Where The Winner of Hell's Kitchen Will Work; How Pierre Gagnaire Named Twist

BALLY’S LAS VEGAS — Season 15 of shouty chef Gordon Ramsay’s Hell’s Kitchen debuts at 9 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 15, on FOX, and this season the 18 contestants will vie for a shot to be the head chef at BLT Steak. Reality star Kris Jenner, astronaut Buzz Aldrin, rapper Lil Jon, comedian Bill Engvall and deejay Steve Aoki are among the celebrities who appear on the show this season. "This year’s contestants on season 15 are unique," Ramsay said in a preview for the new season. "[They are] diverse hungry, talented, but more importantly, they’re on it and they’re hungry to do well." [Detroit News]

MANDARIN ORIENTAL — Ever wonder how chef Pierre Gagnaire came up with the name Twist for his Las Vegas restaurant? Apparently, it’s not a reference to his culinary creations. Instead, he named his only restaurant in the United States after ’60s music icon Chubby Checker, a Las Vegas regular, and the dance that made him famous. Gagnaire tells the Las Vegas Review-Journal that Checker hasn’t stopped by the restaurant yet. But he did name another menu item for the Big Bopper's 1959 hit "Chantilly Lace" about 10 years ago. That dish featured Thai and Japanese rices with lobster bisque, spinach and chives. [LVRJ]

DOWNTOWN — Linda Rodriguez, who owned British-leaning The Smashed Pig with her husband Martin Swift, died on Dec. 27. The couple, who trained under Nobu Matsuhisa and worked together at Hachi at Red Rock Resort, opened the restaurant this fall. [DTLV]