EPISODE #1: A Next Level Welcome. 18 to Start.
HOST: Gordon Ramsay,
MENTOR: Nyesha Arrington,
Richard Blais.
PRIZE: 1 Year Mentorship + $250,00.
PLAYERS (18)
1. CASSIE YOUNG 28 Social Media Chef South Brunswick, NEW JERSEY
2. MARK McMILLIAN 52 Home Cook Los Angeles, CALIFORNIA
3. MICHELLE CALCAGNI 30 Home Cook Oradell, NEW JERSEY
4. PRESTON NGUYEN 19 Professional Chef Dallas, TEXAS
5. TUCKER RICCHIO 31 Professional Chef San Jose, CALIFORNIA
6. VINCENT "VKINNY" ALIA 42 Home Cook Columbia, SOUTH CAROLINA
7. ALEX MORIZO 48 Home Cook Brooklyn, NEW YORK
8. APRIL CLAYTON 39 Home Cook Henderson, TENNESSEE
9. NURI MUHAMMAD 22 Professional Chef Bowie, MARYLAND
10. OMALLYS "OMI" HOPPER 39 Social Media Chef Rio Grande, PUERTO RICO
11. PILAR OMEGA 38 Professional Chef Detroit, MICHIGAN
12. SHAY SPENCE 32 Social Media Chef Austin, TEXAS
13. CHRISTOPHER SPINOSA 32 Professional Chef Long Island, NEW YORK
14. DARRYL TAYLOR 52 Professional Chef Memphis, TENNESSEE
15. MATT GROARK 44 Social Media Chef Erial, NEW JERSEY
16. MEHREEN KARIM 27 Home Cook Auburn, ALABAMA
17. TINEKE YOUNGER 20 Social Media Chef Frederick, MARYLAND
18. KAMAHLA 41 Home Cook Pittsburgh, PENNSYLVANIA
FIRST CHALLENGE: Prepare a classic dish worthy of the up-level dish in 45 minutes. The Head Chef picked their team already. They must pick the ingredients from the platform with Top Kitchen picking first then Middle, and finally Basement picking last from whatever is left.
BOTTOM KITCHEN: Nyesha Team - Omi, Alex, April, Nuri, Pilar, & Shay.
MIDDLE KITCHEN: Gordon Team - Tucker, Michelle, Mark, Cassie, Preston, & Vinny.
TOP KITCHEN: Richard Team - Matt, Tini, Kamahlai, Mehreen, Darryl, & Chris.
- Mark (Middle) is a mess in the kitchen, he set his pan on fire, then was slow getting the dish on the platform - it slips off.
- Vinny (Middle) cut his finger.
JUDGING:
THE BEST DISH ON EACH LEVEL - will receive an Immunity Pin.
THE WINNING KITCHEN WILL WATCH THE FACE-OFF IN A LOUNGE.
BEST DISH: BOTTOM - Nuri,
MIDDLE - Tucker,
TOP - Matt.
BEST OF ALL: Tucker. Her Team is Safe & will get the Top Kitchen Next Week.
FACE-OFF ROUND: The two other chefs will pick someone to go head-head in the elimination round.
- Nyesha picks April & Richard picks Kamahlai. ( Both are home Cooks)
ELIMINATION ROUND OR FACE-OFF: Steak. Cook a Steak Dish in 30 minutes.
WINNER - April.
ELIMINATION - Kamahlai.
Richard's Team will cook in the Middle & Nyesha will be back in the Basement Kitchen.
ESIPODE #2: Party like a Guac Star. 17 Left.
CHALLENGE - Preparing a dish from another country - Mexico but must bring the heat.
RAMSAY - Top Kitchen,
NYESHA - Middle Kitchen,
RICHARD - Basement Kitchen.
MID-MAYHEM - Staple of Mexican cuisine. Grap from the platform in 10 seconds.
JUDGING:
THE BEST DISH IS: From the Basement (Richard's Team) - The Cow Tongue Dish - Tini.
The Team is Safe.
ELIMINATION ROUND - Nyesha Team & Gordon's Team.
- Gordon picks Cassie and Nyesha picks Alex.
- Corn & Bone-In Pork Chops in 30 minutes. Richard will Mentor them.
- Alex: Pan-Roasted Pork Chop Corn 4 Ways,
-Cassie: Cornmeal Crusted Pan-Roasted Pork Chop.
JUDGING: To Be Eliminated.
- Nyesha picks Alex & Gordon picks Alex.
ELIMINATED: Alex of Nyesha.
Next Week - Richard -Top Kitchen,
Gordon - Middle "
Nyesha - Basement.
ESIPODE #: No Pain, No Gain. 16 Left.
CHALLENGE: Creating an upscale next-level sandwich in 40 minutes.
