NJ chef featured on TV cooking show kills himself

[October 23, 2010]  TRENTON, N.J. (AP) -- A New Jersey chef once featured on Gordon Ramsay's "Kitchen Nightmares" show has jumped to his death from the George Washington Bridge.

New York City police say the body of 39-year-old Joseph Cerniglia was found floating in the Hudson River on Friday.

Cerniglia owned Campania in Fair Lawn, N.J.

In 2007, the debt-ridden restaurant was featured on Ramsay's show. On the show, he described "overwhelming" personal debt and estimated he owed purveyors about $80,000.

Cerniglia is the former executive chef for the New York-based Gallagher's Steakhouse chain.

He is the second former contestant on a Ramsay television show to commit suicide. The other was a former competitor on his "Hell's Kitchen" chef competition.

[Associated Press]

Copyright 2010 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.