By Julia Train
Kyle Timpson, a Dennis Township native, has reached new heights in his culinary career by winning “Hell’s Kitchen” during its 23rd season. The finale, which aired on Feb. 6, crowned Timpson as the victor, earning him a $250,000 grand prize and a prestigious position as the head chef at Hell’s Kitchen at Foxwoods Resort Casino in Mashantucket, Connecticut.
At 30 years old, Timpson has already made a name for himself in the culinary world, having worked in Philadelphia and South Jersey. He’s honed his craft at renowned local spots, including Beach Plum Farm in Cape May and Tony’s Beef in Galloway Township.
Timpson is a Middle Township High School and Cape May County Technical High School (shared time) graduate. In 2016, he graduated from Atlantic Cape’s Academy of Culinary Arts, where he was an active student, engaging in both hands-on experience and extracurricular activities.
According to Joseph Sheridan, director of the Academy of Culinary Arts & Hospitality Management at Atlantic Cape, Timpson was an excellent student and an enthusiastic leader. Sheridan said that when Timpson was a student at the community college, he was an officer of the Culinary Student Association, the student-run club.
“He was active and engaged, always looking to try new things,” said Sheridan.
Timpson was also involved in Atlantic Cape’s culinary competition at the school’s Atlantic City campus, which was once sponsored by the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority (CRDA). “And if I remember correctly, his team actually won that competition,” Sheridan said.
After graduation, Timpson worked in several seasonal restaurants in South Jersey, building a foundation of experience. He’s also done stages, or unpaid internships where someone works in the kitchen to learn new skills and gain experience, at various prestigious restaurants, including Le Bernardin, a three-Michelin-starred seafood restaurant in New York City.
In 2021, he moved to Philadelphia and gained experience at prominent establishments like Moshulu and the Four Seasons. He eventually became an executive chef at a well-regarded Italian steakhouse before being selected to compete on “Hell’s Kitchen.”
“[The] last time I saw Kyle, I ran into him at a food show at Lincoln Financial Field when he was the executive chef of a restaurant called ‘SIN,’ [which] was an acronym for Steak, Italian and Nightlife,” said Sheridan. “And that was when we learned that he was in the running to get on ‘Hell’s Kitchen.’ We didn’t know at the time that he had been selected, and then when we heard, of course, we followed the show religiously while he was on it. So we were very excited for him.”
Sheridan said that he hopes Timpson’s success on “Hell’s Kitchen” is a testament to the foundation laid during his time at Atlantic Cape, where he developed essential technical skills and learned the importance of leadership and professionalism.
In addition to the financial prize and new job, Timpson made history by becoming the first openly gay man to win “Hell’s Kitchen.” This milestone adds to the significance of his victory, inspiring others who may feel underrepresented in the culinary world.
“I’m speechless for the first time in my entire life,” Timpson said during the finale. “I’m just so proud of myself. I’ve had people in my life tell me that this isn’t the business for me. Now I’m 29, just won ‘Hell’s Kitchen,’ happy as s—.”