- TEAM BLIAS - Top Kitchen,
- TEAM RAMSAY - Middle Kitchen,
- TEAM ARRINGTON - Bottom Kitchen.
-Cassie from Ramsay & Darryl from Richard Kitchen forgot to get bread.
MID-ROUND MAYHEM TWIST: Make a pickle. Grab ingredients from the platform in 5 seconds.
JUDGING:
WINNER: The Soft-Shell Crab Sandwich is Nuri from the Bottom Kitchen. All Team Arrington is SAFE.
ELIMINATION ROUND: Spicy Chicken Sandwich.
- Ramsay pick to go elimination is Vinny & Richard picked Darryl.
Nyesha will monitor them. Vinny vs. Darryl
- Spicy Chicken Sandwich with Chicken Breast - Darryl,
- Spicy Chicken Thigh with Cajun Fries - Vinny.
JUDGING:
Richard picked to SAVE IS: Vinny
Ramsay picked to SAVE is: Darryl.
Nyesha Break the tie & Eliminated Darryl cause he is slow & didn't bring the heat.
ELIMINATED: Darryl.
ESIPODE #4: Rice Guys Finish Last. 15 Left.
BASEMENT KITCHEN - Team Blais 4 left
MIDDLE KITCHEN - Team Gordon all 6 left
TOP KITCHEN - Team Nyesha 5 left.
CHALLENGE: 45 minutes to Create a next-level Chinese-Inspired dish.
- Cassie (Gordon) was feeling great.
PLATFORM ARRIVES.
- Cassie forget to grab a protein BUT lucky when a fish fell off the platform & she was able to grab it.
MID-ROUND MAYHEM: Platform arrives for 5 seconds. 15 Types of Ginger.
JUDGING:
- BEST DISH: Pilar (Nyesha)
Team Nyesha is Safe.
ELIMINATION ROUND:
Team Ramsay picks Mark vs. Team Blais picks Matt who uses his Immunity Pin then picks Chris.
Mark vs. Chris
Nyesha will Mentor
- Create an International Dumpling in 30 minutes.
JUDGING:
- Turkish Dumpling - Chris
- Italian Dumpling - Mark
Both Richard & Gordon picked Mark's dish to be Eliminated.
ELIMINATED: Mark.
EPISODE #5: Game Time. 14 Left.
TEAM RAMSAY: 5 Members Left, Basement Kitchen,
TEAM BLIAS: 4 Members left. Middle Kitchen
TEAM ARRINGTON: 5 Members Left. Top Kitchen.
CHALLENGE: Game Meats, etc. Wild Boar, Elk. Dish in 45 minutes
- April (Team Arrington) cut her finger again trying to impress her Chef.
MID-ROUND MAYHEIM: Fruits.
- Shay (Arrington) again DIDN'T get his food on the platform.
JUDGING:
BEST DISH: The Wild Duck Dish by Mehreen.
Team Blais is Safe.
ELIMINATION COOK-OFF ROUND: Gordon vs. Nyesha.
Cassie vs. Shay.
- Create a Next Level dish with RACK OF LAMB in 30 minutes. Richard is Mentor.
JUDGING:
- Pistachio-Crusted Lamb w/Potato puree - Cassie,
- Lebanese-inspired Lambchop w/Tzatziki Sauce - Shay.
JUDGING:
Nyesha picked Cassie
Gordon picked
Cassie, also.
ELIMINATED: Cassie.
ESIPODE #6: Sugar and Tea and Rum. 13 Left.
The Chefs start singing then Nathan Evans, entered the room, an internet star.
CHALLENGE: Grap a protein & grap alcohol and incorporate it across your dish in 45 minutes.
TEAM BLAIS - Top Kitchen,
TEAM RAMSAY - Basement,
TEAM ARRINGTON - Middle Kitchen.
- Preston (Ramsay) is only 19 yrs.
- Mehreen (Blais) is Muslim & doesn't allow alcohol.
- Shay (Arrington) picks a kitchen station closest to the platform.
MID-ROUND MAYHEIM - Starch - Plantains - Will soak up the alcohol.
JUDGING:
WINNING DISH: Preston.
Team Ramsay is Safe.
ELIMINATION ROUND: Arrington vs. Blais
April vs. Chris.
CHALLENGE: Fish and Chips
- Elevated to the Next Level in 30 minutes. Ramsay will monitor.
- Battered Fish with Potato Chips - April,
- Fish and Chips with Aioli Sauce Gribiche - Chris.
JUDGING: Nyesha Eliminated April
Richard Eliminated April.
ELIMINATED: April - still cook like she home & not like she in a contest.
ESIPODE #7: Here Fishy, Fishy. 12 Left.
TEAM RAMSAY - Top Kitchen,
TEAM BLAIS - Middle Kitchen,
TEAM ARRINGTON - Basement, again.
