For the fourth season of Hell’s Kitchen, the stakes are higher, the competition is tougher, and the big news of the season premiere is that world-class chef Gordon Ramsay will get literally sick when sampling one of the dishes.

This year’s competition features fifteen would-be chefs, instead of twelve, fresh blood that’s been added possibly because this year’s prize is the biggest one yet. The winner of Hell’s Kitchen this season won’t get to go work in any high-class restaurant…they’ll be going to work in one of Ramsay’s own high-class restaurants. So, who are these lucky (or not so lucky) cooks?

Twenty-five year old Christina is a culinary student from St. Louis who has a cheeky smile that makes her look at least a little dangerous. Corey, another blonde 25-year-old, is a private chef from Brooklyn. Jen is a 24-year-old line cook from Chicago, a lovely girl with a big smile Gordon Ramsay will no doubt wipe right off her face. Rosann is another New Yorker with raven tresses, a 33-year-old receptionist who used to cook once upon a time.  Sharon, a 33-year-old from Las Vegas, with her utterly gorgeous face, is totally primed to be this year’s hot girl (she’s a room-service chef, by the way). Shayna with her retro-style glasses is also from New York and already owns a catering company - is business really bad enough that reality TV has become the next logical step? Vanessa, another line cook, is a 31-year-old from some place called Bozeman, MT (and to be honest, I’m not even 100% sure what state that is).

Now, for the men. Ben, a 29-year-old electrician and former chef, wears glasses and hails from Charlotte, North Carolina. Executive chef Bobby, 37, is also from New York. Sous chef Craig is also New York-based, a 30-year-old with a blonde crew cut.  Dominic, 43, looks scary with his big glasses, but this South Carolina guy is actually a stay-at-home dad. Bald Jason (29) is also from Vegas, where he works as a sous chef. Louross has a serious mohawk, which seems to suit the 24-year-old Las Vegas hotel cook. New Jersey native Matt is a 35-year-old sous chef. Petrozza, 47, is officially the oldest in the competition, a North Carolina catering director.