Hell's Kitchen: Haitian chef Jonny G escapes elimination

Haitian chef Jonathan "Jonny G" Gudino is still in the running in season 25 of Hell's Kitchen, Gordon Ramsay's cooking show on the American network Fox. Nominated for elimination at the end of the fifth episode, which aired on Thursday, October 22, he was spared: his blue-team teammate Aiden Ricklef left the competition instead.

The episode, titled "The Meat of the Matter," was marked by tension within the blue team, Gold Derby reports. The blues won the protein relay by more than four minutes, with Jonny G and Valentin Royo finishing the final dish. But they lost dinner service to the red team. Jonny G ran the meat station on his own, with help from Miguel Soliz.

Gordon Ramsay named Jonny G and Aiden Ricklef as the bottom two. He finally sent Aiden home, judging his mistakes on the garnish station too costly and faulting him for not asking for help. After the loss, Jonny G said it felt like "my heart got ripped out of my chest."

Of Haitian origin, Jonny G was adopted at age five and lives in Kent County, Michigan, according to local station FOX 17. Nicknamed "The Haitian Sensation" by his mother, he works as a part-time chef at ResLife Church in Wyoming and runs a personal chef business, Meals by Jon. He says his passion for Haitian food took off at Chez Olga, a Caribbean restaurant in Grand Rapids.

In the very first episode he made his mark with a Haitian-spiced hanger steak that earned him Gordon Ramsay's top score of five points.

This anniversary season features chefs aged 25 and under. The winner will become head chef at the Hell's Kitchen restaurant at Foxwoods Resort Casino and receive $250,000. The next episode, airing this Thursday, October 29, revolves around pizza.