CHALLENGE: Create a next-level Fish dish, filet it first. The Chefs showed them how to filet 3 fish. Platform WILL STOP at each kitchen. They will have to grab the fish and filet a fish as a team.
- Team Ramsay - grap the Salmon,
- Team Blais - grap the Cod,
- Team Arrington - grap the Halibut.
MID-ROUND MAYHEIM - The ingredients.
JUDGING:
WINNER: The Halibut Dish by Omi of Team Arrington.
Team Arrington is Safe.
ELIMINATION ROUND: Blais vs. Ramsay.
Matt (using the Elderflower) vs. Preston ( Salmon was raw)
- Nyesha will mentor & in 30 minutes Create a dish using the finest ingredient - Lobster.
JUDGING: by Richard & Gordon.
- Grilled lobster Tail with Caviar & Pasta - Matt,
- Lobster Tortellini - Preston.
ELIMINATION: Richard eliminated Preston & Gordon eliminated Matt, then Nyesha broke the ties.
ELIMINATED: Matt.
ESIPODE #8: Going Global. 11 Left.
The teams are over & Individuals are starting! The top Kitchen is closed, for now, Only the Middle 7 Basement is open. Based on their performance so far will determine which kitchen they will cook in.
MIDDLE KITCHEN: Tini, Pilar, Nuri, Tucker, Mehreen & Omi.
BASEMENT KITCHEN: Vinny, Shay, Preston, Chris, & Michelle.
CHALLENGE: Going Global.
- Create a Signature Dish from a country around the world. The platform will have 11 boxes that contain the ingredients from a country, but the cooks will not know what the dish is only the country.
BASEMENT: Richard will mentor & MIDDLE: Gordon & Nyesha will mentor.
MID-ROUND MAYHEIM: the ingredients that will help their dish. Only 1 ingredient/cook.
JUDGING:
TOP 3 DISHES:
- Tikka Dish from India - Omi
- Poutine Dish from Canada - Michelle,
- Italian Veal Parmesan from Italy - Tucker.
Next Week will cook in Top Kitchen.
BOTTOM 3:
- Jamaican Red Snapper - Pilar,
- Swedish Meatballs - Vinny
- Moroccan Chicken Tajine - Preston.
Next Week in Middle Kitchen: Shay, Nuri, Tini, Chris & Mehreen.
ELIMINATION ROUND: Pilar, Vinny, & Preston.
- Classic French Dish: Duck a l'orange & modernize it. in 30 minutes. Gordon will mentor.
JUDGING: Nyesha & Richard are judges.
- Nyesha picked Preston for Elimination,
- Richard picked Preston for Elimination.
ELIMINATED: Preston.
ESIPODE #9: Happy Hour. 10 Left.
APPETIZERS
CHALLENGE: 40 minutes to create a Next Level Appetizer & one incredible cocktail.
PRIZE: A Time Toke Pin.
TOP KITCHEN: Michelle, Tucker, & Omi. Gordon will monitor,
MIDDLE KITCHEN: Shay, Mehreen, Nuri, Chris, & Tini. Richard will monitor.
BASEMENT KITCHEN: Viny & Pilar. Nyesha will monitor.
MID-ROUND MAYHEIM: Cocktail.
JUDGING:
TOP 3 DISHES:
Chicken Lollipop - Nuri
Lebanese Empanadas - Shay,
Salmon & Pina Colada Vinaigrette - Omi,
Spanish Prawns - Tucker.
WINNER: Nuri won the Time Token.
BOTTOM 3: Vinny, Tini, & Mehreen going into the Elimination Round.
ELIMINATION ROUND: Monitor by Richard - Japanese Wagyu Filet in 30 minutes.
JUDGING: Judging by Nyesha & Gordon
- Steak with Chutney - Mehreen
- Wagyu with Mashed Potatoes - Vinny,
- Wagyu with Cheese & Truffles Sauce - Tini.
ELIMINATION: Both Judges picked Vinny.
ELIMINATED: Vinny.
ESIPODE #10: That's What Cheese Said. 9 Left.
CHALLENGE: Working with ingredients found in Top restaurants or family home - Cheese in 40 minutes. Grap one Protein and at least one variety of cheese.
- Nuri uses his Time Token: 10 seconds alone to grab his ingredients from the platform,
TOP KITCHEN: Omi, Nuri, & Tucker. Nyesha monitor.
MIDDLE KITCHEN: Chris, Michelle, & Pilar. Gordon monitor.
BASEMENT KITCHEN: Mehreen, & Tini. Richard monitor.
MID-ROUND MAYHEIM: Cured Meats.
JUDGING:
TOP 2 DISHES: Filet Mignon with Gnocchi - Tucker,
Chicken Ballotine - Pilar,
WINNER: Pilar - Won the Time Token.
