Mana Wahine Wednesday: FOX’s “Hell’s Kitchen” Season 23 contestant Meghan Ellis

For the first time in 23 seasons of filming Hell’s Kitchen on FOX, a Hawai’i-born chef will be featured when Kapolei Golf Club executive chef Meghan Ellis appears in the unscripted television show. The 23rd edition of the intense culinary boot camp run by 17-time Michelin star chef Gordon Ramsay will premiere on Thursday, September 26 on FOX. 

Ellis, who was born on O’ahu and is part-Native Hawaiian, has had a love for cooking for as long as she can remember. The chef recalls watching the Food Network all throughout her childhood, connecting to chefs and trying to emulate what the best on the screen were doing with their dishes. 

“The very first person I watched [on the Food Network] was Emeril Lagasse … I was just fascinated by watching him throw garlic in literally everything, so I tried that,” Ellis said. “I [also] started watching Giada De Laurentiis.” 

That interest in cooking was noticed by her dad and stepmom and quickly turned into getting practice making real dishes as Ellis and her sister began to cook for the family once a week. After graduating from St. Francis High School in 2004 and attempting to study biology in college, Ellis changed course to what her heart had always been set on: the culinary arts. 

She enrolled in culinary school, diving deep into the world of food as she learned the intricacies of the industry. As she improved her skills, she also learned the importance of those around you in the kitchen. 

“It starts with recruitment, that’s number one,” Ellis said about building a brigade of chefs. “You are only as strong as your weakest cook and I try not to have those.” 

She is a stark advocate of leading by example, refusing to ask her team to ever do something that she would not do herself. With everyone holding each other to a high standard, her kitchens talk after services to see how improvements can be made while she emphasizes teaching instead of telling. 

“We re-visit, we talk every week, we see where we can improve,” she said of her teams. “When things happen, nip it in the bud right there and then not just tell people how to do something, but show them. Give them an example, show them how to do it a little bit better, show them the way that you want it done.” 

Kapolei Golf Club executive chef Meghan Ellis poses with one of her dishes. | Photo Credit: Meghan Ellis/@chefmeghan86 on IG

That style has led to an impressive career in the kitchen for the chef, becoming one of the best that Hawai’i has to offer between her creativity and technical skill. She continued to hone her craft in the islands, working her way to her current position as executive chef at Kapolei Golf Club before finally allowing herself to consider opportunities like the show seriously. 

She first watched Hell’s Kitchen with peers in culinary school when both her career and the show were in their infancy. Season 2 champion Heather West served as an inspirational force in Ellis’ pursuit of becoming a top chef, reinforcing that she wanted to get to that level of cooking in her career. 

For years, she grappled with a desire to apply for the show while instead remaining loyal to her employer. Finally, Ellis allowed herself to apply and simply see what happened. 

Then, a text from a “random number” while she was on the line in the middle of a service rush flipped the normally laser-focused chef into childlike joy. 

“It happened,” Ellis chuckled. “I couldn’t believe it when I got the text that I was going to be cast for it, I think I scared the crap out of half my staff that day because I just ran around the kitchen freaking out.” 

HELL’S KITCHEN: Contestant Meghan in the Season 23 Premiere of HELL’S KITCHEN: HEAD CHEFS ONLY Airing Thursday Sept. 26 (8:00-9:02 PM ET/PT) on FOX. CR/ Jeff Neira / FOX. ©2024 FOX Media LLC.

Next came an unforgettable experience, competing, learning and connecting with many talented chefs that Ellis still is in contact with after filming wrapped up earlier this year. Her growth included opening herself to new things, including a new level of patience that she was unfamiliar with until now. 

“I guess my growth would be I learned quite a bit of restraint … there was never a dull moment,” Ellis smiled. 

Fans of the show and supporters of Hawai’i’s first representative in 23 seasons will be able to keep track of her journey starting on Thursday with the premiere when contestants present their “signature dish” to Ramsay. While the watch party at Kapolei Golf Club for Ellis’ debut on the screen is filled up with a waitlist to boot, fans can try the dish she presents to Ramsay in the opening episode all week at the club as a special on the menu until episode two airs. 

While she admits to having an “RBF” at times in recordings, Ellis took incredible pride in representing the culture from Hawai’i while on the show. She said she consistently referenced how fortunate she has been in Hawai’i to work with products that have become readily available in the islands due to work by local cultivators. 

The fresh products’ availability brought out some awe from her competitors, leading to some group chat plans of visiting Ellis to see the underrated food utopia that is Hawai’i. Despite the intense competition, many of the contestants have remained friendly since filming ended, she says. 

While Thursday marks history for Hawai’i on the hit FOX show, Ellis’ star has shined bright far before and will continue far after. Just make sure you get in to try the special things before they are gone.

Follow Meghan: @chefmeghan86
Follow KGC Restaurant: @kgc_restaurant