Friends and relatives are mourning the New Jersey chef who aired his debt stress on Gordon Ramsay’s “Kitchen Nightmares” show three years ago and jumped to his death from the George Washington Bridge on Friday.
Police pulled the body of 39-year-old Joseph Cerniglia from the Hudson River and the New York City medical examiner’s office ruled the death a suicide. He had owned Campania in Fair Lawn, N.J., which he bought in 2006. Cerniglia said he was in $80,000 debt a year later when the Italian restaurant was featured on Ramsay’s show.
“I’m financially in trouble. The debt of the restaurant alone is overwhelming,” he said at the time. “My personal debt — wife, kids, mortgage — that’s a lot of debt.”
His wife added: “If this business fails, we will lose everything.”
Ramsay criticized the restaurant’s portions, quality and service, as well as a childish atmosphere in the kitchen.
The restaurant had reportedly experienced a renewal since the show aired. Local restaurant critics gave the restaurant favorable reviews.
Cerniglia was a self-taught chef who worked his way up to executive chef at the famed Gallagher’s Steakhouse chain.
“I didn’t go to culinary school,” Cerniglia said on the show. “We don’t have recipes. We don’t use measuring cups or spoons because I’m the best.”
Cerniglia is not the first person on a Ramsay show to commit suicide. The other was a contestant on “Hell’s Kitchen.”
Cerniglia is survived by his wife and three sons, ages 13, 11 and 9.
A private funeral service was held Wednesday for Cerniglia in his hometown of Wayne.
