Suvechha Sarkar
The anticipation is through the roof as the final three contestants of Fox’s ‘Next Level Chef’ season 4 step into the kitchen for one last battle. In episode 14, titled ‘Final Level,’ judges/mentors Gordon Ramsay, Nyesha Arrington, and Richard Blais guide, critique, and ultimately crown the next culinary superstar. They determine the winner of the coveted $250,000 cash prize and the year-long mentorship under their expert guidance. The grand finale kicks off as Gordon reminds the competitors of what lies at stake, and they reveal what their plan is if they do win the competition.
The Finalists Gear Up For the Ultimate Three-Course Showdown
While Beatrice Heirigs admits to using a 5-10-20 year plan to make a difference in the world with the prize money, Megan Keno’s goal is to represent the moms and the home chefs. As for Austin Beckett, he simply wants to prove that the last 15 years of his cooking career have been worth it. Gordon then announces the season’s final challenge: the contestants have to prepare a three-course meal. The cook-off will begin in the Basement with Richard, where they must prepare a stunning appetizer. Nyesha will accompany them to the Middle Kitchen, where they have to make an excellent fish main course. In the Top Kitchen, the chefs will cook an incredible entrée with Gordon overseeing the round. Each of them is going to receive 90 minutes for all three preparations. They can hit the buzzer and stop the clock after each dish, choosing to manage their time in any way they see fit.
To their surprise, the mentors then introduce the season 3 winner, Gabrielle “Gabi” Chappel, as the special guest. The champion suggests the finalists focus only on their own dishes rather than on what the others are preparing. Gordon asks Austin to head to the Top Kitchen since the mentors need to discuss game plans. When he arrives there, he is beyond delighted to see his parents, Shawn and Keli, who provide him with some much-needed motivation. Meanwhile, Beatrice enters the Basement to find her brother, Ben, and best friend, Romie. She is delighted to see them and reveals that her brother has always supported her, and she is confident because of him. On the Middle Level, Megan meets her mother and best friends, Rebeka and Helena, her biggest supporters.
The contestants then return to the Basement with an extra touch of motivation from their loved ones. The first part of the final challenge commences with Gordon wishing them the best. Megan goes for the scallops during the ingredient grab, which upsets Austin because he wanted them. While Austin grabs the red shrimp, Beatrice selects the chicken thighs. When Richard approaches Beatrice, she reveals that her theme for the day’s challenge is Tokyo Izakaya. The judge is further impressed to learn that her inspiration stems from her first job as a Sushi Apprentice at just 15. Austin discloses that his vision for the three dishes is to take everyone through his culinary travels. On the other hand, Megan is aiming for a Pacific Northwest theme for the first round, hoping to take the judges to her roots.
Last-Minute Menu Change and Mishaps Test the Chefs’ Creativity at Every Turn
With 15 minutes down on the clock, Megan realizes that she is missing some scallops. To her horror, she discovers that two of them are on the floor. While she can salvage one of them, the other one is ruined and unusable. Gabi enters the kitchen after 26 minutes and discusses with Richard that it is crucial to notice how much time they have left rather than pressing the buzzer. As she leaves after some motivational words, Beatrice realizes her dish is burning. The mentor reassures her that her dish needs a little char, but she can turn down the fire a little. He begins urging them to hurry up, and Austin manages to hit the buzzer a moment later, under 29 minutes. While Beatrice hits it 46 seconds behind Austin, Megan becomes the last one to press.
The judges begin their menu tasting with Beatrice’s dish. While Gordon points out that it can use a little more crispness, Richard feels it misses a touch of fresh citrus. While they all complement Austin’s appetizer, Gordon remarks that a component has brought down the dish’s richness. For Megan, he also points out that although her dish does taste great, she needs to stop serving the base of a mushroom.
Next up is the beautiful fish course, for which the chefs head to the Middle Kitchen. As the ingredient grab begins with Nyesha giving them a positive push, Beatrice goes directly for the black cod. Again, Megan ends up taking away the sea bass, which was a component that Austin originally wanted. He ends up with salmon, but this throws him off his original game plan as he struggles to create a dish in his mind.
When Nyesha asks Austin his theme for this course, he truthfully answers that he is pivoting from his original plan. With her advice on making smart decisions, he discloses that he is going for a Spanish-style dish. While the mentor asks Megan to keep up her positive energy, she advises Beatrice to be productive with her movements. With 10 minutes already down for this round, Gabi enters the kitchen to see how the contestants are doing. One by one, she approaches them to learn what they are preparing and gives tips in any way she can. She suggests Megan use more citrus in her dish, which is indeed valuable information. With 20 minutes into the cook, Austin is dissatisfied as he realizes his salmon does not look as he expected it to – the fish’s skin has moved. On the other hand, a predicament befalls Beatrice when Nyesha alerts her about the heat on the pan.
