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A surprising twist in ‘Gordon Ramsay’s Food Stars’ finale
Spoiler Alert: This article contains spoilers for the Season 2 finale of “Gordon Ramsay’s Food Stars” on Fox.
A night of high stakes and unexpected victories
The grand finale of “Gordon Ramsay’s Food Stars” Season 2 was nothing short of electrifying. While the show bears Ramsay’s name, it was Lisa Vanderpump who stole the spotlight when a contestant from her team clinched the victory. The two-hour episode saw finalists Jess Druey (Team Vanderpump), Roman Desmond (Team Vanderpump), and Ali Schlichter (Team Ramsay) battling it out for the $250,000 grand prize. The decision ultimately rested in the hands of Ramsay and Vanderpump, who had to set aside their rivalry to choose the winner.
The final showdown
The finale was a rollercoaster of emotions and high-stakes presentations. Each finalist showcased their business acumen and passion for the food and beverage industry. Jess Druey, representing Team Vanderpump, emerged victorious with her company Whiny Baby, which offers “high quality, small batched, accessible and chill-able wines” with playful names like “Unwind” White Blend, “OMG?!? Fizzy Rosé,” and “Obsessed” Red Blend. These wines are sourced from California vineyards and crafted by the McBride Sisters Wine Company.
Watch the trailer for “Gordon Ramsay’s Food Stars” here.
The mentors’ reflections
Reflecting on the season, Vanderpump shared her thoughts on the competition and her mentee’s victory. “I know it cuts him deeply, the fact that I won,” she said, referring to Ramsay. “But the whole point in the last episode is when we really do come together and say, competition aside, who wins? I think it was difficult, because the growth was all in Ali in that last episode. It was incredible. And Roman, for somebody so young. They were all great. But I said, I think I know who our winner is. And as much as it kind of stuck in his throat, he had to admit it — Jess was our girl and I won. And I love winning in that way. He’s not used to losing. So if he’s going to lose, he should lose to me. And I did remind him of that right from the beginning.”
Ramsay, ever the gracious competitor, acknowledged the exceptional talent on display this season. “The caliber of talent competing on ‘Food Stars’ this season was truly exceptional. Following weeks of intense competition, only one contender could take the ‘Food Stars’ crown. I’m delighted to name Whiny Baby founder, Jess Druey as our winner. Less thrilling was Lisa getting her first ‘Food Star,’ giving her ego yet another pump. However, I do feel I actually scored the biggest win for recognizing Lisa’s incredible talent and bringing her many qualities to the show.”
The winning edge
What set Druey apart from her competitors? Vanderpump highlighted Druey’s natural presentation skills as a key factor. “She presented very well, that was really her strength,” Vanderpump noted. “She’s a very natural speaker. And some of the other contestants we saw had a lot of trouble with that. The only time we saw — I didn’t doubt her, but we saw her out of her wheelhouse when we had the exhibition and she cut her finger, and she said, ‘I can’t do this,’ and she started to cry. I was like, ‘Whoa, come on, let’s get it together.’ And she really did rise to the challenge and was very secure with her product.”
Druey herself recalled that pivotal moment. “Definitely the finger slicing,” she said. “I think you can tell throughout the competition, I was so happy to be on Lisa’s team, but I think it ignited a fire in me to prove Gordon wrong the whole time. And to prove I could hold my own in the food space. And the first opportunity I had to do that was at the trade show and I felt like I failed miserably. It came out okay in the presentation, but in that finger-slice moment, I really thought, OK, this could be it for me.”
Future plans for Whiny Baby
With the $250,000 grand prize, Druey is already making strides to expand Whiny Baby. “The wine industry is so outdated and complicated and there’s a lot of different layers to it,” she explained. “And obviously, people buy wine in these traditional grocery stores. And the whole setup of the wine industry makes it really hard for innovation and new people, which is probably why we don’t see it. And so going into the show, I’m fortunate enough to be on major store shelves like Target, Gopuff, Total Wine and more, but only in four states. And since the show, we’ve added it an additional about 20 states in Total Wine, which is insane and a total dream come true. And so just working away to get the awareness out there and hopefully get Whiny Baby on all major store shelves in every state.”
Discover more about Whiny Baby here.
A new chapter for ‘Food Stars’
The second season of “Gordon Ramsay’s Food Stars” has set a high bar for future contestants. With Vanderpump’s victory and Druey’s promising future, the show continues to be a platform for aspiring entrepreneurs to showcase their talents and make their mark in the food and beverage industry. The journey of these contestants serves as an inspiration for many, proving that with determination and the right mentorship, success is within reach.
Watch the winning moment from “Food Stars” Season 2 here.
