Chef Declan Horgan is competing as a contestant on season 19 of Hell's Kitchen. The new season, which premiered on Thursday, teased some big things ahead. Along with seventeen other contestants, Declan will compete to win Gordon Ramsay's approval and with it, the grand prize. Here's everything you need to know about the Irish chef.
Season 19 of Hell's Kitchen is shaping up to be one that stands out from the previous ones. Not only is the location of filming different, but so is the the prize that the winner will get. After eighteen seasons in Hollywood, the newest season of Hell's Kitchen is switching it up in Las Vegas, the city of sins. With $250,000 and the promise of a head chef position at Gordon Ramsay's new Lake Tahoe restaurant on the line, there's plenty for the chefs to compete for.
Declan Horgan, or as he's known to friends, Big D, is an Irish chef with over 25 years of experience, who is based in Washington, D.C. The 42-year-old executive chef was born in Dublin and started his culinary journey at a young age. He studied at DIT School of Culinary Arts and Food Technology in the city and quickly found success working at Michelin Star destinations in Ireland after graduating. His first job working as executive chef was at Fade Street Social, in Dublin, a gourmet tapas restaurant and cocktail bar that uses homegrown produce.
In 2014, Declan crossed the ocean and landed in Washington D.C., where he worked as Executive Head Chef at Daniel O'Connell's Irish Restaurant, and then, until 2019, at Kirwan's on the Wharf. These days, Declan provides consulting services and culinary strategy to all types of restaurants and catering services. Recently, he's been hosting a series of cooking classes in D.C., and virtually over Zoom. He has also released his own barbecue sauce brand, appropriately called Big D's. Check out the logo, which he posted on his Instagram:
The life of a chef is definitely a busy one. Without much free time, it's easy to forget to keep up self care. When Declan was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in 2017, he immediately recognized it as a wake up call. Starting in the summer of 2017, he reformed his lifestyle, incorporated exercise into his daily life, and began eating less too. By the time the spring of 2018 arrived, Declan had lost nearly 150 pounds and got rid of the diabetes too. Check out Chef Declan at a session with his personal trainer:
Chef Declan is no stranger to the world of television. Before becoming a contestant on Hell's Kitchen, he was featured in two episodes of Guy's Grocery Games, hosted by Guy Fieri. A true champion of Irish cooking, Declan is also releasing a cookbook, called New Irish Chef, which is set to be released soon. Will this Irish chef find his streak of luck on season 19 of Hell's Kitchen?
Hell's Kitchen airs Thursdays 8pm EST on Fox.
Source: Declan Horgan