Chef Amber Lancaster is competing as a contestant on season 19 of Hell's Kitchen. The season premiere, which aired on Thursday, got off to a fiery start. Eighteen hopefuls, among them Amber, will compete to win Gordon Ramsay's approval and with it, the grand prize. Here's everything you need to know about the experienced chef.

Unlike past seasons, which took place in Hollywood, season 19 of Hell's Kitchen sees contestants competing in the one-and-only Sin City - Las Vegas. The grand prize on offer sets the season apart from previous ones too. In addition to $250,000, the winner will get the opportunity of a lifetime and become the head chef at Ramsay's new restaurant in Lake Tahoe. The series filmed before pandemic times began, and so no special restrictions needed to be put in place.

Related: Hell's Kitchen: 10 Contestants Who Should Have Won, But Didn't

A member of the all-female red team, 30-year-old Amber Lancaster brings a lot of experience to the table. From Tucson originally, Amber was studying Political Science at University of Arizona, with an intent of progressing to law school after that. It was while she was studying for her undergraduate degree that her uncle helped her to discover that her passion lay in the kitchen. She left school and enrolled in the prestigious Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts Scottsdale.

Hell's Kitchen Amber

After graduating in 2008, Amber took her passion abroad and further honed her skills working at two Michelin-rated destinations, Restaurant Guy Savoy, and Hôtel de Crillon. In 2011, she took on a new challenge, relocating to Chicago to study molecular gastronomy while working at another Michelin-rated destination, Alinea. In 2016, Amber lay down roots in the Windy City and became the executive chef of Sur La Table, and then Sable Kitchen & Bar, in 2017. 

Nowadays, Amber is based in Montclair, New Jersey, where she serves as the executive chef of Allegory at the MC Hotel. Amber's Instagram presence, which is full of amazing food inspiration, also reveals that fellow red team contestant, Nikki, is now a close friend and works under Amber at Allegory. Check out the two red team members hanging out in the kitchen:

Aside from living the busy life of a gourmet chef, Amber also gives back as an associate board member for the The Trotter Project, an organization that offers culinary education and programming about food security and sustainable agriculture. And while cooking is clearly a huge passion of hers, she also spends lots of time with her two poodles, Theodore and Isabelle. Here's one of many adorable shots of her furry friends:

Amber got off to a strong start in the premiere, but how will this accomplished chef fare as an individual and as a part of the red team as the competition progresses? Tune into Hell's Kitchen on Fox, Thursdays at 8pm to find out.

Next: Hell's Kitchen: 10 Best Episodes From The Show, Ranked (According To IMDb)

Hell's Kitchen airs Thursdays at 8pm EST on Fox.

Source: Amber Lancaster/Instagram