All language subtitles for Next.Level.Chef.S01E02.1080p.WEB.h264-BAE

Last time
on "next level chef"...

Gordon: You'll be cooking
one next level dish,

and we'll each choose
five of you

to mentor across
this competition.

Whoo! This is not like
cooking at home.

Gordon: My first pick,
that processed meat.

- Welcome to team nyesha.
- Welcome to team blais.

You guys are done for.
I've got my winner.

And tonight...

For today's challenge,
a next-level steak dinner.

- Whoo! Steak down.
- Was that a protein?

The best dish will keep
their entire team safe
from elimination.

Time to bring the heat.

Gordon:
Our bottom two dishes will go
head to head in elimination,

where one of you
will go home.

My reputation
is on the line as well.
I do not want to lose.

- Anything can happen...
- That is raw.

...And it's happening.

- This is not gonna break me.
- ( bleep )

( theme music playing )

wow, look at those new aprons.

Team ramsay,
are you guys ready to go?

- All: Yes, chef!
- I'm feeling so excited

because I'm on team ramsay.

This makes it, like, "offish."
like, y'all see my apron?

Team nyesha!
Five culinary assassins
looking their very best.

- You guys ready?
- All: Yes, chef.

Are we gonna bring it,
team blais?

- ( cheering )
- yeah!

Now, last week,
you all felt the heat

of those three
incredible kitchens.

But now you each
have an amazing mentor

to take you
through this competition.

Now, throughout the competition,

you all be tested
across all three levels.

Each team will be randomly
assigned a kitchen to cook in.

For each challenge,
we want you to prove

that you can create magic
in any environment,

even when the odds
are stacked against you.

Bottom line is, guys,
put your heart and your soul
into these dishes.

Because in this competition,
just like in real life,

you're only as good
as your last dish.

Listen to this because
it's incredibly important.

The chef who creates
the best dish in this challenge

will keep their entire team
safe from elimination.

- Ooh, please.
- Wow.

- And believe me,
you want to stay safe.
- Yes.

Because after the challenge,
two of you will be sent

into a head to head battle
to determine who's going home.

Reuel:
Time to bring the heat.

I want those other teams
to shake in fear.

I want them to feel that,
hey, chef ramsay's team

is going to be a problem.

Now, for today's challenge,
we're gonna start with something

a next-level chef
should be able to cook

in their sleep--
a perfect steak dinner.

Ooh.

Cooking the perfect steak
is an art.

Every single decision you make
can have huge consequences

or huge rewards.

I know how to cook steak.

In the first cooking challenge,
being picked last,

it just screws with you.
It is definitely redemption day.

There's lots of different
cuts of beef,

and the platform's gonna
be packed with all of them.

From the most expensive cut
down to the cheapest
pieces of meat,

a great chef can make something
special out of any of them

if you know
what to do with it.

So prove to us you're
a next-level chef

by knowing how to cook
whatever steak you end up with.

I'm thinking it's very doable.

We have two girls from texas.
I'm from the midwest.

Like, I'm planning
to save our entire team
with a winning dish.

I could literally
cook a steak with my eyes closed

and just know exactly
when to turn it.

When your time begins,
you'll grab one cut of beef

and whatever
other ingredients you need

to turn that into a next-level
steak dinner.

All: Yes, chef.

Nyesha:
We're all looking
for the best steak dish

from each one of these
individuals,

but at the end of the day,
I want to see my team win.

This is my competition
to fight for.

I expect all of you honestly

to level-up your dishes
from here on out.

And be prepared
for some surprises.

- Oh, no
- ae: Let's go!

There's gonna be a surprise
and it's not gonna be so fun.

But maybe it is.
You never know what
you're gonna get.

- Team blais.
- Yes, sir. Let's go!

It's time to find out what level
you're gonna be cooking on.

First, go grab a key card

and head on over
to the elevator.

I'm not grabbing it this time.

All right.

- ( beeps )
- let's go, guys!

- Bye!
- Bye!

I don't want the basement.

- Go back up, go back up.
- ( squeals )

- it's the basement, guys.
- Welcome to the dungeon.

- Dun-dun-dun.
- This is...

The bottom level is torture.

Come on, we got this.
We got this.

- Don't do it to me.
- No, it's a trick.
It's a trick.

They're going to
bring us back down.

- Yeah!
- Ooh!

- Top kitchen again!
- ( cheering )

yes, yes, yes, yes, yes!

This is my old station.

I'm back!

- Y'all had six burners?
- Basement was one thing.

If you give me the tools
for success, it's game on.

( muttering )

I'm not scared
of the basement.

I cooked that whole entire first
meal with a knife and a tong.

- Middle kitchen.
- Yes.

Yes, baby. I love it.

- We got it.
- We got this, girl.

Perfect.
I've seen a kitchen like this.

It's way better
than my home kitchen.

But I don't feel like
a stranger in a strange land.

