It's Not Called 'Hell's Kitchen' for Nothing

Local chef Jacqueline Baldassari got Chef Gordon Ramsay's attention this week on FOX's Hell's Kitchen. Unfortunately, it was not in the way she wanted. 

Baldassari is known in Princeton both as the roundsman at the Institute for Advanced Study and as the woman who created the new food menu at the Ivy Inn. She lives in Florence, N.J.

The episode began well for women's team, who beat the men in a challenge to run a 3K followed followed by meal preparation. As a reward, the women were whisked off to California's wine country by private jet. 

"Never in my life have I flown on a private jet, I'm feeling like a G6," said Baldassari, who works as a roundsman at the Institute for Advanced Study and created the new food menu for The Ivy Inn.

And then the reality show took a turn for the worse for the Florence, N.J. chef, as she undercooked a chicken entree and was selected for possible elimination by Ramsey. 

The sharp-tongued celebrity chef nicknamed Baldassari "pink chicken" for her undercooked entree. Then he gave her a chance to explain. 

"I think I should stay in Hell's Kitchen because I was born to do this," Baldassari said. "I've been doing this all my life." 

"You're born to cook pink chicken," Ramsay snapped back.

"No I'm not born to cook pink chicken, chef," Baldassari said. "I'm born to cook. This is what my body's meant to do. i just want to be here. I deserve to be here." 

Baldassari's teammates agreed, believing her to be one of the stronger contestants remaining. 

Ultimately, Ramsey chose to eliminate Danielle because he said she showed no improvement over the past three weeks. 

A visibly relived Baldassari returned to her group. 

"Tonight I dodged a bullet," she said afterward. "Thank you baby, cause I'm still here, thank you (beeped out)"

The remaining contestants are vying for a $250,000 job as head chef of Ramsay's pub at Caesar's Palace Las Vegas.