metro »

In Hell’s Kitchen

TV competition teaches local chef
many professional and life lessons.

Keri Guten Cohen | Story Development Editor

000000

Home Care at the Highest Standard

was told to act naturally for his interview.
“I was myself,” he said. “I swore a lot
and used my hands when I talked.”
Attesting to Detroit’s culinary power,
another local chef, Hassan Musselmani,
also was chosen.
The casting call was followed by more
interviews and then finally filming in
California about a year ago.
“Competing was surreal,”
Bobkin said. “Hell’s Kitchen
was harder work [than
my other jobs], for sure.
Everything had to be pris-
tine and there was more
stress. We all got Chef
Ramsay’s wrath, but you do
your best to avoid it.
“He’s a great man. I
viewed him more as a
figure who pushes you to
where you can be even
before you know you can
be there. I learned a ton
about how to work at that
level and about myself. I
immediately brought it back to work. I no
longer allow things I previously allowed.
Every day I push myself to be better than
the day before. Menus, employees — now
every little thing matters.”
Bobkin says the owners of Local
Kitchen and Bar — Rick Halberg, Brian
Siegel and Geoff Kretchmer — are “super
supportive” of his involvement with the
show and plan to hold a Hell’s Kitchen
viewing party for him at the restaurant.
“I thought I was just going to go, do my
thing and come back,” Bobkin said, “but I
grew as a cook and as a person.”

Fox

J

ared Bobkin, executive chef
at Local Kitchen and Bar in
Ferndale, will be a competitor on
Hell’s Kitchen on Fox 2 at 9 p.m. Friday
night. Of course, he can’t say if he wins,
but he does admit that everyone has to be
on his or her toes around host and celeb-
rity chef Gordon Ramsay, who certainly
plays the devil in Hell’s Kitchen.
Bobkin, 30, has strong
local Jewish ties. He
became a bar mitzvah
at Temple Kol Ami in
West Bloomfield and
now belongs to Temple
Emanu-El in Oak Park,
where he lives. He also
was active in BBYO.
Although he told his
Berkley High School
counselor he wanted
to be a chef, he instead
became a professional
locksmith by day and
Jared Bobkin
a professional poker
player at night. But then
he attended culinary school at the Art
Institute of Michigan in Novi and became
hooked on cooking.
He has worked in kitchens at country
clubs, Cranbrook schools, private and
public restaurants, and as a personal chef
for a local Jewish family who kept kosher.
“I wanted to be on the show to get
my name out there and to show what a
culinary town Detroit is,” Bobkin said.
“And I wanted to push myself to a place I
thought I could never go.”
The open casting call was at Great
Lakes Culinary Center in Southfield. He

*

Going To The Dogs … Show, That Is

including “My Dog Can Do That,” an
From Jan. 21-24, the Suburban
event that lets people attending the
Collection Showplace in Novi is going
show bring their own pooches and show
to the dogs — and about 30,000 dog
off their talents.
lovers.
In traditional events, more than
The Michigan Winter Dog
160
breeds will compete in agil-
Classic, Michigan’s largest
ity,
confirmation
and obedience.
dog show, features more than
Throughout
the
show
visitors will
7,000 canines. For many, this
also
be
treated
to
interactive
dem-
show is their last stop before
onstrations
and
seminars.
competing at the Westminster
Hours are 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
Kennel Club Show.
Thursday,
Jan. 21; 7:30 a.m.-5
Executive Director Alan
p.m.
Friday,
Jan. 22-Sunday, Jan.
Dorfman of says visitors can Alan Dorfman
24.
The
show
will be emceed by
expect traditional competi-
Alisa
Zee.
tions and a few off the beaten path,

Call
Arleen Platt and
Andy Roisman

*

2060490

12 January 14 • 2016