Summary

  • Dave Levey won Hell's Kitchen season 6 and earned $250,000 along with a head chef position at Araxi Restaurant in Whistler, British Columbia.
  • However, Dave was offered a line cook position instead and left Araxi after the Winter Olympics ended.
  • Dave currently works as a baker at Mara's Café & Bakery in New Jersey and Araxi Restaurant under Executive Chef James Walt continues to thrive.

Dave Levey emerged as the victor on Hell's Kitchen season 6, and there's curiosity surrounding what happened to the winner of one of the best reality TV shows after the season. As the winner, Dave earned the customary $250,000, along with an intended head chef position at the posh Araxi Restaurant & Bar, which is situated in the beautiful town of Whistler, British Columbia. There's curiosity about Dave's life after the show, which was filmed in 2009.

In Hell's Kitchen season 6, Dave stood out immediately as a charismatic, confident, and multi-talented chef. After fracturing his wrist while completing a truck-cleaning punishment, it seemed unlikely that he'd go on and even more unlikely to stand out. Dave impressed everyone by performing well with just one fully functional hand. Thanks to his grit and perseverance, Ramsay nicknamed him the "one-armed bandit." Ultimately, Dave defeated his final opponent, Kevin, and came out on top.

Related: Hell's Kitchen: Everything To Know About First Vegan Chef Josie Clemens

Dave Levey's Araxi Is A Success After Hell's Kitchen

Immediately after his 2009 victory, Dave traveled to Whistler to accept his head chef position. With the well-known ski town preparing for the 2010 Winter Olympics, much was needed to get Araxi ready for the anticipated big crowds. When Dave arrived, he was surprised to learn that the position was something other than the head chef job. He was offered a line cook position instead. Due to this news, Dave left his role at Araxi soon after the Olympics ended.

Dave Went Off The Grid After Hell's Kitchen

Originally hailing from Chester, New Jersey, Dave returned to his home state after leaving Whistler. Although his social media presence is either hidden or nonexistent, there are rumblings that he currently works as a baker at Mara's Café & Bakery in Denville, New Jersey. Aside from the Hell's Kitchen alum's culinary career, Dave has also spoken publicly about his experiences while hiking the Appalachian Trail in 2005. In 2014, he was arrested as part of a drug bust. Soon after, his innocence was confirmed, and he was released.

As far as Araxi Restaurant & Bar goes, it continues to thrive. Executive Chef James Walt currently runs a destination restaurant, the kitchen at Araxi. According to the official Araxi website, Chef Walt focuses on seasonal menus with locally sourced ingredients. In 2016, Araxi published its second cookbook, which Chef Walt curated: Araxi: Roots to Shoots, Farm Fresh Recipes. The restaurant remained primarily open throughout the pandemic, and staff members strictly adhered to social distancing guidance from healthcare authorities. Dave parted ways with Araxi Restaurant in 2010, one year after his Hell's Kitchen win. Fortunately, the former reality star and the restaurant have continued to do well.

Hell's Kitchen is streaming on Hulu.

Source: Araxi, Araxi/Instagram

  • Hells Kitchen TV Poster
    Hell's Kitchen
    Release Date:
    2005-05-30
    Cast:
    Gordon Ramsay, Jason Thompson, Roger Craig Smith
    Genres:
    Competition, Cooking, Reality
    Rating:
    TV-14
    Seasons:
    21
    Network:
    FOX
    Franchise(s):
    Gordon Ramsay
    Directors:
    Mark W. Roden, Sharon Trojan Hollinger
    Showrunner:
    Kenny Rosen