Hannah Flora Shines as Runner-Up on Hell's Kitchen Season 23 Finale, Spotlighting Culinary Careers in Private Golf and Country Clubs.

On Thursday, February 6th, the highly competitive culinary show Hell's Kitchen on Fox and Hulu concluded its 23rd season by crowning Kyle Timpson, the winner of the prestigious head chef position at Foxwoods Resort Casino in Connecticut. Notably, Hannah Flora, the Executive Sous Chef at Addison Reserve Country Club in Delray Beach, Florida, emerged as the runner-up, significantly impacting the season. Egypt Davis, from Mirasol Country Club, finished in third.

Seeing two golf and country club chefs in the top three is impressive!
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A Chance Meeting.
I first met Hannah Flora in 2021 at Mizner Country Club in Florida while producing a stunning cover story. Having worked in TV casting in Melbourne, Australia, before moving to the USA in 2002, I instantly knew she would be a star and a very talented chef! Her passion during our photo shoot was evident as she created recipes such as "When I Fall Into The Ocean, I Am Home,"  "Marching To A Different Beet," "Release The "Kraken," "As Above So Below," and her now famous "Duck Duck Peach," which she recreated on the show. I was in food photographer heaven.

Notable Moments.
I was pleased to see Chef Ramsay, who has softened and embraced his mentor role this season. Notable moments include when he talked Egypt Davis out of an emotional moment while missing his wife and new baby. Ramsay expressed his belief in Egypt, even though some competitors did not.

During the finale, when Chef Ramsay takes Kyle and Hannah to his office, he gently mentors them about what lies ahead, emphasizing that it will be tough and not perfect. "This is yours to lose. Now go make it happen!" he told them. He even gifted them an all-expenses-paid trip to Great Wolf Lodge in Naples, Florida.

My award for the best team member in the finale goes to Egypt. "I am disappointed that it's not my menu tonight; however, tonight is for Hannah, and I get to be on her team in the "finale." Egypt embodies the country club culture and showcases the brilliance and talent of this young gentleman with a bright future ahead of him.

When a teammate struggled with burnt gnocchi, Hannah corrected the situation, "Don't sell garbage. Mistakes will happen; it is how we deal with them that matters." This demonstrated her leadership in a tough moment. 

Resilience
Hannah's resilience in life and work is remarkable for someone so young. I have watched her grow and develop at Addison Reserve. I also thank Michael McCarthy, the General Manager/COO, and Executive Chef Peter Zoole for their strong advocacy for her.
Her resilience and leadership were pivotal in maintaining her team's focus and motivation throughout the competition. Gordon Ramsay commended her for being a thorough chef and recognized her potential for future success in the culinary industry.

Defining Moment.
The last defining moment of the show was a tearjerker for emotional mothers like me. Hannah said, "I AM FINALLY NOTICED." As a woman in a male-dominated industry, I, along with many others, understand how much harder we must work.
Currently, Hannah Flora serves as the Executive Sous Chef at Addison Reserve Country Club in Delray Beach, Florida, where she continues to showcase her culinary skills. Along with Chef Egypt Davis, who placed third, she has generated significant excitement in the country club industry, inspiring many young culinarians to pursue their endeavors and exemplifying her commitment to excellence and creativity in the culinary field.