Tonight on “Next Level Chef,” in the semi-finals, the final four chefs face a tangy twist as they’re tasked with showcasing one of the classic taste elements. With limited time on the clock, every dash, pinch or sprinkle could mean the difference between securing a coveted spot in the grand finale or facing the heat in a final elimination cook-off in the all-new “Taste of Success” episode of “Next Level Chef” airing Thursday, May 2 (8:00-9:02 PM ET/PT) on FOX.
In an epic three-story kitchen, the only way to move to the top is to cook your way up. Each week professional chefs, home chefs and social media chefs have seconds to grab, minutes to cook and moments to deliver their dishes to mentors Gordon Ramsay, Richard Blais and Nyesha Arrington. Who will rise to the challenge? Gordon promises the toughest, most competitive and most grueling season of “Next Level Chef” yet. With an amazing one-year mentorship and $250,000 on the line, only one contestant can climb their way to the top.
SEE Izahya Thomas (‘Next Level Chef’) exit interview: ‘I just wanted to inspire others’
Here are the chefs still in contention:
Team Blais: Zach
Team Arrington: Christina
Team Ramsay: Gabi and Jordan
8:00 p.m. — Previously on “Next Level Chef”! In episode 14, the final five chefs created a dish that wouldn’t leave a sour taste in the judges’ mouth by using kombucha, the trendy fermented drink. In the end Izahya, a 24-year-old social media chef from Team Ramsay was eliminated. Who will go home next in “Taste of Success”?
8:07 p.m. — The final four enter the studio and learn that in order to make it to the grand finale, they’ll have 30 minutes to create a dish that highlights one of the classic taste elements. Gabi will head up to the top kitchen by herself (with Richard mentoring), using her time advantage to take 10 extra seconds for herself at the platform. Cooking in the middle kitchen are Christina and Zach with Nyesha. Jordan is alone in the basement with Gordon.
8:15 p.m. — The platform drops and Gabi gets it all to herself (with 10 extra seconds to boot). She grabs scallops and plans for her taste element to be “sour.” On the middle level Zach grabs a pork chop for a “spicy” dish and Christina gets beef filet for a “charred” flavor. Jordan is left with black cod and a “sweet” dish. The clock is ticking and everyone seems pretty happy with their grabs. Nyesha tells Zach to “be careful” and to “not start doing too much.” He’s clearly the front-runner, but tends to overthink things. Christina sets her station on fire — this isn’t the “charred” flavor she wanted. She gets everything under control and keeps cookin’.
8:30 p.m. — The platform drops a second time with additional ingredients to pull these dishes together. Christina is thrilled to snag a beautiful black truffle. Zach mistakenly puts his potatoes in the blender, making them gummy and sticky. He has to switch to a fennel puree on the fly. Nyesha continues to worry he’s doing too much. Christina panics when her beef looks raw and Nyesha tells her to quit worrying. Upstairs, Gabi overcooks her scallops and worries if that could get her sent into elimination. The clock hits two minutes and ready or not the chefs have to start plating. Everyone gets their dish on the platform and it’s time for judgement.
8:40 p.m. — Jordan’s marinated cod with a “sweet” flavor profile is missing key elements, like the white truffle he grabbed on the second platform drop. Jordan is completely deflated, but Gordon lets him know the cod is cooked “absolutely beautiful.” Nyesha says everything is caramelized so there’s nowhere for her palate to go. Zach’s pork chop with a “spicy” flavor profile didn’t get smoked in time, so he missed that element. Visually, the smoke would have helped. At least the pork chop is cooked well. Next is Christina’s charred filet with mushrooms and asparagus, all cooked over an open flame. Gordon calls it “stunning.” Nyesha thinks it was smart execution, but Richard complains the filet is a little overcooked. Last is Gabi’s pan-seared scallops with a “sour” flavor profile. It’s beautifully plated with great finesse, however, the scallops are slightly overcooked.
8:45 p.m. — The judges step away and debate which dishes were best and worst. Two will advance straight into the finale and the other two will face off in the elimination challenge. The two advancing straight into the finale are Gabi and Christina. That means Zach and Jordan will face off in tonight’s elimination challenge. Both are emotional about the idea of going home this late in the game. For tonight’s challenge they’ll use champaign in their dish and Gordon will mentor. Richard and Nyesha will judge.
9:02 p.m. — The platform drops and these chefs are off to the races. Zach grabs veal chop and Jordan gets turbot fish. While peeling potatoes Jordan cuts his finger, but it’s elimination and there’s no time for a medic. Next Jordan has oil explode in his pan and all over his face. He’s having a rough day. Zach maintains his composure throughout. Time finally expires, and despite various disasters throughout that challenge, Jordan’s dish actually looks pretty good. Richard and Nyesha come in to judge, telling Zach his veal is cooked very well. The vanilla sauce is “odd.” Nyesha thinks the veal is stunning and likes the vanilla — but Gordon thinks it’s too sweet. Jordan’s pan-roasted turbot is cooked well and works well with the potato. Nyeshea thinks the depth of flavor is incredible, but the sauce is broken. In the end, both judges decide the dish they want to send home belongs to Jordan. Zach will advance to the finale and Jordan goes home tonight.