‘Hell’s Kitchen’ interview: Danielle Boom on challenges, who should have went home

“Hell’s Kitchen” is a different experience for everyone, regardless of how you look at it. You’re tired, in a new element, and forced to deal with people you may not like. Everyone ultimately handles it a different way.

Unfortunately, Danielle Boom admitted during the competition that she at times struggled getting accustomed to the environment and the experience of working on the line for Gordon Ramsay, and after making an error during dinner service, she was put up for elimination and sent home at the end of the episode. Luckily, she was somehow still in great spirits when we caught up with her early Wednesday, and we talked about everything from her specific struggles to why she wanted to go on this show in the first place.

Cartermatt.com – So how have the past [time since your elimination] been for you?

Danielle Boom – My Facebook’s been blowing up, my phone has been blowing up. The entire time we’re there we don’t have a cell phone or internet access, so there’s a lot of people who are wanting to know what’s going on.

So what is the experience like for you watching yourself back: is it fun, or strange in a way to see all of these memories from months ago brought back up?

It’s very interesting to see what makes it on television versus what really happened, and compare all of the background information; knowing what really went on, and then seeing the clips and you’re like ‘wait a minute! I just put up 30 plates flawlessly, and you’re going to focus on the one that I screwed up on?’ It’s very frustrating because you so desperately want to stand up for yourself.

Are there things, like the good moments in the kitchen, that you wish they would show?

Well it’s part of the show, and we know that. The part of the show that I wish they would show more of is like when we win the challenges, we’re out there doing really fabulous things. Things I’ll never have an opportunity to do in my life and things that I will never afford to do. I wish they would put more of a focus on these really great things, because when you win, it is really great. If you lose, it’s one of the most horrible things you’ve been through.

One of the nice things about your time on the show is that you really managed to win a lot with the Red Team. Was there one particular reward that stood out for you?

That’s hard, because you’re trying to compare VIP treatment and meeting Celine Dion in Las Vegas versus going on a yacht and getting a private massage versus going on a jet to wine country. Probably my favorite was on the yacht: it was really fabulous being on there. [Two] of us [were] getting a massage on the bow of the boat, and as we’re going through the channel there were boats on either side, and it was really funny to see people on the other yachts being envious of us, and you could hear them crystal clear on the water being like ‘look at them getting massages,’ and we were like ‘you’re rich, and you’re not getting a massage.’

There are so many cooking shows out there right now. Why go on a show like ‘Hell’s Kitchen,’ where you have someone as intimidating as Ramsay and the tasks are so challenging?

For the very reason you just said. It is the scariest and most challenging culinary contest out right now. That’s why I wanted to go on. I’m very good at what I do, despite what they make us all look like on the show, we all have to be very good at what we do to make it there … My life is all about creating a challenge for myself, and the personal joy of meeting that challenge face to face.

In my world, I couldn’t think of anything more challenging than gong up against Chef Ramsay with him screaming at me. I’m tiny! To be in that kitchen, everyone’s bigger than I am; and with Chef Ramsay, in that kitchen he’s 10 feet fall. I’m proud of myself for making it there and taking the heat.

One thing you said on the show a couple of times was that you had a hard time getting used to this environment, so what was it that made it difficult: was it the contestants, the challenge, Ramsay, the production aspect, or all of the above?

Honestly, it’s all of that and then some. It is different when you know that you have 50 cameras on you at any given moment. It’s also different in that I’m usually leading the kitchen, not the one down the totem pole. It’s like teacher vs. student, and you gotta take a role reversal … In here, you’re depending on three different people to complete one plate, and you have to be in constant communication with each other to bring it to the pass at the exact same moment. In real life, it would be okay if part of it got there 30 seconds before the other, but not on ‘Hell’s Kitchen.’

There are a lot of parts of ‘Hell’s Kitchen’ that just aren’t indicative of an ordinary kitchen. That is just very difficult to grasp, especially when you are an executive chef. And then, there’s the environment when we’re there. We’re not getting to see our family, we’re not getting a full night’s sleep, and we’re not getting full meals. All of these things are wearing on us.

When it comes to the elimination last night, who did you think should have gone home?

I feel like Jessica should have gone home. There were a lot of problems coming out of the appetizer station, and there were more than the risotto that we saw on television. There’s a lot that goes on that’s not shown, and what is shown supports the [story]. They could have shown more of her messing up that would have supported her being eliminated.

It was a tough call on the red team. We felt like she should have been up there. Jackie should have been up there, too, but we were thinking about what was going to be best down the line and thinking about it methodically.

Now that you’re off the show, are you rooting for the guys because the [women] voted you off?

No, I absolutely want the red team to win. There’s a lot of talent on the red team, aside from Gina who’s already gone … There’s some really good girls on that team, and to be a good executive chef you need to have a lot of things. You need to have a good personality, you need to work as a team, and talk to your teammates in a well-perceived way. You need to have drive and ambition.

I’m rooting for Amanda, Cyndi and Ja’Nel on the red team. We’ll see how it goes.

So what are you up to now?

I am currently at my dream job, which is at CCP Games, Crowd Control Productions. They design and develop video games for the PlayStation 3 as well as online games. They’re on the cutting edge of technology and they’re about to launch a couple of new games, and it’s a really fabulous company.

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Are you going to miss Danielle on “Hell’s Kitchen” moving forward? Be sure to share some of your thoughts below, and you can also read our full review of Tuesday night’s new episode of at the link here.