Suvechha Sarkar
Fox’s ‘Next Level Chef’ is known for its intense challenges that test competitors’ razor-sharp skills and make them race against the clock. Guiding and judging the chefs are three culinary powerhouses: Gordon Ramsay, Richard Blais, and Nyesha Arrington. The competition takes a major turn in season 5, episode 7, titled ‘Service, Please!’ after Emerson’s emotional exit. Today, the contestants face their first-ever dinner service challenge. As three legendary culinary masters step in as guest judges, the chefs deliver an impressive dinner course as a team.
The Chefs Tackle Their First Dinner Service Challenge That Tests Teamwork
As the episode begins, Gordon jokes with the remaining contestants that he, Richard, and Nyesha will cook for them today, only to reveal moments later that it’s just a prank. Gordon then announces that tonight the chefs must prepare an incredible dinner service. This time, each kitchen level will have its own independent drop, and each team will have 40 minutes to work together to create one stunning course of the menu. While Nyesha’s team will cook the appetizer in the Basement, Richard’s team will start preparing the fish course in the Middle Kitchen just 20 minutes later. After 20 more minutes, Gordon’s team will serve a show-stopping meat entrée from the Top Level Kitchen. Gordon further reveals that, since the three mentors will be grabbing ingredients and cooking alongside them, they have asked three guest chefs to taste the dishes and determine a winner.
Following that, Gordon welcomes two-Michelin-Star chef Alex Atala, another two-Michelin-Star chef Andrew Wong, and a three-Michelin-Star chef Clare Smyth. The three guest judges then inform the contestants that they are looking for delicious foods with personality and simplicity. Eventually, the three teams and their respective mentors arrive at their allocated kitchens, where they begin discussing what they plan to prepare for the service to their 22 diners. Soon after, the platform finally arrives in the Basement, and wasting no time, the chefs pick the scallops as their protein. After the ingredient grab, Nyesha’s team quickly discusses that Danielle will prepare the puree while Machete will be in charge of the scallops. Once the 40 minutes on the clock begin ticking, the competitors rush to their stations to start preparations.
When Nyesha approaches Connor’s station, he reveals that he actually provides catering service, so he feels confident about today’s challenge. When the mentor turns her attention to Machete, she asks him not to be too delicate with the scallops and to start grilling them immediately. With just 22 minutes left on the clock, Nyesha begins inquiring about the puree, but Danielle forgets she originally agreed to do it herself. Her teammates soon realize that Danielle has forgotten to prepare the puree and ultimately decide not to include it. After 2 more minutes, the platform arrives at the Middle Kitchen, where the chefs grab the salmon as their protein. As the 40 minutes allocated to them begin ticking, all the contestants focus on taking on individual responsibilities and start preparing the dishes.
Nyesha’s Team Successfully Serves Their Appetizer Despite Frantic Plating
As diners start gathering in the reception area, Richard speaks with Tim, who reveals that he is used to preparing holiday dinners for groups of no more than ten guests. In his confessional, the contestant admits that, as a social media chef, he has little experience with dinner services. While Christian is working on the sauce, Jared first focuses on the asparagus. As Tim focuses on cooking the potatoes, Richard turns his attention to Darian, who is preparing the salmon. Darian soon reveals that he actually runs an upscale Jamaican restaurant. He is also nervous because the salmon is the main component, so he needs to make sure it is perfect. Meanwhile, in the Basement Kitchen, the intensity continues to rise for Nyesha’s team as they begin preparing their scallop appetizers for the guests and the three guest judges.
During the plating, Machete sets aside the judges’ plates with the best seared scallops, but as he and his teammates rush to take them to the elevator, they get mixed up. After regaining control of the situation, Machete enters the elevator for the service in the last few seconds. Once Nyesha’s team completes serving the appetizer to everyone, they explain the preparation to Alex, Andrew, and Clare. Upon tasting, the judges find the scallops are perfectly caramelized, but they agree the team has played it safe. Andrew further adds that although it’s a good dish, it doesn’t have the quality to make him remember it. The attention then shifts to the Top Kitchen, where the platform finally arrives, allowing Gordon’s team to pick their ingredients. They carefully choose the fillet instead of the lamb as their protein.
Once their 40 minutes begin, it is revealed that Cole and Gabrielle are working on the protein, Andy is focused on preparing the sauce, while Amber’s responsibility is to make sure the potatoes are cooked perfectly. In the meantime, the spotlight falls on the Middle Kitchen, where Richard points out to Darian that his pan is too hot. The mentor also notes that a white item emerging from the salmon usually indicates it’s overcooked. Upon seeing the potatoes boiling, Richard quickly asks Tim about the component. The contestant informs the mentor that the potatoes may need another 60 seconds to fully cook. So, Richard instructs him to grab the potatoes out after a minute and let them cool off before tossing them in chimichurri. After a few moments, the mentor points out that the potatoes are still boiling in the pot.
