Suvechha Sarkar
Season 24 of Fox’s ‘Hell’s Kitchen’ brings both the fire and the drama to the kitchen. The celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay returns as the judge, pushing the remaining 12 contestants to their breaking point to determine who deserves to be his next Head Chef. After Jada’s transfer to the Blue Team in the previous episode, there is a new wave of excitement. As episode 7, titled ‘Guac a mole in Hell’s Kitchen’ begins, it becomes clear that Anaiya is not particularly thrilled about the change. However, everyone must put their feelings aside as the day’s cooking may test their ability to prepare Mexican cuisine.
A Mexican Food Challenge Leads the Chefs Into a Guac-a-Mole Showdown
Once every contestant returns to their dorms at the start of the episode, the Red Team begins discussing Jada’s absence. During the conversation, Cara Marie notes that every kitchen needs a woman in it, because maternal energy is necessary to direct the others in the right direction. As the morning finally arrives, a mariachi band leads all the competitors from their dorms into the dining room before Gordon. The chef welcomes everyone and announces that they will be cooking Mexican food today. However, they must select their ingredients for the protein through a game called Guac-a-Mole. They will have six proteins, namely, chicken thighs, flat iron steak, pork tenderloin, red prawns, red snapper, and skirt steak. Each contestant from the Blue Team is set to go up against a contestant from the Red Team.
After the chefs from both teams decide which protein they will pick, it is revealed that Alexandra and Henry are once again going up against each other. Alexandra notes that although she isn’t scared of facing him, she isn’t confident either. On the other hand, Jon reveals that Mexican food isn’t his forte. The attention quickly shifts to the first pair, Ellie and Jon, who will face each other during the cook-off. To obtain the ingredients for their protein, each contestant must hit the respective targets during the game. Each round will last 15 seconds, and only the components that were whacked must be used in their cooking. As one chef from each pair finishes selecting the ingredients, Gordon announces that they will have 45 minutes to complete making their dish.
With the time on the clock finally ticking, everyone rushes to the kitchen to begin their preparation. Lisa states that in Mexico, spices are everything, so she has to make it work with whatever ingredients she has. Meanwhile, Jon is feeling confused because he is unable to pronounce some of his components. When he remarks before the Sous Chef that he has to figure out how to cook the dish, Jada promptly tells him that she can help if he wants. Similarly, Henry can be seen struggling to incorporate the endive he chose during the game. Things aren’t going well for Cydni either, as she is also wondering how to incorporate anchovies into her dish. As the time gradually approaches its end, Cydni faces a predicament as she is unable to come up with ideas for plating. Fortunately, she makes it within the last few seconds.
The Blue Team Claims Victory Under the Watchful Eyes of a Guest Judge
Before the tasting begins, Gordon announces that a guest judge will be joining them today. It is soon revealed that the judge is none other than Gabriela Cámara, the owner of Contramar Restaurant. Without wasting much time, Gordon calls forth Ellie and Jon to present their pork tenderloin dish. Gabriela compliments the flavor of Ellie’s dish but notes that the pork is a little dry for her. However, she praises Jon’s preparation, remarking that it is perfect and gives him a point. Next up are Alexandra and Henry, who have cooked red prawns. This time, the judge compliments the taste of both dishes and rewards points for them. It is now the turn of Anaiya and Chris, who have carefully prepared red snappers.
While Gabriela finds Anaiya’s dish to be on point, she points out that the sauce in Chris’ preparation is overpowering. Hence, she gives the red team a point. Following them are Cara Marie and Anthony. The judge is impressed with both of their flat iron steak dishes and awards each of them with points. Next up are chicken thighs prepared by Cydni and Jayden. Unfortunately, Gabriela remarks that Cydni’s chicken lacks a proper amount of salt, while her opponent’s protein is cooked better. It ultimately helps Jayden earn a point for his team. With the Blue Team now in the lead, the result depends on Lisa and Jada, who have cooked the skirt steak. Although the judges praise both of their dishes, Jada’s preparation takes the edge. It helps her secure the final point and a victory for the Blue Team.
As the judges bid everyone goodbye, Gordon reveals that the Blue Team will be rewarded with their own fiesta pool party, following which they will enjoy a delicious Mexican Lunch from the Scorpion Bar at Foxwoods itself. Moreover, they will also receive spa treatment to relax. However, the Red Team has to prepare tortillas by hand, which involves cranking up pounds of corn and getting them ready before tonight’s service. As the Blue Team heads off to enjoy their rewards, Jada remarks that she is happy to be here. In the meantime, the Red Team struggles to turn the corn into paste. Eventually, the night’s service begins, and it is announced that tonight’s menu features the usual items, aside from the exclusive Mexican cuisine.
