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On tonight’s episode of Next Level Chef, the stakes are high as Team Ramsay looks to maintain their winning momentum. Contestants face a series of cooking challenges requiring them to demonstrate their versatility in various techniques such as oven roasting, steaming, and deep frying. This latest installment, titled “Beat the Heat,” aired on Thursday, April 3, at 8 p.m. ET/PT on Fox.
The Teams
Each week, a mix of professional chefs, home cooks, and social media culinary stars compete under the watchful eyes of mentors Gordon Ramsay, Richard Blais, and Nyesha Arrington. The pressure is palpable as the chefs scramble to create remarkable dishes within tight timeframes. Below are the current teams, with previously eliminated contestants marked.
Team Ramsay
Name – Age – Background
Arnav – 19 – Home Chef
Beatrice – 18 – Pro Chef
Meg – 33 – Social Media Chef
Mistie – 41 – Social Media Chef
Ryan – 22 – Pro Chef
Team Arrington
Name – Age – Background
Becca – 27 – Social Media Chef
Bobby – 38 – Social Media Chef
Cathy – 30 – Home Chef
Iman – 35 – Pro Chef
Natalia – 38 – Home Chef
Team Blais
Name – Age – Background
Austin – 30 – Pro Chef
Brandon – 36 – Pro Chef
Jeff – 35 – Social Media Chef
Maryam – 31 – Home Chef
Megan – 37 – Home Chef
CHECK OUT insights from Next Level Chef judges Nyesha Arrington and Richard Blais as they discuss Season 4, their friendly rivalry with Gordon Ramsay, and the exciting surprises that await contestants.
The Challenge
This episode featured a unique challenge designed to test the adaptability of the chef-testants as they had to execute different cooking methods revealed only when they arrived at their designated cooking stations. With Team Ramsay having clinched victory in the previous week’s challenge, they were assigned the top-level kitchen, while Team Arrington occupied the middle tier, and Team Blais returned to the basement setup.
As the competition commenced, the teams were faced with their assigned cooking methods: Team Ramsay focused on oven roasting, Team Arrington embarked on steaming, and Team Blais tackled deep frying. The action began smoothly, but surprises awaited as Arnav selected venison—a protein that was unfamiliar to him. Meanwhile, Iman opted for frozen salmon patties, which raised eyebrows, especially from Nyesha, who anticipated higher standards.
With only 30 minutes to cook, tension escalated. Natalia fretted over whether her tamales were cooked through. To address this potential misstep, she resorted to using a blowtorch for a creative finish, which ultimately impressed the judges. Despite lacking some visual appeal, the dish shone in flavor, leading to positive feedback.
Top Dish
The standout dish of the evening was Brandon’s crispy fried halibut head, described by the judges as “wonderful,” “elevated,” and “incredible.” This marked Team Blais’ first victory of the season, granting them immunity and a coveted chance to ascend to the Top Level kitchen in the next episode.
Elimination Cook-Off
In a dramatic twist, Iman of Team Arrington and Beatrice of Team Ramsay found themselves in the elimination cook-off. Iman’s earlier efforts with salmon patties led to harsh criticism, being labeled as “the most unappealing dish in Next Level Chef history.” Confident in her abilities, Beatrice was thrust into the spotlight by Gordon, emphasizing the intensity of the competition.
The challenge for both chefs was to prepare their dishes on cedar planks. Beatrice delivered a cedar-planked salmon accompanied by dill crème fraîche and a grapefruit fennel salad that impressed the judges with its presentation and flavor. Conversely, Iman prepared cedar-planked swordfish paired with charred eggplant puree and a cucumber-tomato salad, which, while “good,” was noted to lack the necessary brightness, particularly in terms of acidity. Ultimately, the night concluded with the elimination of Iman, a 35-year-old professional chef from New York, marking her departure from the competition.
Source
www.goldderby.com