Photo credit: www.goldderby.com
A fresh season of Next Level Chef has arrived, showcasing 24 culinary talents from across the United States as they aim to win a substantial prize of $250,000. This season features an array of contestants divided into three categories: Pro, Social Media, and Home chefs. The season commenced with the intense “Pro Chef Auditions,” where eight seasoned chefs squared off to secure a place in the competition. This exciting new episode aired on February 27 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on Fox.
The competition unfolds in an impressive three-level kitchen, where contestants must ascend by demonstrating their culinary prowess. Each week, they face off in a race against the clock, striving to prepare and present dishes to the esteemed mentors Gordon Ramsay, Richard Blais, and Nyesha Arrington. Gordon has set the tone for what is expected to be the most challenging season yet, emphasizing that only one chef can rise to the top and claim the ultimate accolade.
SEE judges Nyesha Arrington and Richard Blais discuss Season 4, their strategies against Gordon, and the thrilling twists that await.
The Auditions
The Pro Chefs
Name
Age
Hometown
- Austin, 30, Freeburg, Ill.
- Ash, 34, Scottsdale, Ariz.
- Ashley, 18, Atlanta, GA
- Beatrice, 18, Flagstaff, Ariz.
- Brandon, 36, Chicago, Ill.
- Brennan, 46, Mullica, NJ
- Iman, 35, New York, NY
- Ryan, 22, Boston, Mass.
The Basement
The competition kicks off in the basement level, where the eight professional chefs face elimination in rounds until only five contestants remain. These finalists will then progress to the draft phase, where Gordon, Nyesha, and Richard will select their teams for the rest of the season. The basement kitchen proves to be challenging, equipped with subpar cooking tools and ingredients. Richard takes the lead in this round, tasking the chefs to craft a “staff meal” using nothing but limited ingredients within a mere 20 minutes.
Top dishes this round included Austin’s Indonesian cod head curry, Ash’s hoisin-glazed beef strips with fried tomato, and Brandon’s roasted chicken carcass with cheesy polenta.
Unfortunately, Ashley’s crispy pork rib with a spicy cream sauce fell short, earning her the distinction of the weakest dish.
The Middle Level
Moving on, the chefs advance to the middle level kitchen, which is equipped with better supplies. Here, they must create a daily special using low-cost ingredients within 20 minutes, mentored by Nyesha. Notable dishes included Austin’s Spanish shrimp with red pepper purée and Ryan’s pan-seared ocean trout with succotash.
However, Ash struggled with a dish that combined Chinese and Italian elements, receiving criticism for his fusion noodles.
The Top Level
For their final challenge, the chefs ascend to the top level, where they have access to premium equipment and ingredients. Under Gordon’s guidance, the competitors must prepare a dish that exemplifies their culinary skills. Austin impressed with a filet mignon paired with celery root purée, earning top accolades, while Brennan’s dish of tiger shrimp and peas did not resonate as well with the judges.
The Big Winners
Austin emerged as the standout winner, being the first professional chef selected for the draft due to his consistent high performance across all levels. The other four chefs moving on to the next stage are Beatrice, Brandon, Iman, and Ryan, solidifying their positions as strong contenders in the competition.
The Big Losers
Unfortunately, three home chefs were unable to secure a spot in this episode: Ashley, Ash, and Brennan, marking their exit from the competition early on.
Next Week
Looking ahead, the mentors will draft their teams from a pool of 15 diverse chefs, comprising home, professional, and social media chefs. The competition will ramp up as one chef faces elimination in the following episode.
Next Level Chef airs Thursdays at 8 p.m. on Fox.
Source
www.goldderby.com