Chef Michael wins Hell's Kitchen

Chef Michael has won Hell's Kitchen. The soft-spoken executive chef from Fort Collins, Colorado, beat out fellow finalist Ralph, a chef from Livingston, New Jersey, in the final episode of the Fox reality series. Chef Gordon Ramsay said he made his decision based on customer comments, and Michael had a higher score by a slim margin.

The 12-week contest featured people from all walks of life--from chefs to purchasing managers to accountants--competing in the pressure cooker of a high-class restaurant kitchen, a Hell's Kitchen, to see who could win their own restaurant. The action took place under the supervision of celebrity chef and former soccer player Gordon Ramsay, a man known for his unflinching commitment to high standards. All the while, Ramsay barked orders and berated the would-be restaurateurs, causing many of them to melt down and have reality-show tantrums. Along the way, there were many commercial breaks and recaps.

Ultimately, it came down to two men: Michael and Ralph. The daunting task of a final competition was made even more overwhelming when, prior to the final dinner, Ramsay split Hell's Kitchen in half and said each man had to design his own menu and restaurant, the latter of which would be with the help of the show's set designers. As each restaurant was coming together, Ramsay introduced the head chefs to their line cooks: former contestants who had flamed out in previous episodes. In the end, both restaurants and dinner servings came together well. Ramsay said he based his decision on one of the questions on the customer comment cards: Would you return to this restaurant? Ralph had a 90 percent return rate to Michael's 94.

All along, the contestants were fighting for the chance to open their own restaurant. At the victory celebration, however, Ramsay made Michael an offer he couldn't refuse: Instead of getting his own restaurant, Michael could come to London and train under Ramsay at his world-famous restaurants. Michael thought for a moment (made longer by multicamera editing) before deciding to join Ramsay in London.

With Hell's Kitchen finished, tele-food junkies will have to get their Monday night food show fix with Anthony Bourdain: No Reservation, another eccentric celebrity chef (who happens to be friends with Gordon Ramsay).