Hell's Kitchen Season 24 Episode 13 and Episode 14 Recap

Season 24 of Fox’s ‘Hell’s Kitchen’ serves as the ultimate culinary battleground, where talented chefs face brutal challenges and dinner services. It happens under the fiery supervision of the judge, Gordon Ramsay. Following the previous episode, the kitchen becomes a witness to a history-making moment as Anaiya, Jada, Lisa, Cydni, and Ellie — all women — win the black jackets. Their standout performances not just secure their place among the best but also impress Gordon. Episode 13, titled ‘Queens of the Kitchen’ and episode 14, titled ‘Who’s the Boss’ mark another pivotal turning point, where their talent, resilience, and nerve are pushed to their absolute limits.

First Individual Challenge of the Chefs Tests Their Creativity and Plating Skills

Episode 13 begins with Jada, Cydni, and Anaiya trying out some jelly beans Jada previously purchased. As the morning rolls in, they take their place before Gordon, who wastes no time speaking about how social media is a powerful tool. In a turn of events, he lightens the mood by featuring old pictures of Anaiya, Jada, Lisa, Cydni, and Ellie. With that aside, Gordon informs them that their first individual challenge is to prepare a stunning dish. Since the food industry has undergone a significant transformation on social media, pictures of their dishes will be posted on these platforms, which will then be voted on by Gordon’s followers. He further informs them that they have 40 minutes to complete their cooking and 5 minutes for plating. As the clock begins ticking, each of them rushes to the kitchen to start their preparations.

When Cydni notices that Ellie has grabbed squash blossoms just like hers, the former notes that ultimately, the individual quality of their dishes will matter. While Anaiya focuses on taking risks and making a gel for the first time, Jada pivots to preparing a ribeye after learning that everyone is working with seafood. After the contestants finish plating their dishes, Gordon welcomes the guest judge, Ken Oringer, an accomplished chef and restaurateur. Gordon and Ken will evaluate each dish and award up to 10 points each. The points from social media votes will be added to the total score at the end. The menu tasting begins with Anaiya’s pan-seared fillet. Although both judges love it, Ken expresses that he would’ve liked a little more seasoning, leading her to receive 8 points each.

Next up is Cydni’s pan-seared scallops, which Ken notes would benefit from more sauce. Similarly, Gordon points out that it needs more acidity. Both of them reward her with 8 points each. It is now the turn for Jada’s salt-crusted ribeye, which gains a compliment from Ken, but Gordon remarks that he would’ve preferred better finishing on the radishes. She eventually receives 10 and 9 points, respectively. Right after is Lisa’s black cod, which receives praise from both judges, earning her 10 and 9 points. Lastly, it’s Ellie’s halibut, for which Ken quickly states that he feels there should be more stuffing in the squash. It leads her to receive 8 points from each of the judges. Gordon then reveals the social media ranking from 5th to 1st place: Cydni (6 points), Ellie (7 points), Anaiya (8 points), Jada (9 points), and Lisa (10 points).

The Rewards and the Punishments Are Followed by a Rocky Dinner Service

With the highest number of points, Lisa wins the challenge. Gordon rewards her with a trip to a racing track, where she can race alongside a professional racing team. Following that, she will enjoy a lunch at Hell’s Kitchen at Foxwoods Resort Casino. To make it better, Gordon offers her the option to bring someone along. Lisa decides to take Ellie with her because the latter couldn’t go skiing the previous time. Back at the dorm, they are also surprised by Spicology spices. Meanwhile, Anaiya, Jada, and Cydni will be preparing 100 lbs of French fries as a punishment. After Lisa and Ellie finish enjoying their rewards and the others complete their punishment, they gear up for dinner service. For tonight, the special guest is the WWE champion, Big E. Cydni soon begins struggling with taking help, prompting Gordon to advise her to open up.

While Cydni refuses to serve anything but a perfect dish at this stage, Ellie notices that Jada faces difficulties with communication. As Cydni loses her cool under pressure, Lisa notes that this habit of her opponent isn’t good. About 40 minutes into the cook, a pan drops on Cydni’s station, and she ends up serving four scallops on a plate of five. As she begins to bounce back, Anaiya takes charge of the meat station during the entrées. Gordon begins calling Anaiya to the front, sometimes for her overcooked steak and even raw cooking of lamb. After the service comes to an end, the judge asks the contestants to nominate two people for elimination. Back at the dorm, Jada and Lisa take on the responsibility of making a decision, considering they made little to no mistakes during the dinner service and also performed well on the challenge.

Tense Nomination Debate Eventually Leads to the Elimination of Anaiya

Lisa and Jada discuss the matter in the washroom, where the former explains that Anaiya needs to be put up for elimination since she made the most mistakes today. She also suggests Cydni’s name. Once Anaiya, Jada, Cydni, Lisa, and Ellie go back before Gordon, the others, except Lisa and Jada, voice their concerns that no decision has been made yet. After a team discussion, Cydni reveals that she is nominated for elimination. Lisa quickly elaborates that it’s because Cydni often gets overwhelmed, starts blurting out words, and throws pans. Being unable to agree with the last accusation, Cydni denies throwing any pan. The second nominee is revealed to be Anaiya since she took the most missteps tonight.

When Gordon asks Cydni why she should stay in the competition, she explains that she handled the most difficult station tonight- fish. She adds that she is a fighter and never gives up. During Anaiya’s turn, she admits to making mistakes tonight but insists she has consistently shown that she is not the weakest chef. Ultimately, after much consideration, Gordon sends Anaiya back home, noting that she made far too many mistakes tonight to be overlooked. During her exit interview, she insists that tonight doesn’t define her. Anaiya is aware that not everyone understands her strong personality, but she did everything she could. In the meantime, after complimenting Cydni for handling the hardest station tonight, Gordon sends everyone back to the dorm.

