Home / Lifestyle / From bankruptcy to Ramsay's kitchen: Chef's comeback
From bankruptcy to Ramsay's kitchen: Chef's comeback
2 Mar
Summary
- Chef Danielle Kartes lost her restaurant and home but is now on a cooking show.
- Kartes and her husband founded Rustic Joyful Food after their business closure.
- She recently appeared on national shows to promote her role on Next Level Chef.
In 2011, Tacoma chef Danielle Kartes faced profound personal and financial hardship, losing her restaurant, home, and vehicles after filing for bankruptcy. This challenging period, however, marked the beginning of a significant career pivot.
Kartes and her husband, Mike, established "Rustic Joyful Food" in 2014, a company focused on food photography and lifestyle content. Mike contributes through photography and videography, while Danielle authors cookbooks under the company's name.
Her resilience led her to become a contestant on Season 5 of Gordon Ramsay's "Next Level Chef," which premiered on January 29th and runs until mid-May. Kartes applied in April 2025 after being invited by Fox due to her media presence.
Kartes' journey has included multiple appearances on television programs such as "The Rachel Ray Show" and "The Kelly Clarkson Show" since 2016. She recently promoted her participation in "Next Level Chef" on "The Today Show" and "The Kelly Clarkson Show."
The filming for "Next Level Chef" took place in Ireland in the fall of 2025. Despite initial nervousness about competing against younger chefs, Kartes aimed to showcase her own culinary style.
In addition to her television endeavors, Kartes is set to release a memoir titled "Overcooked and Underdone" in September. The couple is also planning to revive the historic Alderton General Store and launch a wine business named "French for Water," which will soon be available at Costco stores in Washington.
Kartes emphasizes that her work is about spreading hope and joy, believing that happiness can coexist with any difficult experience. She advises her past self from 2011 to "Don't give up, don't despair" as better times lie ahead.
