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Kook vs Sivley on Hell's Kitchen finale, Dec 15

By April MacIntyre Dec 13, 2010, 17:17 GMT

11/14/2010 - Gordon Ramsay - Gordon Ramsay Autograph Session For His Latest Cookbook \'Gordon Ramsay\'s World Kitchen\' in Toronto on November 14, 2010 - Indigo Manulife Centre - Toronto, Canada © Robin Wong / PR Photos

Hell's Kitchen winds the season down with the cook-off between Russell Kook II from Chicago, IL, and Nona Sivley from Loganville, GA, who go head-to-head in this week’s intense season finale.

On Wednesday, Dec. 15 (9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX, Chef Gordon Ramsay will announce this season’s winner, who will become a head chef at LA Market at the JW Marriott Los Angeles at L.A. LIVE and will have the opportunity to be the official spokesperson for Rosemount Estate Wines.

“This season was the battle of the underdogs,” said Ramsay. “Russell and Nona are two incredibly talented individuals. It’s going to be a clash of sorts: Nona, the subtle rustic chef, against Russell, the explosive big thinker.”

Rounding out the most combative season to date, Chef Ramsay challenges the contestants to construct and fine-tune a stunning five-course meal to be judged by the most distinguished figures in the Los Angeles food community, including Tim Leiweke, President and CEO of AEG; Joachim Splichal, Executive Chef of Patina Group; David Myers, Executive Chef and Owner of Sona; David Lefevre, Executive Chef of Water Grill; and Kerry Simon, Executive Chef of LA Market.

As they prepare for the most important dinner service of their lives, the final two chefs are assisted by special guests. After weathering tough challenges and Ramsay’s searing critiques all season long, a world of opportunity awaits the winner of Season Eight.

STATS:

The final two chefs are:

Name: Russell Kook II

Age: 29

Occupation: Sous Chef

Currently Resides: Chicago, IL

Hometown: Madison, WI

What It Would Mean to Win: “If I won HELL’S KITCHEN, it would be validation that all my hard work played off. The competition was so much fun, and I learned so much about how far I could push myself. I love to travel, so if I win, I’ll definitely take lots of vacations. No matter what happens, this has been a great experience either way.”

Name: Nona Sivley

Age: 29

Occupation: Sous Chef

Currently Resides: Loganville, GA

Hometown: Fort Worth, TX

What It Would Mean to Win: “Winning HELL’S KITCHEN would mean so much to both me and my family. I've worked so hard to get to this point, and winning would allow me to do so much. My dream would be to set up a college fund for my son, so he wouldn't have to worry about coming up with the money for school or end up in debt.”

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