Differences in the Finest Details Send Nyesha’s Team to the Elimination Round
Tim attempts to handle the potatoes, but he notices that Christian has already taken them off the stove. When Christian informs Richard that the potatoes are a little overcooked, the mentor is shocked, since Tim had told him he had it under control. Once the plating begins, Richard’s team decides to put the potatoes in the middle to hide them. As the time for the Middle Kitchen concludes, the team rushes to the elevator and then to the dining area to serve their dish. As Andrew, Alex, and Clare taste the salmon dish prepared in the Middle Kitchen, the judges highly praise the sauce, but Alex notes it could still use a little more seasoning. Similarly, the judges also compliment the salmon’s cooking. While Alex remarks that the potato is overcooked, Clare points out that the team could’ve played with the flavors a little more.
In the Top Kitchen, Gordon informs the team that they will start plating within 7 minutes. Meanwhile, Andy realizes the sauce isn’t reducing fast enough, so she separates it into multiple pans, which eventually helps it reduce more quickly. After learning about Andy’s decision, Gordon promptly remarks that it is a smart step. As the last few seconds tick by, his team finishes plating their dishes and successfully serves the fillet to the judges and the diners. Alex and Clare immediately point out that the team’s presentations are truly refined. Although all three judges praise the sauce’s taste, Alex notes that the protein is slightly overcooked, possibly too caramelized. Once the diners bid goodbye, Gordon, Nyesha, and Richard meet with Alex, Andrew, and Clare to learn their feedback on the team’s preparations.
The three guest judges reveal that although it was hard to pick the top dish, the hardest decision was selecting the bottom one. Once the contestants return before the mentors and the guest judges, Gordon announces that, since the chefs cooked as one dynamic team, the team that cooked the most successful course of the night will be safe from elimination and will cook in the Top Kitchen next time. However, the team with the least successful course will go into the elimination cook-off together, and one contestant among them will be eliminated. Without further ado, Nyesha announces that the best dish was prepared by Richard’s team. Richard then reveals that Nyesha’s team will head to the Elimination Round, consequently marking Gordon’s team safe.
Critical Flaws in Matt’s Dish During the Elimination Round Lead to His Exit
Richard announces that Nyesha’s team will receive another chance to impress him, Gordon, and Nyesha with their reimagined scallop entrees, which must be prepared within 25 minutes. Once the team and Richard arrive in the kitchen, the contestants prepare themselves for the ingredient grab. As the platform arrives, Machete picks the risotto and admits that it will be risky to cook it within 20 minutes, but he feels he can do it. Each chef turns their attention to their dishes as soon as the 25 minutes on the clock begin ticking away. Richard first approaches Machete, who confesses that preparing risotto in this round is quite challenging. He further adds that if he gets eliminated, he will go home with a “bang.” While Matt is preparing purple potatoes and bacon with his scallops, Danielle is adding crispy smashed potatoes to the protein.
Lastly, Richard is impressed when he discovers that Connor is making pineapple salsa with his dish. In the final 10 minutes, Danielle notices that her potatoes are not cooking properly, so she wastes no time frying them. As 6 more minutes pass by, everyone notices that Machete has still not finished cooking his risotto. After the chefs eventually complete plating their dishes in the last few seconds, Gordon and Nyesha arrive in the kitchen to taste the preparations. Nyesha and Gordon first taste Connor’s dish and highly praise it because of its presentation and flavors. Although Gordon finds Machete’s scallops perfectly cooked, he and Nyesha note that the risotto is slightly underdone. Upon tasting Danielle’s preparation, Nyesha highly compliments the chef.
However, Gordon remarks that the dish’s garnish is quite messy, and the potatoes taste greasy. Lastly, the judges taste Matt’s dish, but unfortunately, Gordon notes that the sweet potatoes in the preparation aren’t unique and feel starchy. Nyesha also points out that, from her perspective, the scallops are slightly undercooked. Ultimately, Gordon announces that he wants to eliminate Danielle’s dish while Nyesha selects Matt’s for elimination. Consequently, Richard gives the deciding vote and eventually picks the one prepared by Matt. Nyesha promptly expresses that Matt’s joyful soul was welcomed in her team, and they will all miss him. In his exit interview, the chef admits that one can never be too old to chase their dreams. Matt further reveals that he did it entirely for his family and expresses gratitude for the opportunity. After he bids the team goodbye, Gordon announces that the next challenge for the contestants will be far harder than tonight’s service.
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