DeKalb High School alumna appears on ‘Hell’s Kitchen'

DeKALB – DeKalb High School alumna Hannah Flora has always wanted to brave the flames of “Hell’s Kitchen.”

So when an opportunity arose to appear on the popular reality TV show, she took it.

Flora said it meant a great deal to her to have the opportunity to showcase her culinary skills on a big stage.

“What it meant to me was I finally did it after years of wanting to put myself out there in the culinary world and prove myself,” Flora said. “The ultimate goal is to No. 1, work with Chef [Gordon] Ramsey, but No. 2, be able to put myself out there nationally for everybody to see my talents.”

“I’m very much farm-to-table. Being from DeKalb and seeing all the farms around the apple orchards and everything inspired me to want to pursue more farm-to-table aspects.”

—  Hannah Flora

Flora is among the chefs appearing on season 23 of “Hell’s Kitchen,” a reality TV series brought to viewers by Fox. Fans can catch the show at 8 p.m. Thursdays on Fox or streaming on Hulu the next day.

Flora described the experience of acting as a head chef in a room full of head chefs as “intense.”

“There were a lot of different personalities, a lot of different ways of wanting to set up stations and [working] in the kitchen,” Flora said. “It was different than what I’m used to, especially when it’s all head chefs. We have a little bit of an ego because we pushed ourselves so far in our own industries to make it to the top. Now we’re all brought back to ground level, and we’re all humbled again because this isn’t our kitchen. This is Chef Ramsey’s kitchen.”

Flora said she was “starstruck” when she first met Ramsey.

“My first impression [was] a little intimidating at first because he’s tall,” she said. “He carries himself well. My first impression was starstruck. It was really cool being able to see him in person instead of just on the other side of a television screen.”

Flora said she’s learned a lot about herself from being on the show.

“It’s consecutive, nonstop, 24/7 high pressure,” she said. “I learned a lot about myself there. I do have what it takes. I have the gumption and the balls I guess in this male-dominated industry to run with it and make waves.”

Flora has been bestowed with several honors over the years, including Golf Kitchen Magazine’s Rising Star Award, meant to recognize her work as a trailblazer in the culinary world.

Flora said she developed a keen eye and taste for food from an early age.

“I’ve always had like a unique palette and becoming more of a professional in it other than just creating something weird at home when I was little,” Flora said. “It’s hard to put my finger on how that happened, but I would just say picking a couple of my favorite things and working with them to really be unique on a plate and a cohesive dish.”

She said her love for art and food only grew when she discovered the TV show “Iron Chef,” where contestants must race against the clock to create something unique to them or never before seen.

As a 2011 graduate of DeKalb High School, Flora credits her ties to rural DeKalb for shaping the head chef she’s become.

“I’m very much farm-to-table,” she said. “Being from DeKalb and seeing all the farms around the apple orchards and everything inspired me to want to pursue more farm-to-table aspects.”

When asked whether there’s any advice from a mentor she often reflects upon for guidance, Flora said she turns to one in particular.

“The piece of advice that always sticks with me is be true to yourself and don’t forget where you come from,” Flora said.