The Remaining Four Chefs Face a Complex Ingredient Swap Challenge

Episode 14 commences with Cydni riled up against Lisa’s comment that Cydni throws pans. However, it doesn’t take them much time to sort out the differences between them. The following morning, the four remaining contestants travel to a market in Mystic, Connecticut, where they are joined by the Sous Chefs, Michelle Tribble and James Avery. Michelle announces that each of the chefs must go shopping for ingredients to create their own dishes, but they have just 10 minutes to do so, with a budget of only $25. After deciding what to make, Lisa, Cydni, Jada, and Ellie finish their grocery shopping and return to Hell’s Kitchen, where Gordon meets them. He soon delivers a twist: the ingredient they originally chose for themselves is actually intended for one of their opponents.

While Ellie gets Lisa’s ingredients, Lisa receives hers courtesy of Jada. Jada is allotted Cydni’s components, while the latter’s ingredients are selected by Ellie. Gordon then announces that they have just 45 minutes to finish preparing an incredible dish. With their chosen ingredients already changed, each of them devises a new game plan. As the time on the clock begins ticking, Cydni faces a challenge because she has never elevated a t-bone protein. While looking at Cydni’s cooking, Ellie becomes worried that her fellow competitor’s protein may become overcooked. Once the time concludes, Gordon welcomes guest judge Stephanie Izard, a chef and entrepreneur. The former then explains that a throne is kept just behind the judges’ table. After Stephanie tastes a dish, the chef who prepared it will sit on that throne.

If Stephanie feels that a particular dish is better than the previous one, it can knock one off the throne. The chef who remains in that chair last is set to win the challenge. The first dish up for tasting is Jada’s boneless pork chop, which Stephanie finds to be dry but fresh. After Jada sits on the throne, Ellie comes up with her elevated shrimp and grits. It receives immense compliments from both judges, helping Ellie take her place on the throne. Next up is Cydni, who has prepared pan-seared porterhouse steak. Although Stephanie notes it has good seasoning, Gordon points out that it is overcooked. Her dish sadly fails to outshine Ellie’s, and consequently, she returns to the line. Lastly, it’s time for Lisa’s Cuban-style inspired chicken. Although she receives immense praise from Stephanie, the judge keeps Ellie on the throne- meaning she is the winner.

Each Chef Takes Turns Leading the Dinner Service Under Gordon’s Sabotage

After Stephanie bids goodbye, Gordon announces that Ellie will receive a $1,000 gift card for a shopping spree at Kitch. When given the option to take someone with her, she chooses Cydni. Gordon continues that they then get to enjoy a seafood spread at S&P Oyster Restaurant and Bar, along with Sous Chef Michelle. On the other hand, Jada and Lisa get the task of scrubbing greasy pans as their punishment. When Ellie and Cydni return to the dorm, they are delighted to find a set of brand new utensils waiting for them. After completing the shopping spree and the punishment, everyone returns to their position, ready for dinner service. However, tonight, each of the four contestants will take turns leading the kitchen. Gordon is also set to work with his team to test, and at times, sabotage each of the chefs’ turns at the pass.

It begins with Jada taking the lead, and for the first test, Gordon changes the pasta in the dish before serving. She quickly spots it, earning praise from Gordon. For the next two sabotages, she receives an extra entrée on the ticket for a table of four, and the corn puree is replaced with a golden beet puree. Impressively, Jada quickly figures out both of those. During Cydni’s turn, she fails to see that the salmon in one of the dishes has been replaced with ocean trout. Although Gordon points it out to her, she recognizes the next two quite easily. It includes the replacement of the peas with edamame eggs and the interchange of halibut and sea bass. During Lisa’s turn, she reveals that she is still trying to find her voice after giving birth to her baby recently. She promptly passes the first test by spotting that the lobster tail is swapped with a giant shrimp.

However, Lisa loses her momentum the next two times when she fails to note that edamame eggs are used instead of peas in her dish. For the third time, although she becomes confused on seeing the New York strip with ribeye, she incorrectly states that it is perfectly fine. Lastly, Ellie takes the helm and doesn’t take much time to notice that Gordon has swapped the scallops with mushrooms. She faces a predicament during the next ticket as she realizes there is a mishap after she reads it aloud to the kitchen. Gordon quickly steps in to advise her that she must always read the ticket first. For the last test, Ellie quickly discovers that the New York strip has been changed to ribeye, considering her experience.

Lisa Bids Goodbye to Hell’s Kitchen With a Renewed Sense of Self

As the service eventually comes to an end, everyone takes their position before the judge. To justify their place in the Finale, Lisa expresses that she has once again found her voice and confidence and is fired up for herself, along with her daughter. While Cydni emphasizes that she is a fighter, Ellie defends herself by mentioning that she is a hard worker who seldom makes mistakes during her service. Last but not least, Jada remarks that she has the skills and the drive to work harder. After hearing each of their sides, Gordon reveals the final three chefs moving on to the Finale are Cydni, Jada, and Ellie.

As a result, Lisa is eliminated, and Gordon tells her that her leadership didn’t rise to the level of the other three standing behind her. He bids her goodbye without taking her jacket. In her exit interview, Lisa divulges that the competition has helped her come out of her shell postpartum, and it has been an honor for her to be part of the first season of all-female Black Jacket Chefs. She admits that she never thought this before, but she is a “bada**.” It is now only a matter of time before we see who will ultimately take the title of champion and the Head Chef position at Hell’s Kitchen.

Hell’s Kitchen Season 24 Episode 13 and Episode 14 Recap