A New ‘Hell’s Kitchen’ Winner Takes the Head Chef Job at Yardbird

Yardbird Southern Table & Bar at the Venetian now has a new head chef. Kimberly Ann Ryan, a chef from Traverse City, Michigan, won the season finale of Hell's Kitchen, the reality cooking show hosted by shouty chef Gordon Ramsay.

Ryan competed against 17 other chefs to win $250,000 and a head chef position at the Southern restaurant.

"I won Hell's Kitchen — I won!" she says as she raises her hands to celebrate her win. "Everything was worth it. I went so far, I worked so hard to push myself through culinary school, to be a single mom. I'm so thankful. I'm proud of myself."

Before appearing on the show, she was an event chef in Traverse City on Lake Michigan who worked at The Cooks' House and Alliance, and attended Michigan State University and Baker College's Culinary Institute of Michigan in Muskegon.

Her signature dish consisted of seared scallops with mango jalapeño salsa and spicy toasted rice crispies.

Ramsay says Ryan is a "tough to beat" chef.

• Hell’s Kitchen Winner OUT at BLT Steak [ELV]