Background
Dave Levey is an Executive Chef who won the sixth season of Hell's Kitchen. Very early into the competition, he suffered a fracture on his left wrist but lasted through the entire competition. He was since then affectionately nicknamed by Chef Gordon Ramsay as the "One-Armed Bandit", braving the immense pain while coming to Blue Team's rescue on many occasions and in many instances whereby the Blue Team were a man less than the Red Team.
He is one guy who other contestants should be, one who NEVER uses his disability as an excuse for messing up.
He was in jail after being arrested in a major cocaine/heroin drug bust in Mendham, NJ. However he got out through bail and is now helping his sister with her music career.
Season 6
Episode 1
Team challenge
Dinner service
Episode 2
Team challenge
Dinner service
Episode 3
Team challenge
While cleaning the fire engines, Dave suffered an injury to his wrist and was thought to be a minor sprain. Kevin, who would later face Dave in the final, also suffered injury by spraining his ankle while ascending the steps at the entrance at Hell's Kitchen. Kevin would eventually recover but Dave's injury was far worse.
Dinner service
Dave and Kevin opt to continue despite the injuries. But as a result of the injury and not wanting to hold back the kitchens, Dave volunteered almost immediately when Chef Ramsay was about to assign waiters for the dinner service. It was from then on that Dave was dubbed the 'One-Armed Bandit' by Chef Ramsay. Blue Team won the Service that night, garnering 83% approval rating to Red Team's 81%.
Episode 4
Team challenge
Prior to the dinner service, Dave received news from his doctor that his left wrist was a result of fracture in the last episode. He contemplated whether to remain in the competition and decided to continue after consultation from Chef Ramsay. Dave made his way to hospital for a cast for his left arm before returning to Hell's Kitchen to finish Dinner service.
Dinner service
Dave was assigned to Desserts upon his return from treatment and helped the blue team to finish Dinner Service which the blue team won despite being 2 men down for a duration while Dave was away. Suzanne, apparently humiliated from the Red Team's defeat, requested for a Play-by-play but was subsequently denied by Ramsay who pointed out that Blue's 11 Hands beat the Red's 14 and were still a man down.
Episode 5
Team challenge
Dinner service
Episode 6
Team challenge
Dave's crepe single handedly caused the men to lose the challenge.
Dinner service
Whilst cooking garnishes, Scott approached him & yelled at him for not cooking the right garnish.
Episode 7
Team challenge
Dinner service
Was named Best of the Worst for a strong performance on appetizers.
Episode 8
Team challenge
Dinner service
The Blue Team had a relatively easy time till Andy somehow ran out of mashed potatoes for the last few remaining orders. Dave ran to the back of the kitchen to gather some potatoes and make a new batch, with Van and Dave working quickly to complete Andy's Entrees. Chef Ramsay compared the obvious difference of his work rate to Andy's. Blue team won the dinner service, despite being a man down and singled out Dave for his performance that night.
Episode 9
Team challenge
Dinner service
One of Dave's most notable, if not his craziest performance in Hell's Kitchen. As if Andy having already injuring his fingers before the dinner service wasn't enough, that already put the Blue Team in a severe manpower disadvantage again, with practically the entire blue team, save Van, injured. However Dave came to Blue Team's rescue yet again and volunteered to help cover Andy's station while minding his own despite his wrist fracture. At one point during the dinner service, he was seen handling 2 servings of risotto, a single serving each of Lamb, Steak and tagliatelle all at the same time, running back and forth across the kitchen handling and serving each dish. Dave still delivered expected results with his food. So much so that he earned immense praise from Chef Ramsay who commented: "Dave, don't take this the wrong way, but you're ten thousand times better cook with one arm!"
Episode 10
Team challenge
Dinner service
Episode 11
Pairs challenge
Dinner service
Episode 12
Individual challenge
Dinner service
Episode 13
Individual challenge
Dinner service
After the dinner service, Chef Ramsay initially considered Dave for elimination out of the Top 3 but accepted his appeal that if he was to leave Hell's Kitchen, it was if he wasn't good enough, not due to his injury. When the remaining 3 chefs were called back again by Ramsay after Tennile's elimination, Ramsay after much thought ensured Dave that he will be allowed to continue further in the competition. That said, Dave was among the final 3.
Episode 14
Individual challenge
Dave, Kevin and Ariel had 45 minutes to cook up an entree of a certain Ethnic cuisines; there were 3: Indian, China and Mexico, to be presented to Master Chefs of these ethnicity. Dave happened to draw Indian cuisine which he had never done before as a chef. It was a pork dish (Considered taboo to a significant Muslim Population in India which forbids eating of Pork). Despite his inexperience, he received the approval from all 3 master chefs and hence won the Individual Challenge.
Dinner service
Episode 15
Individual challenge
Dinner service
Season 11
Episode 18
Dinner service