Melbourne chef set to compete on ‘Hell’s Kitchen: Battle of the Ages’
Chef Billy Trudsoe, a New York native who resides in Melbourne, is competing in season 21 of “Hell’s Kitchen,” debuting next week on FOX. A career executive chef and food enthusiast, Trudoe describes himself as a “religious follower of Gordon Ramsay for 20-plus years” and said he was beyond excited to join the cast of the show this season.
“It’s just such a surreal feeling,” he recalled when asked about meeting Ramsay for the first time. “I’ve been following him forever, and it is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. [To have] the Michael Jordan of culinary taste my food was just was one of the greatest moments in my culinary career.”
This season will feature a “Battle of the Ages” format which pits new school vs. old school: young chefs in their 20s on the red team compete against wizened chefs in their 40s on the blue team.
Trudsoe, who is competing with the “old school” group, described this season as “action-packed and epic.”
“There’s a great amount of phenomenal characters that keep everyone entertained, including myself, of course,” he said. “It’s just one of the seasons that I think is really going to stand out in the future of Hell’s Kitchen.”
At stake this season is a head chef position at Gordon Ramsay Steak at Paris Las Vegas. Each week, contestants will go through rigorous culinary challenges as they compete against not only the other team but each other as well.
“When you’re on Hell’s Kitchen, you know, they always keep you on your toes and there’s always something around the corner that you just don’t see is going to happen,” Trudsoe said about the various challenges this season.
Trudsoe is hosting a free watch party for the season premiere starting at 6 p.m. at Hotel Melby (801 E. Strawbridge Ave. in Melbourne). Guests can meet Trudsoe, enjoy music from DJ Chemics, and watch the episode on a giant screen on the hotel’s roof. More information is available on Trudsoe’s official website btrues.com. Those wanting to follow Trudsoe’s “Hell’s Kitchen” journey can also follow him on Instagram at @btruesmadflava.
Though filming on the season has already wrapped, Trudsoe still can’t believe he was able to compete on the show.
“I’m over the moon from it. I’m just, I still can’t believe that happened. It’s almost like a dream to me.”
“Hell’s Kitchen” season 21 will debut at 8 p.m. on Sept. 29 on FOX, and will also stream next-day on Hulu. More information can be found fox.com/hells-kitchen.
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