From Student to Star Chef

On January 23, 2026, the Northwest halls were filled with students buzzing about a secret guest speaker at a culinary assembly. Everyone was whispering and wondering who it was going to be; then yelling and cheering after seeing guest speaker Chef Ellie Parker, an alumna of NorthWest, there to speak about her experience as a chef and her recent win on Gordon Ramsay's show Hell’s Kitchen. 

Kim Owens, owner of the restaurant Main St. Provisions in the Arts District, was there to support Chef Ellie as she shared her success. After working under Owens for over three years now, Chef Ellie has definitely made an impact, created a strong bond, and made her proud. Millions of people watch Hell’s Kitchen, but one of the many who mattered the most was Owens, and her reaction was something special.

“When that door opened, there were tears of joy. Tears of joy, but never doubted her.” Owens said with pride. 

Even though Owens had no doubt coming from her side, there may have been a little doubt coming from Chef Ellie’s. Everyone's self-doubt creeps in from time to time, some more than others. But the most important thing is that you are able to conquer it, and Chef Ellie knows all about that and explains it when asked if she ever felt some self-doubt.

"Every single day, but I had to push through that doubt, and I’m glad I did.” Chef Ellie stated.

After giving her wonderful speech, she moved into the culinary demo kitchen to show off some of her cooking skills to a class full of students ready to learn. Every student sat staring, mesmerized by the amazing experience of witnessing her cooking. After asking Mailey Navaeh Puno David, a sophomore at Northwest, how she felt watching Chef Ellie cook right in front of her, she said this.

“It felt really weird cause at first we were watching her in Hell's Kitchen, and then we were watching her here in real life,” Mailey said.