Gordon Ramsay watching Puyallup chef ‘very carefully’ after cooking competition
A chef from Puyallup who was a contestant on a national cooking show with Gordon Ramsay ended her run with high praise from the master chef himself.
Danielle Kartes was one of 24 contestants on Season 5 of Next Level Chef. The show includes three judges: Ramsay, Nyesha Arrington and Richard Blais. Chefs complete cooking challenges and are eliminated one by one until a finalist gets the title of Next Level Chef.
The season first aired Jan. 29 and will continue until mid-May. Kartes was eliminated night seven of the show after the “Use Your Noodle” episode. Contestants were expected to create a noodle dish that honored tradition, according to Parade.
“You know, you’ve been a powerhouse, let me tell you. I wish we had more time to cook together.” Ramsay told Kartes, according to a clip the local chef shared on Facebook on April 28.
Ramsay shared that Kartes was unique and direct, which he said is needed in the cooking industry.
“Continued success, girl. We’re gonna be watching you very carefully,” Ramsay told her.
Kartes wrote that she was blown away by Ramsay’s words.
“Thank you to @gordongram for everything. What an inspiration you are to me! I am so encouraged by what you said to me during elimination,” she wrote in a separate Facebook post on April 24.
Kartes previously owned a restaurant, Mineola, with her husband Mike at 604 Fawcett Ave. in Tacoma, which shut down. The couple had to file for bankruptcy, and they lost their home and cars, she previously told The News Tribune.
Then the couple started Rustic Joyful Food in 2014, which Kartes described as a “boutique, food photography and lifestyle company,” The News Tribune reported.
Kartes told The News Tribune recently that she and her husband are eyeing the purchase of the Alderton General Store near the intersection of 96th Street East and state Route 162 to open a market.
“We’re working toward purchasing the Alderton General Store … and reviving that 155-year-old store. It’s basically just been rotting for the last six years and we’re bringing that back and adding and bringing that grocery store back to life,” Kartes said. “It’s been going on for the last six to eight months, we were making strides forward and I’m excited.”
Kartes and her husband also launched a wine business, French for Water. Their wine will be sold in Costco stores across Washington state soon, The News Tribune reported. She plans to release her memoir, “Overcooked and Underdone” in spring 2027.
News Tribune archives contributed to this report.
