Suvechha Sarkar
The pressure in the culinary battleground of Fox’s ‘Next Level Chef’ season 4 episode 10 is higher than ever. With just eight contestants left, the chefs are now pushed to the limits of their prowess in their respective kitchens. The episode titled ‘A Very Special O’Cajun’ sets the stage for a bold and flavorful cook-off, only for one talented chef to win the most valuable time token. With the grand prize of $250,000 and an impressive mentorship from renowned chefs Gordon Ramsay, Nyesha Arrington, and Richard Blais on the line, every moment is of the essence.
An Alliance Crumbles Under the Rising Pressure of the Competition
The episode commences with Richard announcing that he will be in the Top Kitchen with Austin and Beatrice in this cook. Then, thanks to their performance in the last episode, Arnav, Bobby, and Becca will be in the Middle Kitchen with Gordon. Last but not least, Nyesha will preside over Ryan, Brandon, and Megan in the Basement for this round. That’s when the judges/mentors declare the challenge for the day – to transport them to Bourbon Street in New Orleans, Louisiana, with elevated Cajun cooking. While Bobby reveals his excitement about this cook-off since it is one of his favorite cuisines, the mentors introduce another twist. The chef who prepares the best dish will not only secure their position in the Top Kitchen but also receive a Time Token. This Token will enable them to either add 10 seconds to their ingredient grab or take away 10 seconds from a fellow competitor.
With the energy more electric than ever, the contestants head to their respective kitchens for the challenge. While Arnav discloses that he had recently visited New Orleans and is psyched to show off his experience, Brandon is unhappy about returning to the Basement. As the judges arrive at the kitchens and discuss everyone’s vision for their dish, Austin reveals that he wants to prepare a shrimp dish. However, this information makes Beatrice decide that she will do her best to take the competition out, no matter what. So, as the intense ingredient grab begins, she goes straight for the shrimp to sabotage Austin. Meanwhile, Bobby snatches the frog legs that Arnav had originally set his eyes on. While Brandon wants filet powder for his dish, Ryan ends up grabbing it.
As the 30 minutes on the clock start ticking, Beatrice reveals to Richard that Austin is her biggest competition. However, Austin is really angry because Beatrice broke their pact and took away the component he needed for his originally planned preparation. When the latter declares she does not have any hard feelings, he dismisses her because he is reluctant to indulge. With 5 minutes down, Gordon advises Becca on how to cook her ingredients properly, and she remarks that cooking with him is a dream come true. When the mentor asks Arnav why he chose alligator as his protein, he states that he initially wanted the frog legs, but they were snatched away too fast. Gordon suggests that he ensure the meat is not cooked too early.
The Contestants Push Their Limits in a Nail-biting Race to Beat the Clock
Gordon notes that Bobby is excited to cook his dish, and the latter divulges that he loves the rustic approach to cooking. He surprises the judge by further revealing that he has about 400-500 cookbooks dating back to the 1890s. He loves cooking with ingredients that others may find weird, so old cookbooks help him get ideas. He also concedes he is a bit of a nerd. Meanwhile, in the Basement, Nyesha is glad that Brandon is excited about his preparation. She next approaches Megan and compliments her on the vision of her dish. However, she expresses some skepticism when she learns that Ryan does not plan on using the filet powder for the gumbo. She notes that it will add an extra layer of spice to his dish, but he seems happy with his preparation. Back in the Top Kitchen, Beatrice brings her Louisiana roots to light and shares with Richard that she is channeling her father for this challenge. After all, he was born and raised there. The platform then arrives for the mid-round ingredient grab, where the contestants have to pick one French component to pair up with their dish.
With just 12 minutes to go, Becca discovers her dish is burning. The panic slowly sets in as she again begins to fry the last of her remaining batter. As Richard tastes Beatrice’s shrimp, he notes she is very smart because the dish’s spice does not hit him immediately, but instead presents a complex flavor. In the Basement, Nyesha announces that she is expecting some great flavors from this kitchen. Austin believes his dish does not require filé powder despite her advice. As the clock ticks down to the final 5 minutes, Becca fails to give Gordon a precise answer about what role the salad she has prepped will play in the dish. This prompts him to advise not just her but everyone to gain clarity on their dishes. He wants them to make sure that everything is cohesive. He next turns his focus on Arnav and urges him to check how his alligator has been cooked. To his dismay, Arnav discovers that it feels a little chewy.
