TWU degree dishes out success for alumna on Hell’s Kitchen
Creating original gourmet cuisine from scratch in 40 minutes would be stressful for most people, but imagine doing it for an audience of 3 million people. That was the life of TWU alumna Michelle Tribble as a contestant on the Season 17 All-Stars edition of Hell’s Kitchen.
Tribble graduated from TWU in 2016 with a bachelor’s degree in culinary science and food service management. She was a member of the first class to participate in the university’s Culinology® program, the nation’s largest such program approved by the Research Chef’s Association.
Angie Griffin, assistant clinical professor and coordinator of TWU’s Culinology program, taught Tribble and helped her land a research and development culinary internship at PepsiCo.
“Michelle is very smart and creative,” Griffin said. “With her passion for food, she can take an ordinary recipe and fill it with flavor, nutrients and style.”
Going to Texas Woman's University really gave me that knowledge to help me go back on Hell's Kitchen and win the second time. I had all the experience I didn't have the first time I did the show.
TWU’s Culinology program combines culinary arts and food science training along with food product development. Students enter the program after earning an Associate of Applied Sciences degree from local community colleges.
“Going to Texas Woman's University really gave me that knowledge to help me go back on Hell's Kitchen and win the second time,” says Tribble. “I had all the experience I didn't have the first time I did the show. TWU helped me learn more science about food.”
Tribble came to TWU after completing her associate’s degree at El Centro Community College. For Tribble, that TWU degree was her recipe for success.
“I appeared on Hell’s Kitchen the first time prior to attending TWU,” Tribble said. “Going to Texas Woman's University really gave me that knowledge to help me go back on Hell's Kitchen and win the second time. I had all the experience I didn't have the first time I did the show.”
In 2018, Tribble won the popular cooking competition hosted by Celebrity Chef Gordon Ramsay. She entered the finale as the only woman in the final slate of three competing to become head chef of Ramsay’s new Hell’s Kitchen restaurant at Caesar’s Palace Las Vegas.
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mattflores@twu.edu
Page last updated 2:45 PM, October 21, 2019