Photo credit: www.goldderby.com
In the latest episode of Next Level Chef, contestants faced a unique challenge as they transitioned from team dynamics to individual competition for the first time this season. This episode, titled “The Thunderdome,” aired on Thursday, April 10, and emphasized self-sufficiency as chefs tackled a series of cooking challenges without their usual support systems. Starting at the top level with premium ingredients, chefs needed to impress the mentors to either secure their advancement or risk elimination by cooking with less desirable items on the lower levels.
Chefs in the Competition
The series features a diverse mix of professional chefs, home cooks, and social media culinary influencers. Each contestant has a limited time to gather ingredients, cook, and present their dishes to esteemed mentors Gordon Ramsay, Richard Blais, and Nyesha Arrington. The tension escalates each week as chefs strive to outperform each other. Below are the current teams, featuring only those contestants still in the running.
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 | 28 | 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
SEE insights from judges Nyesha Arrington and Richard Blais discussing Season 4 and their rivalry with Gordon Ramsay.
Competitors in Action on the Top Level
During the initial cooking challenge in the top kitchen, chaos ensued as the platform descended, and chefs scrambled for the finest ingredients available. Notably, Beatrice and Megan engaged in a fierce contest for prawns, with Beatrice ultimately securing the coveted ingredient. Megan, on the other hand, was left with duck breast, which presented a personal challenge for her. The chefs had 20 minutes to prepare a standout dish that would guarantee their safety for the next round.
Those who excelled in this opening round included:
- Austin: Wagyu strip with seasonal vegetables
- Beatrice: Red prawns with squid ink cavatelli and caviar
Fierce Competition at the Middle Level
The competition shifted to the Middle Level Kitchen where seven chefs continued their culinary battle. After they gathered ingredients, Megan found herself with squid, a protein that intimidated her. Meanwhile, Becca struggled to find a suitable alternative to the fish she was growing tired of cooking. Once again, the contestants had only 20 minutes to finalize their dishes, a task that proved challenging for several chefs. Brandon faced a potential setback while cooking pork chops, and Arnav had to manage a kitchen mishap with an open oven door. Despite the hurdles, each chef successfully completed their dish without major disasters.
The top dishes from the Middle Level included:
- Becca: Pan-roasted sea bass with shaved Brussels sprout salad
- Arnav: Sirloin of beef with mushroom grits and charred corn salsa
- Bobby: Pan-seared cod with roasted pancetta over cauliflower puree
The Basement Showdown
The competition intensified as four remaining chefs were sent to the Basement Kitchen, where they faced limited and less appealing ingredients. Brandon ended up with Spam, forcing him to innovate under pressure within the same tight timeframe of 20 minutes. The competition’s stakes were high as each contestant fought to create a dish that would save them from elimination.
The standout dishes cooked in the Basement round included:
- Brandon: Asian salad with pressed ham and a fried egg
- Ryan: Beef stroganoff
- Megan: Grilled romaine lettuce with crispy salmon and tomato relish
Elimination Round
In a surprising turn, Natalia, a talented 28-year-old home chef, was eliminated despite her dish of chicken bits with creamy spinach and tomato ragu receiving commendations from the judges. As she exited, Natalia reiterated her passion for cooking, stating, “I live and breathe food and I will continue to do so.”
Source
www.goldderby.com