By Kathryn Coulibaly
Chef Kyle Timpson made a grand entrance on Episode 1 of Season 23 of “Hell’s Kitchen.” Wearing a hot pink and black zebra print suit, Timpson surprised at least a few viewers: his former instructors at the Academy of Culinary Arts at Atlantic Cape Community College.
“I remember Kyle as more reserved and quiet in class,” recalls Vince “Rocky” Tedeschi, a culinary arts instructor at Atlantic Cape and president of the Academy of Culinary Arts Faculty Association (ACCC). “But Kyle always did well. He was always fun and professional and would put himself out for other students. He was an all-around great student who always helped out.”
Over the course of the season, Timpson proved himself a star as well as a team player, a blend of skills necessary for a chef to master.
“A lot of people think that I came in with a big plan because it seemed like I was being strategic,” Timpson says. “But reality shows are very similar. You don’t want to be the person who is hated. I flew under the radar sometimes, but I made sure to score a point in every challenge.”
The path to culinary arts
Timpson grew up in Dennis Township and attended public schools. He always loved cooking shows and developed a love of baking early on as a way to help make friends. He attended Cape May County Technical High School and studied culinary arts, graduating in 2013.
While his goal was always a career in the culinary arts, his mother played a pivotal role in getting him to Atlantic Cape Community College.
“My mother hid the application to the Culinary Institute of America, a prestigious culinary school in New York, until the day after it was due,” Timpson says. “I’m so happy she did that. Community colleges don’t get the love they deserve.”
During his time at the Academy of Culinary Arts, Timpson immersed himself in every opportunity. If something he wanted wasn’t offered, he asked, and the dean reached out to make it happen.
Don’t forget to pack the zebra suit
Following graduation, Timpson worked in several restaurants in and around Philadelphia. He was scouted by a casting producer from “Hell’s Kitchen” who stalked his Instagram feed and was impressed by the food pictures he posted.
Without a lot of notice, Timpson packed his bags, including the knockout zebra suit, and began filming over a little more than three weeks. The pace was intense, and contestants filmed twice a day.
“Your adrenaline is pumping every second of the day,” Timpson says.
When Timpson was announced the winner, his mother, aunt and several former teachers were at the finale party.
A series of firsts
Since winning, Timpson has continued to excel. He has accepted a job as executive chef at Foxwoods’ Hell’s Kitchen restaurant. Unlike past winners of Hell’s Kitchen, Timpson will be in the kitchen cooking, not just serving in a public relations position.
Timpson also is the first chef in the history of Hell’s Kitchen to run their own tasting menu. Only Chef Gordon Ramsey, host of Hell’s Kitchen, has ever done a menu for Hell’s Kitchen. Timpson’s June Pride month menu will be exclusively available at the Foxwoods Hell’s Kitchen.
Also in June, Timpson will be cooking alongside other queer chefs for a special dinner with the James Beard Foundation.
“To be from a community college, to be the first gay male winner of the show, to be the first winner of the show invited to serve a tasting menu and the first to cook with the James Beard winner, these are all proof that no one can stop you or limit you,” Timpson says. “You don’t need a crazy degree to do what you want, but you do need to be a little delusional!”
Kathryn Coulibaly is the associate editor of the NJEA Review.