur, Founder and CEO of Happy Grub
Caroline D’Amore
Currently Resides: Marina del Rey, CA
Hometown: Malibu, CA
Occupation: Founder and CEO of Pizza Girl Inc.
Chanel Goodson
Currently Resides: Los Angeles, CA
Hometown: Chicago, IL
Occupation: Chef, Owner and Operator of Vegan AF
Chris Kanik
Currently Resides: Orange County, CA
Hometown: Union City, NJ
Occupation: Founder and CEO of Smart Cups
Elisa Strauss
Currently Resides: Larchmont, NY
Hometown: Roslyn, NY
Occupation: Cake Designer and Owner of Confetti Cakes
Jake Aronskind
Currently Resides: Manhattan, NY
Hometown: Millburn, NJ
Occupation: Founder and CEO of Pepper (Cooking app)
Jourdan Higgs
Currently Resides: Chicago, IL
Hometown: Oak Park, IL
Occupation: Head Chef and Owner of Provaré Restaurant
Kagen Cox
Currently Resides: Pasco, WA
Hometown: Kalispell, MT
Occupation: Owner and Operator of Kagen Coffee & Crepes (Located in Richland, WA)
Lan Ho
Currently Resides: Chicago, IL
Hometown: St. Louis, MO
Occupation: Founder and Owner of Fat Miilk
Luther Chen
Currently Resides: Los Angeles, CA
Hometown: Arcadia, CA
Occupation: Chef and Founder of Luther Bob’s
Megan Meza
Currently Resides: Brooklyn, NY
Hometown: San Diego, CA
Occupation: Entrepreneur and Founder/CEO of Bandida
Queen Precious-Jewel Zabriskie
Currently Resides: Durham, NC
Hometown: The Bronx, NY
Occupation: Founder, CEO, Executive Chef and Spice Purveyor at Indulgent Essential Spices
Sydney Webb
Currently Resides: Santa Monica, CA
Hometown: Torrance, CA
Occupation: CEO and Co-Founder of Toto Foods, Inc.
Tony Balestreri
Currently Resides: Chicago, IL
Hometown: Milwaukee, WI
Occupation: Chef/Pitmaster & Founder/CEO of Tony B’s Steak Chips
Gordon Ramsay’s Food Stars premieres on May 24 at 9 p.m. ET/PT on FOX, immediately following the new season of MasterChef.
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