The time has reached the last 3 minutes, and Austin is nervous because his fish needs more time to be cooked perfectly. As the countdown begins for the final 90 seconds, he makes the desperate decision to take out his catfish from the fryer, hoping it is completely cooked. As he hurries to plate his dish, the platform slowly starts collecting the preparations, starting from the Basement. When it finally reaches the top kitchen, the tension becomes unbearable, and Austin succeeds in landing his plate on the platform in the last few seconds. He almost missed it, but he rushed to ensure he had something the judges could taste. The mentors finally start tasting the incredible preparations that the 8 talented chefs have prepared. Gordon remarks that each one of the players has brought out their best culinary skills, and it will be a tough call.
With Two Dishes Blew the Judges Away, Three Failed to Meet the Mark
As the judges discuss their decisions, they unanimously agree that Bobby’s frog legs and Beatrice’s shrimp are impeccable in their taste. On the other hand, they note that the components in Becca’s dishes did not blend well. Nyesha further remarks that Arnav’s alligator felt a little tough to chew. After intense deliberation, Gordon announces that the first dish to gain a place in the Top Kitchen is Bobby’s frog legs, followed by Beatrice’s outstanding jumbo shrimp. To further add to the excitement, Beatrice ends up earning the time token. It is finally revealed that Becca, Ryan, and Arnav will be contestants to head into the elimination round because their dishes did not meet the mark. For this cook-off, their challenge is to create a next-level French-inspired dish within 25 minutes.
The three nominated contestants arrive at the Top Kitchen for the final showdown of the day. As Richard arrives, Becca, Arnav, and Ryan prepare for the ingredient grab. When the platform reaches the kitchen, Ryan instantly goes for the veal chop, but at the last moment, Arnav snatches it away from his grasp. While Becca gets the duck breast, Austin is disappointed not to get his first choice. However, he mentions that he is confident about the components that can pair well with his dish. Becca reveals that for the past few days, she has been watching several duck cooking videos and hopes it will pay off. Meanwhile, Richard advises Ryan that he will not need the asparagus in its entirety and asks him to use the tips in his preparation.
A Small Mistake Seals the Fate of a Chef, Leading to an Emotional Farewell
Richard next approaches Arnav to understand how he will use the truffle in his dish and suggests that he should not use too many potatoes for just one dish. The mentor advises Becca to put something on her duck breast as it is cooking to ensure its skin turns out nice and crisp. Bobby begins to advise her, and he states that he completely supports her because they are the only two contestants remaining from Nyesha’s initial team. However, the suggestions from the sidelines are wreaking havoc within Becca, who is trying to keep herself calm. With just 13 minutes left on the clock, Ryan ends up cutting his finger while cutting an ingredient and calls out for a medic. As soon as his wound is patched up, he gets right back to cooking without missing a beat.
As Richard asks Becca to make sure all of her ingredients are properly cooked, she finally reveals that the pressure of the elimination round is getting to her. He further asks to check her duck out of the oven since it may already be cooked. That’s when they realize that she had placed it there from the stove with the skin side still up. She immediately listens to Richard’s advice and places it skin-side down again. As the cook-off reaches the final 5 minutes, all three contestants start putting the finishing touches to their preparations. The countdown finally ends as the chefs complete plating their dishes. Gordon and Nyesha arrive in the kitchen and are looking forward to tasting the incredible French dishes. Upon tasting Arnav’s dish, Gordon notes that the vegetables in his dish need a little more seasoning. While both the mentors praise Ryan’s preparation, Gordon notes that Becca’s duck breast still has unrendered fat near the skin.
Finally, it is time for Gordon and Nyesha to choose which dish they wish to send back home. Both of the mentors end up selecting Becca’s duck breast for elimination. When Richard discloses the name of the chef, they are left devastated. Nyesha notes that Becca has learned a lot about who she is in the competition. The contestant emotionally expresses that she is proud of herself. She further adds that although she is happy to have gotten the chance to participate, she is sad because it is now over. As Becca bids a very emotional goodbye to her friends, Gordon asks the players to replenish their energy with much-needed rest. He drops a quippy hint that the next challenge will push them harder than ever before, as it will be a “Spain in the bum.” As the competition gets cut-throat, all eyes are now on the next episode to see what the judges have in store.
Read More: Next Level Chef Season 4 Episode 9 Recap: The Thunderdome
