Elise Wims

Elise Wims was one of the contestants in Season 9 of the American competitive reality television series Hell’s Kitchen which premiered on July 19, 2011 , on Fox Television. 

Elise, a former line cook from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, started off the season as a member of the Red team. Her signature dish is Pesto Seared Scallops with Sautéed Escarole. Elise, “The Diva Chef” as she is known, earned the coveted black jacket and placed 3rd in the competitive cooking competition.

Elise attended Woodland Hills High School and always had a passion for cooking and television. Elise was a former KDKA-TV weather kid, and began cooking at the age of 9 out of the sheer means to survive. Growing up in a single parent household, Elise, took on the role of second parent to a younger and an older brother and would cook meals often.

Elise decided to follow her interest in cooking and graduated from the Pennsylvania Culinary Institute, in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania. Elise has trained in various styles and cuisines of food and is a Seafood Specialist.

Elise’s previous experience includes Sous Chef and Executive Chef. She has been featured in numerous publications such as People Magazine for “Best Chicken Dish”, Whirl Magazine, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s “Food and Flavor” magazine; the Pittsburgh Courier and the City Paper as “Fresh Pick of the Week”! And most recently, Elise was featured on the cover of Banana Fusion Magazine based in Montreal Canada.