Kyle Timpson reacts to making the final two.
Atlantic Cape Community College has something to brag about.
Kyle Timpson, a graduate of the school's Academy of Culinary Arts, is in the final two of Hell's Kitchen: Head Chefs Only.
The winner will get $250,000 and the head chef job at the Hell’s Kitchen restaurant at Foxwoods Resort Casino in Mashantucket, Conn.
The three finalists got to visit their potential future workspace in Thursday night's show.
Timpson currently is an executive chef in Philadelphia, but grew up in Dennis Township, and attended Middle Township High School and Cape May County Technical High School.
He has worked at Tony's Beef in Galloway Township and Beach Plum Farm in Cape May.
"Ultimately, I am the one to beat," Timpson, 29, said as the start of the show. "I need to be the best."
On this night, he was.
Timpson took top honors as the top three presented five courses with a different judge scoring each dish.
Three of Timpson's dishes were perfect 10s. He had a total of 39 points going into the final dish, with competitors Hannah Flora and Egypt Davis tied at 36.
He would need just an eight to guarantee his spot in next Thursday's finale, Gordon Ramsey noted in having his score revealed first.
Fittingly, it was Foxwood Resorts CEO Jason Guyot who was tasked with judging the final beef course.
Timpson's grilled ribeye with succotash with sweet and sour bacon jam scored a 9.
Joining him is Flora, whose coffee and ancho New York strip scored a perfect 10, while Davis' flat iron with broccolini garnered a 9.
Either Kyle Timpson's and Hannah Flora's photo will go on the wall as the Season 23 winner of Gordon Ramsey's Hell's Kitchen.Timpson and Flora then got to pick their teams for next week's finale cookoff.
As the top score of the night, Timpson got to pick first.
He already had a plan in place, having earlier asked both Flora and Davis who their top pick would be.
Timpson picked Brandon Kerr.
"Not only is Brandon an exceptional chef, he was Hannah's first choice," Timpson noted.
"I am filled with joy right now," he said in the show after securing his spot. "I am in the finale."
The Hell's Kitchen Season 23 episode is set for 8 p.m. Thursday.