Despite Early Optimism, Both Kitchens Stumble Through a String of Blunders
Right at the beginning of the dinner service, Chris notes that he feels good about it. Similarly, Jada also feels confident because it is a fresh start for her. Although she swiftly prepares two risottos, the Blue Team hits a snag when Gordon finds that the lobster is overcooked. He quickly gathers the team and learns that Jayden was the one who cooked it. After the judge sends back the dish to be reprepared, Jayden luckily perfects the lobster tail. Meanwhile, in the Red Kitchen, Cydni is also trying to ace her scallops. However, when it is sent out, Gordon calls out the team and asks Cydni to make it again because it is not cooked correctly. Back in the Blue Kitchen, Anthony observes that he and Jada have started to find their own rhythm.
On the contrary, things are not looking up for the Red Team as Gordon points out that no dishes are coming out of their kitchen. Amid the chaos, Cydni puts the scallops inside the pan to sear and hands them off to Lisa to watch. However, when the former returns to the station, she is shocked to find that there is butter inside the pan, which is not how she is supposed to cook it. Gordon becomes visibly frustrated as he calls everyone to ask who cooked the scallops. When no one gives a definitive answer, he reminds them that no butter should be present while cooking that particular protein. He then calls forth Jada and asks her to speak to the Red Team because he is unaware of why they are going off track. The contestant quickly provides her fellow competitors with words of motivation.
However, Alexandra isn’t happy with Jada’s speech and notes in her confessional that it is more annoying than motivating. While the Red Team finally sends out their scallops, the Blue Kitchen has already moved on to their first entrées. Although Jon initially seems confident in showcasing his prowess, it soon fades out when Gordon calls his team out, asking why there is Mexican cheese instead of Parmesan in the fries. Jon admits that he has put the wrong cheese in the garnish. The judge also points out that the pork chop cooked by Henry is quite raw. Once the pork chops are finally reprepared and sent out, the attention shifts to Anaiya, who is excited to be cooking solo today. Unfortunately, the Red Team is soon summoned by Gordon as they serve overcooked pork, prompting the judge to call Jada once again.
Gordon Shuts Down Both Kitchens Mid-Service Due to Repeated Mistakes of the Teams
After multiple mistakes by her team, Anaiya gets upset with her fellow competitors, but Cydni isn’t ready to accept that “attitude.” Similarly, in the Blue Kitchen, Jon once again makes a mistake by not adding any cheese to the fries, and Chris fails to cook a properly medium-rare New York strip. So, Gordon sends both the dishes back and asks them to cook them again. While Chris bounces back quickly, the judge now finds that the cilantro is missing from the Red Team’s garnish. About 90 minutes into the dinner service, he removes his towel to reveal an undercooked chicken and raw salmon, which they had prepared, and expresses his disappointment. Ultimately, Gordon asks the Red Team to leave the kitchen mid-service. He also instructs them to come up with two names the team can do without.
Back in the dorm, Anaiya loses her cool during the discussion. In her confessional, Cydni remarks that she is irritated at Anaiya for always getting loud. She continues that if she were Gordon, she would never let anyone like Anaiya run the restaurant. Meanwhile, in the Blue Kitchen, the team faces the same fate as the judge tells them that they have made multiple mistakes tonight. Gordon asks them to leave and nominate two people for elimination. During the intensive discussion, most competitors from the Blue Team express that they feel Jon, Chris, and Henry have negatively impacted the service. Even Henry votes for himself, but he remarks that it doesn’t mean he wants to go home.
The Night Concludes With Jon’s Elimination After His Tough Service
The teams finally gather before Gordon for the eliminations. Cara Marie from the Red Team announces that their first nominee is Alexandra, since there were multiple mistakes in the garnish station. The second nominee tonight is Cydni, who struggled with cooking the pork chop and scallops. Moving on, Anthony reveals that the Blue Team’s first nominee is Jon since the team feels that they were pulled up to the pass for mistakes made at the garnish station. The second nominee is Henry, since he was unable to cook the pork chops properly, which snowballed and affected the entrée portion of the evening. Wasting no time, Gordon tells Alexandra that it is her third time being nominated, which isn’t a good sign. However, she explains that she is willing to fight and win back his confidence.
Upon asking, Cydni states that she wasn’t confident about her scallops when she sent them out. When Gordon tells her that he has started losing confidence in her, she pleads that she is a fighter who learns from her mistakes. The judge moves on to Jon, who explains that tonight he first made a mental error and then became wobbly while trying to recook the garnish multiple times. When asked why he should stay in Hell’s Kitchen, the competitor reasons that he works hard and always takes responsibility for his mistakes. Similarly, Henry remarks that he deserves to compete because he has learned from his mistakes. He continues that since it’s his first time being up for elimination, he has more to show Gordon in the next service itself.
After much contemplation, Gordon tells Henry that, although this has been his worst performance so far, he needs to get it together. The judge then announces that tonight, Jon is eliminated because it has become clear he is not yet ready to become the Head Chef. In his exit interview, Jon notes that although it wasn’t his night, he improved every single day after entering the competition and held his head high. Fortunately, Gordon sends both Alexandra and Cydni back to their team, marking them safe from elimination. Yet, Alexandra breaks down in tears in her confessional because she is disappointed to have let the judge down. Cydni is also upset about hearing that Gordon is losing his confidence in her, but she still isn’t ready to give up. She plans to show him next time that she will not crack under pressure.
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