MOUNT VERNON — Mya Gonsalves knew she wanted to be a chef long before she ever stepped into a professional kitchen.
Now, as a chef at NAPA Kitchen + Bar in Westerville, Gonsalves is putting the skills she developed in Knox County to the test on the national stage as a contestant on the 25th season of “Hell’s Kitchen,” which airs on the Hulu streaming service.
Cooking up a childhood dream
“At a very young age I was attracted to cooking. I was always in the kitchen, especially with my grandma,” Gonsalves said. “I loved it, so I just kept getting into the kitchen.”
Wherever she could and with whoever she could, Gonsalves found a way to cook. She often spent time cooking with her grandma in Dayton.
“Family was a huge part of why I got into it … But I realized it was my passion very young,” Gonsalves said. “I dressed up as a chef for Halloween.”
As the years went on, Gonsalves realized cooking could become a passion she carried into her adult life.
A career takes shape
Gonsalves has lived “all over the place,” but Knox County is where she launched her culinary career.
In high school, she attended an open house at the Knox County Career Center to learn more about the culinary program.
Culinary arts is one of 16 programs available at the center. The curriculum gives high school juniors and seniors hands-on culinary training in a professional-style kitchen.
Her parents understood the demands of the restaurant industry, and wanted to be sure it was the right path — but Gonsalves knew exactly what she wanted.
“We went to that open house and I met with the instructor and I left just saying ‘Yep, I’m doing it,’ no matter what anyone said,” Gonsalves said.
Chef Lance Stalnaker, a culinary arts instructor at KCCC from 2015 to 2020, immediately took Gonsalves under his wing.
“Stalnaker made the first big impression on me at that open house and throughout my whole career,” Gonsalves said.
Clearly it was the right choice — Gonsalves graduated as KCCC’s 2019 Student of the Year.
She also led a team of culinary arts students to the FCCLA National Culinary Competition in Atlanta, where the group placed third in the nation.
Turning up the heat
After graduating from KCCC, Gonsalves attended Columbus State University to continue her culinary education.
Her instructors at the university were the ones to send her name in for consideration on Hell’s Kitchen.
Today, she is a contestant on the 25th season of Hell’s Kitchen. To celebrate the silver jubilee of the show, all contestants are 25 years old or younger.
Gonsalves said that while some may believe this makes the competition easier, it actually makes it more challenging.
“The challenge is being absolutely exhausted and still giving your best every single day … You’re also competing against very strong other chefs, especially (because) we’re all the same age,” Gonsalves said.
Many of the competing chefs have a similar amount of time in the industry and similar experiences.
However, Gonsalves’s time at KCCC has carried her — at the time of publication — until the fifth episode. The fourth episode will be released on Oct. 16.
“I took pretty much everything with me. My instructor taught me to clean as you go, keep a tidy workspace, communicate. All those little things he told us really apply to my everyday career now, but especially in the show,” Gonsalves said.
(KCCC) will do whatever it takes to get us out in the field, and anything to make us successful, whatever that looks like.
Mya Gonsalves
Specifically, a simple limerick taught to her by Stalnaker has been at the top of her mind.
“He always said to me, ‘cook like you cook,'” Gonsalves said. “Throughout the show, I didn’t change that once. I’m proud of that.”
Gonsalves also credited KCCC’s staff with supporting students beyond graduation. She said the school’s encouragement helped her pursue opportunities in the culinary industry.
She’s also received constant support from faculty and staff during her tenure on the show.
“(KCCC) will do whatever it takes to get us out in the field, and anything to make us successful, whatever that looks like. So they were a huge part of where I am right now in my career,” Gonsalves said.
The next course
For Gonsalves, cooking is more than a job — and she encourages students at KCCC to continue doing what they love.
“Pretty much for the rest of your life you have to work, so you may as well make it something you are excited to go do,” Gonsalves said.
Owning a restaurant has been her goal since fourth grade. Competing on “Hell’s Kitchen” has only proved to her that it’s possible.
“This show has kind of given me motivation and validation in a way that I feel like I can take on more now,” Gonsalves said. “I would like to open my own spot one day, whenever that day is, but I feel now that I have the confidence to do it.”
