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ROCK HARPER >> Local man wins cooking reality show From 'Hell's Kitchen' to Vegas for Spotsy chef Spotsylvania chef wins Hell's Kitchen competition Date published: 8/14/2007
WASHINGTON--Rock Harper comes from a family of good cooks, so when he was a teenager and told his mother he wanted to be a chef, she wasn't surprised.
"As a single mother, if he wanted to eat, he was going to have to learn how to cook because I was working," said Harper's mother, Carole. Harper, 30, of Spotsylvania County, went from cooking scrambled eggs and toast for his mother to winning the "Hell's Kitchen" reality television contest last night. He defeated Bonnie Muirhead, a 26-year-old nanny and personal chef in California. For the top prize, he became the executive chef of the restaurant in Green Valley Ranch and Resort in Las Vegas. He signs a year contract with the resort for a salary of $250,000 and will start work no later than Sept. 10. The shows were taped and Harper knew in February that he won. All 12 contestants promised to keep quiet until the final episode. "Quarter of a million, baby!" he yelled to a crowd of 150 of his closest friends and family that gathered in a sweltering room at B. Smith's in Washington's Union Station. "We are going to Las Vegas!" The third oldest of four siblings, Harper was born in San Diego and moved with his mother to Tappahannock when he was 8 months old. He would later attend T.C. Williams High School in Alexandria, where he met his mentor, Chef John Dorney. Harper got his first real flavor of cooking when he took home economics. It wasn't long after that when he told his mother he was going to become a chef. "He was real instrumental in everything I did," Harper said of Dorney. Carole Harper said her son always had the drive and determination that millions of people saw on television every Monday for last three months. "You kind of know your son is serious when he decides to take home ec," Carole Harper said. "It was just a progression after that." A father of two young children, Harper moved to Spotsylvania County two years ago. He commutes on Interstate 95 to B. Smith's almost every day. He said he's excited to move from Spotsylvania County to the City of Sin. "I'm ready," he said. "I don't think people understand how hard I'm going to [work] Vegas. I'm going to be the baddest Italian chef in Nevada. I'm going to be the only black Italian chef." Harper said that during the show when the final cooking service was finished, he wasn't positive he won it. On the show, Harper turns to Muirhead and told her: "I think you won." He said he wasn't playing head games with her. "It was very emotional," he said. "I really thought I could have lost to Bonnie. She was very strong."
I don't know why my earlier post didn't make it. I've rooted for Rock since day one, even before I knew he was living in Spotsy. Best of luck to him and his beautiful family in Vegas.
Rock was a diligent competitor from the first episode. What was so cool, he sat back, took stock of things, did not try to bully up on anyone or put anyone down. When he came out, he came out banging! He was hot headed sometimes, but he was justified in some of it. Now,he must teach Josh how to cook crabcakes. Josh probably can cook, but 30 minutes with no serveable crabcakes -- C'mon!
I wish you and your family lots of luck as you begin a new life in Vegas. I'll be sure to eat at your restaurant when I go to Vegas in April!
I watched this show from the begining... When I saw Rock on the first show, I knew he had what it took, that special something, that was going to take him all the way! I couldn't be happier for Rock & his family! Congratulations! God Bless!
I only watched the last three episodes of the show but I rooted for Rock from the get-go! Congratulations!
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