ALEXANDRIA, La. (WNTZ) – A Central Louisiana chef is preparing to showcase his culinary skills on one of television’s most competitive cooking stages. Bradley Wildridge, an Alexandria native and co-owner of the Cajun fusion pop-up Bayou on The Bay, will represent Louisiana in the 24th season of Hell’s Kitchen with Gordon Ramsay.

The new season, titled Battle of the States, premieres Thursday, Sept. 25, from 8 to 9 p.m. ET/PT on FOX. In a series first, the season will begin with 50 semi-finalists – one from each state; battling for a coveted spot in the Top 20. Those chefs will then enter the iconic Hell’s Kitchen to compete for the championship title while proudly carrying the torch for their home states.

“It’s such an honor to represent Louisiana,” Wildridge said. “I very much had the opportunity to bring my Cajun flare in and show Chef Ramsay what I had to offer.”

Wildridge and his wife of four years run Bayou on The Bay, a catering and pop-up restaurant known for bold Cajun fusion creations – including a signature gumbo and pho dish that blends the flavors of Louisiana and Vietnam. “I love to intrigue people’s palates,” he said. “We keep it real, mix it up, and keep people on their toes.”

His path to the national spotlight began in his grandmother’s backyard, where his earliest “recipes” were made from mud pies. Soon, he was climbing onto a stool to crack eggs and stir batter in her kitchen. “I used to watch Emeril and try to take as many notes as I could before I missed anything,” Wildridge recalled.

That early enthusiasm grew into a full-fledged career. After honing his skills in fast food, Wildridge moved on to kitchens in Alaska, including Silver Gulch, before working in fine dining with renowned chef Stephan Pyles in Texas. He has collaborated with other Hell’s Kitchen contestants on pop-ups and worked with acclaimed chef Charlie Palmer before launching his own culinary venture.

Every Sunday, Bayou on The Bay serves Wildridge’s great-grandmother’s beignets at a local farmer’s market – a tradition so popular that they sell out faster with each passing week.

This season of Hell’s Kitchen also marks a milestone for the show itself. The set was constructed and filmed at Foxwoods Resort Casino in Connecticut – a departure from the series’ usual Los Angeles location and its two seasons in Las Vegas.

“This is a really cool opportunity to compete in a different space that no one else on Hell’s Kitchen has competed in,” Wildridge said. “It was a wild experience being in such a brand-new kitchen with all this crazy equipment.”

The new environment challenged Wildridge to stretch his creativity. “My creativity was pushed to the limits – and I loved every second of it,” he said.

Now, with the premiere days away, Wildridge says he’s still processing the reality of the moment. “I just happened to be one of those 20 who made it on the show,” he said. “I’m so giddy – it feels like the moment I was there getting ready for the show in the first place.”

Hell’s Kitchen: Battle of the States airs Thursday, Sept. 25, at 8 p.m. ET/PT on FOX.