Tensions Rise as the Finalists Make Their Way to the Last Round
Beatrice had forgotten her potatoes, and to her horror, she discovered them to be burnt. She quickly decides to cut off the burnt side and throw it back into the pan again. Nyesha swoops in to advise her to be mindful and balance it out with some sweetness later on. As the pressure increases in the Middle Kitchen, Austin confesses that he is cooking with two incredible chefs. For this round, Megan is the first chef to press the buzzer with a little over 36 minutes left on her clock. Beatrice presses it with 33 minutes and 22 seconds left, and Austin follows soon after with just over 33 minutes left. This leaves the latter tense about his time management, even though he is merely seconds behind. The focus now shifts to the menu tasting, where the judges first try Megan’s dish.
While both Nyesha and Gordon agree that Megan’s protein is cooked beautifully, they point out that the green beans are undercooked. Then, upon getting to Beatrice’s dish, Gordon observes that her fish is perfectly prepared, but the only issue is the undercooked sweet potato. The judges praise Austin’s presentation and compliment its taste. However, Gordon remarks that he would prefer the salmon to be a little crispier. Richard adds that the carrots in the dish are a little crunchier than he likes. Before heading for the final round, Gordon announces that the platform shall remain in the kitchen so they can grab ingredients throughout the cook. As the chefs head to the elevator, Richard notes that each contestant cooked their fish beautifully, but they had one undercooked vegetable. So, it all comes down to the final round.
The ingredient grab begins with Gordon hyping up the chefs for their final battle. Megan has just under three minutes on her own for the grab owing to her first press of the buzzer in the previous round. As she leisurely picks out her components, she remarks that it is like grocery shopping. Besides the ribeye, Austin picks the truffle since Beatrice always goes for the ingredient once she sees it. So, he tries to throw her off her game a little. As Gordon learns about Megan’s dish, he promptly advises her to put it in the oven. The constant feels the pressure of the reduced time since she cannot afford the protein to be undercooked. When she finally put it in the oven, Gordon remarks that it is a big weight off her shoulders.
Injuries and Bold Risks Set the Tone as the Chefs Fight to Finish Strong
Gabi arrives in the Top Kitchen with 26 minutes left on the clock. When she and Gordon approach Beatrice and learn what she is trying to create, the mentor notes that it is indeed risky to execute. Next, they inquire about Austin’s dish, and he divulges that although he has been to France before, he studied in a French Culinary School in Chicago. The judge further cautions him about using the truffle. Gabi bids goodbye to the chefs after wishing they all the best. With just 14 minutes to go, Megan ends up burning her fingers. Gordon quickly jumps to ask her if she needs a medic, but she chooses to push through. Although she is in pain, she decides to continue since it is peak time in the competition. With the dust settled, the mentor turns to Austin and notices that his purée looks much like a cream.
Gordon suggests that Austin caramelize the purée, which he accepts without question. According to him, the expert’s guidance needs to be followed completely, so he rushes to fry some onions to salvage the component. With two minutes on the clock, Gordon urges everyone to begin plating their dishes. As the final seconds approach, Megan wishes for a well-cooked lamb rack while cutting it. A wave of relief washes over her when she realizes it is perfectly cooked. After an exciting final push, it is now time for the judges to taste the beautifully prepared dishes by the talented chefs. The tasting commences with Megan’s lamb rack. While Richard compliments the dish by calling it her best preparation in the competition yet, Nyesha notes that it is impeccable. However, Gordon points out that the sauce could have been reduced a bit more.
The Judges Weigh Every Detail Before Crowning the Winner
While tasting Beatrice’s preparation, Richard particularly compliments its texture. Although Gordon prefers the bread a little more rolled out, he mentions that the pork is cooked beautifully. Then, upon seeing Austin’s plating, Richard notes it is a bit less refined than his other dishes. Although he finds that the sauce could have been worked on a little more, the judges unanimously agree that it is aromatic and delicious. The judges ask the contestants for a moment to discuss their opinions before they can actually announce the winner of ‘Next Level Chef’ season 4. While speaking about Beatrice’s undercooked potatoes, they also point out Megan’s undercooked green beans. However, they unanimously agree that the lamb is the best dish. Richard speaks about how Austin’s first two dishes were delicious, but he got carried away with the last one.
The final decision has now come down to the finest details. Megan opens up about how the experience has been life-changing for her. While Beatrice notes it has been overwhelming to see her loved ones and the amazing people, Austin expresses how badly he wants to gain the victory. Gordon eventually declares that this is the most impressive finale the judges have ever seen. After complimenting each chef on their skills, he finally announces that it is time to declare the winner of the season. Although each of them hopes to be the one, there can only be one reigning champion. When the announcement reveals that Austin is the winner, his parents waste no time stepping forward and congratulating him.
Megan, being one of the runner-ups, expresses that she is proud of herself for coming this far and leaving behind self-doubt. As another runner-up, Beatrice also reveals that she is proud of how the world now knows who she is and what she represents. Austin is overjoyed to reveal that he has put his blood, sweat, and tears into his chef career. He asserts that this win has made it all worth it, and he is delighted that he is going to be mentored by three amazing culinary experts. Gordon compliments how Austin has been cooking with finesse and control. As celebrations ensue, Richard is beyond excited that a chef from his team has won. The episode comes to an end as Nyesha acknowledges that the competition is leveling up. As the curtain falls on an unforgettable finale, the kitchen now awaits its next talented chefs.
Read More: Next Level Chef Season 4 Episode 13 Recap: Always Crust Your Instincts
