Ben Walanka, an Executive Sous Chef from Chicago, Illinois, is a culinary professional known for his participation in Seasons 5 and 17 of Hell's Kitchen. His career trajectory showcases his dedication and growth in the culinary arts.
Early Culinary Career
Before his appearance on Hell's Kitchen, Ben Walanka worked as an Executive Sous Chef at 1500 Degrees alongside Paula da Silva, who was the Hell's Kitchen season 5 runner up. After his time at 1500 Degrees, Ben advanced to the position of Chef De Cuisine at Ameristar Casino and Pinnacle Entertainment.
Hell's Kitchen Season 5
In Season 5, Ben was among the sixteen chefs selected from thousands of auditionees. During the Signature Dish Challenge, Ben presented a pan-seared pecan duck with potato hash. Ramsay praised the dish's presentation and flavor, naming it the best from the men's team. This early success boosted Ben's confidence.
Team Dynamics and Challenges
Following the Signature Dish Challenge, the teams were tasked with choosing a team name. Ben's suggestion, "Blue Balls," was not well-received. During prep time, he grew frustrated with Seth's slow pace in peeling baby carrots.
During the first dinner service, Ben worked the appetizer station with Robert. They struggled initially, serving raw spaghetti. Despite this setback, they managed to recover and send out appetizers after a power outage. Ben criticized Seth's poorly cooked lamb, emphasizing the importance of quality. The blue team ultimately lost the dinner service due to Giovanni's poor performance as a waiter.
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Scallop Challenge and Subsequent Services
The next day, the chefs were awakened early for a Scallop Cleaning Challenge. Ben expressed his aversion to the task due to the smell. He cleaned eleven scallops, but only three were deemed acceptable by Ramsay. This performance drew criticism from Danny, who felt Ben's boasting was unwarranted. Despite Ben's struggles, the blue team won the challenge and were rewarded with a helicopter tour of Catalina Island and a submarine ride.
During the subsequent dinner service, Ben was assigned to the garnish station. He assisted Charlie at the appetizer station, demonstrating how to make a proper risotto. Ramsay commended Ben's risotto as delicious.
Meat Challenge and Steakhouse Service
Before the Meat & Cow Challenge, Ben asserted his expertise in meat identification. He only misidentified one cut during the challenge. The blue team won, earning a private jet trip to Sunstone Winery in Santa Ynez for wine tasting and a steak dinner with Ramsay.
During the Steakhouse double dinner service, Ben worked the dessert station for the first seating. He sent desserts to the pass prematurely, leading to a reprimand from Ramsay, who accused him of trying to bypass appetizers. During the second seating, Ben worked as a waiter. The blue team lost the service, and Ben bluntly told Seth he had dodged a "fireball" that night.
Breakfast Service and Team Conflicts
During the Football Team & Cheerleaders Breakfast Service Challenge, Ben worked at the omelet station. He mistakenly believed the Oakland Raiders were dining for breakfast. The blue team lost the challenge, and Ben blamed Danny for being slow on pancakes. Tensions rose, with Ben arguing he was a better chef than Danny and claiming he would "beat up" Danny outside the restaurant.
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Sabotage Accusations and Elimination Nomination
During a dinner service, Ben failed to prepare the red team's tomato butter sauce on time, leading to accusations of sabotage. He admitted to dropping the ball due to the punishment. The sauce he eventually provided was deemed too salty. Despite sending over Danny's accepted sauce, both teams were named joint losers, and each team had to nominate two members for elimination. Ben was nominated by Giovanni and Danny.
During his plea, Ben emphasized his leadership in the blue kitchen. However, Ramsay criticized him for running "like a rhinoceros all day with nothing achieved" and sent him back in line.
Asian Fusion Challenge and Bar Mitzvah Service
In the Asian Fusion Challenge, Ben was paired with Lacey on the seafood dish. His precise instructions led Lacey to call him egotistical. Their dish, pan-seared scallops with sea urchin and caviar Berblanc sauce, was deemed too salty and mushy.
When Ramsay announced their next service was a Bar Mitzvah party, Ben was excited as he was of the Jewish faith. During the Bar Mitzvah Planning Challenge, he presented a classic brisket. Although Max liked the dish’s sweetness, he lost that round to LA. The blue team won the challenge 2-1 and they were rewarded with a trip to Skin Haven spa for a day of relaxation. During the Bar Mitzvah dinner service, Ben was at the fish station.
Leftovers Challenge and Final Dinner Service
During the Leftovers Challenge, Ben made a grilled tuna with fennel prawns sauce, which was deemed delicious. He lost that round to Giovanni, but Ramsay told him not to be too upset as that was the most difficult decision yet. The blue team lost the challenge 2-3 and they were punished by prepping both kitchens for that night’s service and polishing the tapa plates.
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During the final dinner service, Ben struggled at the meat station, sending up cold Wellingtons. Ramsay warned him he could be leaving right after J's departure and caught him putting raw Wellingtons on a dirty tray. The blue team lost the service, and Ben apologized to his team for his poor performance. He nominated Lacey for elimination.
Ultimately, Ben was not eliminated and continued in the competition.
Later Career
After his time on Hell's Kitchen, Ben Walanka continued to work in the culinary field, leveraging his experience and skills gained from the show.