Hudson, Ohio, native Michael Lovano is an executive chef and contestant on season 23 of Gordon Ramsay’s “Hell’s Kitchen,” which releases new episodes every Thursday at 9 p.m. on Fox.
Lovano grew up in the kitchen and started to help his mom and grandparents cook by the age of five, watching and learning when he could. At 15 years old, Lovano got a job washing dishes to make extra money. He soon realized he loved being in the kitchen and became a line cook.
“I loved the adrenaline you get from working on the line,” Lovano said. “It’s a feeling you can’t get from anywhere else.”
Lovano continued his passion for cooking while attending The University of Akron and worked at multiple restaurants, often working weekends and picking up shifts in between classes.
In his third year at the university, Lovano started working at Michael Symon’s Lola Bistro in Cleveland until it closed in 2020. Since then, Lovano has worked at Terrestrial Brewing Company in Cleveland and Summer Place in Lakewood. He is currently the executive chef at the Medina Country Club.
Jonathan Cimino, a good friend of Lovano, has worked alongside him for years and seen his talents progress as an executive chef.
“I kind of just got to watch him gain the confidence and experience to lead a team, and get the confidence to put out his kind of food and do what he’s good at,” Cimino said.
Because of his skill and extensive resume, Lovano was encouraged to apply by his friend and former “Hell’s Kitchen” contestant Alejandro Najar, who placed third in season 21. Lovano decided to send an Instagram direct message to a “Hell’s Kitchen” producer after seeing a casting call and got selected to interview the next day.
Although he’s used to the stressful, fast-paced environment as an executive chef, he was not used to the intense nature of the show while constantly being on camera.
“When you get your microphone put on and there are cameras everywhere, it’s a little nerve-wracking, but you begin to get used to it,” Lovano said. “After a while, it just feels like something that’s normal.”
Gordon Ramsay, the host of the show, is known for his fiery temper and intense kitchen environment. He eliminates contestants each week until there is a winner who will become a head chef.
“Chef Ramsay is the best mentor you could ever have because he doesn’t sugarcoat anything,” Lovano said. “He’s very vocal when you’re not doing things properly, but he’s a wonderful mentor and a wonderful person.”
On the show, Lovano showcased his expertise in international cuisine and foreign ingredients, allowing him to be creative in the kitchen, a skill that benefited him and his team.
“I love Mediterranean style cooking, like Spanish, Greek, Middle Eastern influences,” Lovano said. “That was a large part of what I wanted to make on the show. Generally, I try to become well versed in all forms of cooking that I can, because, especially in a setting like that, you never know what’s going to get thrown at you.”
Cimino, who has been intently watching the show every Thursday, is rooting for Lovano and his team.
“It’s been awesome,” Cimino said. “I’ve been watching, actually, I just watched the episode last night. It’s great seeing him on TV. It’s great seeing him crushing it. I’m incredibly proud of him going out there and doing something like that.”
Although Lovano was eliminated in the fourth episode “In a Pickle,” which aired Thursday, he learned a lot from Ramsey and from the other contestants on the show.
“The overall experience was phenomenal,” Lovano said. “I would 100% do it again in a heartbeat. I met a lot of very talented chefs and made some really good friends.”