BOTTOM 3 DISHES: Spaghetti & Lobster - Nuri,
Ribeye with Gorgonzola Sauce - Shay,
Mac & Cheese with Shrimp - Omi.
ELIMINATION ROUND: Nuri, Shay & Omi.
- 30 minutes Create a dish featuring Nuts. Nyesha will monitor.
JUDGING: By Richard & Gordon.
- Almond Crusted Halibut - Nuri,
- Pistachio Crusted Chicken Breast - Shay,
- Peanut- Crusted Pork Chop - Omi.
ELIMINATED: By Richard is Shay,
By Gordon is Shay.
ELIMINATED:
Shay.
EPISODE #12: Bake it 'til You Make it. 7 Left.
CHALLENGE: Baking. In 60 minutes Bake the Next Level Dessert.
- Michelle Uses her Time Token: for herself. (10 seconds)
TOP KITCHEN: Michelle & Mehreen Gordon Mentor.
MIDDLE KITCHEN: Chris, Pilar & Omi. Nyesha Mentor
BASEMENT KITCHEN: Nuri & Tucker. Richard Mentor.
MID-ROUND MAYHEIM: Berries & an additional Ingredients.
JUDGING:
TOP 2: Chris - his Tart,
Omi - Bunuelos (culture food).
WINNER: Omi - won the Time Token.
BOTTOM 3: Michelle, Mehreen & Nuri.
ELIMINATION ROUND: Michelle, Mehreen & Nuri. Richard will Mentor.
- Eggs Benedict in 30 minutes.
JUDGING: By Gordon & Nyesha.
- Salmon Eggs Benedict w/Kimchi Hollandaise - Mehreen,
- Crispy Shrimp Eggs Benedict w/Tarragon Hollandaise - Michelle,
- Lobster Eggs Benedict/Cayenne Hollandaise Sauce - Nuri.
ELIMINATED BY Richard is Michelle,
" " Nyesha is Michelle.
ELIMINATED: Michelle - is awfully slow, cooking like she is still at home.
EPISODE #13: Surf and Turf. 6 Left.
TOP KITCHEN: Chris & Omi - Richard's mentor,
MIDDLE KITCHEN: Tucker & Pilar. Gordon is Mentor,
BASEMENT KITCHEN: Nuri & Mehreen. Nyesha is Mentor.
CHALLENGE: Reimagine an old favorite, Surf, and Turf with a new pairing.
OMI'S TIME TOKEN: Using it on Chris, taking away 10 seconds from him.
MID-ROUND MAYHEIM: Carrots.
JUDGING:
ONLY 1 TOP: New York Strip & Squid - Tucker The Winner.
BOTTOM 3: Tuna & Veal Chop - Mehreen,
Rib Cap & Octopus - Pilar,
Scallops & Rib Eye - Omi.
SAFE: Chris & Nuri.
ELIMINATION ROUND: Mehreen, Pilar, & Omi.
- A Bird Dish in 30 minutes. Nyesha is the mentor.
JUDGING BY: Richard & Gordon.
- Squab w/Crusted Celeriac - Pilar,
- Chicken Breast Sofrito - Omi,
- Tandoori Chicken or Cornish Hen - Mehreen.
ELIMINATED BY: Richard & Gordon - Mehreen.
ELIMINATED: Mehreen.
EPISODE #14: Made in America. 5 Left.
THE SEMI-FINALS
BASEMENT: Pilar & Omi - Nyesha Mentor.
MIDDLE: Chris & Nuri - Richard,
TOP: Tucker - Gordon.
CHALLENGE: In 40 minutes Create a stunning fusion dish from two different states & combine them to create an amazing dish. Two will be in the Finals.
TUCKER: California & Texas,
CHRIS: Washington State & Florida,
NURI: Colorada & Wisconsin,
PILAR: Louisiana & Hawaii,
OMI: Mass. & New Mexico.
MID-ROUND MAYHEIM: Stunning Plateware.
JUDGING:
GOING TO THE FINALS: Pilar & Tucker.
ELIMINATION ROUND: Chris, Nuri & Omi.
- CHALLENGE: Testing to see how far you have gone by creating a showstopping dish in 30 minutes. Gordon will mentor.
JUDGING: By Richard & Nyesha.
- Ocean Trout - Omi, ( still cooks like she at home - slow)
- New York Strip - Nuri,
- Veal Chop - Chris. ( takes too many chances)
WINNER & MOVING ON TO FINALS: Chris.
ELIMINATED: Omi & Nuri.
EPISODE #15: Next Level Final. 3 Left.
THE FINAL: Chris, Pilar & Tucker
1-year Mentorship & $250,000
CHALLENGE: Cook dishes on all levels of the kitchen, Starting in the Basement with an amazing Appetizer, in MIDDLE: with an amazing seafood dish, & THE TOP: with an exquisite Meat Entree in 90 minutes.
THE WINNER IS TUCKER.