If this is middle,
what does top look like?

- Insane.
- I'm so ready right now.

When the food gets down here,

you're gonna have
next to nothing.

I am pissed
that I am down here again.

I'm just gonna fly my dog
and my wife out here.

We're just gonna live
in the basement.

These burners have two speeds,

and it's zero
and ( bleep ) inferno.

I'm so mad
I'm here right now.

- All right, team blais.
Let's go.
- Aw, yeah!

I'm a home cook
from a town of 3,400.

And I really love getting
outside opinions,

especially from somebody so
experienced as richard blais.

I'm your mentor.
I want five people to be
the next level chef.

And we're chefs,
we're competitive.

We're competing
against each other as well.

- We got it.
- Gordon: Good luck, girl.

Thank you, chef. You, too.

- I'm gonna kick your ass.
- ( laughs )

what's up, team?
Let's go. Yes!

Yes! Yes! Yes.

I'm so excited
to be on chef nyesha's team.

She carries a lot
of confidence with her,

and so I'm hoping
to really learn a lot
from her in that sense.

- One, two, three!
- All: Winners!

Hi, chef!

- Let's go, come on!
- Yes!

- Man! We good?
Let's go. Right.
- Yes!

- This is time to shine.
State of the art kitchen.
- Yes.

- Hundred percent.
- We have to win this.

I do not want to lose against
nyesha and richard blais.

I want those judges downstairs
to be blown away by you five.

- Is that clear?
- Heard, chef!

Line up at the back.
The platform is on its way.

- We got this, y'all.
We got this.
- 30 seconds.

It's gonna go quick, okay?

Make sure you grab
all the ingredients you need

to make your stunning dish.

- Gordon: It's moving.
- It's moving.

When that turns green,
we're going.

Here we go. Let's go!

One perfect steak dinner.
Let's go.

Cream of the crop.

Only two--
only three potatoes.

Here's shallots?
Anyone need shallots?

- Rosemary!
- Lime!

Am I about to have
a heart attack?

I don't think I can feel
my nose. Is this a stroke?

- It's horrible.
- Oh, my god.

- Gordon: Go, go, go, go!
- We have curry!
We have mushrooms!

Woman: Does anyone see
a new york strip?

- New york strips right here.
- Thank you.

- Garlic?
- Rosemary.

- Do we need onions?
- Gordon: Five, four...

- Any garlic? Oh.
- Three, two...

- Does anyone see thyme?
- ...One, let go!

- Let go!
- I dropped a tomato.

Nyesha:
It's coming, guys. Go!

Pyet:
My eyes and my mind
cannot focus.

You kinda just start, like,
becoming panicked and frantic.

What are we getting?
Do we have starches?

- Ooh.
- Okay.

Last time, my steak
was cooked horribly.

So this is my chance
right here

to prove that the texan
can do beef.

Whoo! Damn it.

- Oh!
- Was that a steak?

A gift from the heavens!

( groans )

I have this beautiful
flat iron steak and I drop it.

- Steak down, steak down.
- And it goes straight down.

Okay, steak down,
steak down.

Nyesha:
Come on, amber.

The platform grab
is everything.

We can't just be throwing
products everywhere.

I'm looking
for the next level chef.

Three! Come on, guys!
We got it.

Time's up!
Grab your ingredients.

Only what you need.
Grab your ingredients.

Blais: Go! Go!

- Think clearly.
- ( muted chatter )

- ( bleep )
- the only thing that's
left is beef liver.

I don't even know
what to do with it.

Oh, that's right.
And I look underneath
and grab that steak.

Blais:
Whatever you can grab.

You only got a couple
seconds left, team blais.

Grab your last things.
You can grab it until goes.

Grab it until it goes.
There we go! There we go!

- Oh! Whoo!
- All right, team blais.

What happened up there
with that steak?

Thanks for the flat iron!

Meat gods,
I'd like to thank you.

I probably should
buy a lottery ticket.

Nyesha:
45 minute starts now.

Make sure that steak
is shining.

I cannot believe I did that.

That was a beautiful
piece of meat.

I'm horrified.
Like, girl, you're not
doing this again.

You are not screwing up
a steak challenge.

- Starting strong,
starting strong.
- Let's do it.

Let's show the rest
of these teams how it's done.

Come on, guys.
We got this. Let's go.

Let's do this, team ramsay!

- We wanna win, come on.
- Make sure you're breathing.

- I didn't grab any veg.
- What's wrong?

I didn't grab any veg.
I mean, I got my parsnip,
but I wanted--

- is that it?
- I know I could do better,

and I'm just not showing
how I'm talented.

I got here for a reason,

and I feel like
I'm disappointing myself.

I'm not doing
the best that I can,

so I'm frustrated
a little at myself.

I can do so much better.

I really need
to show chef ramsay

that I'm a solid draft pick.

You didn't go wrong.

What's wrong?

I'm not doing
the best that I can,

so I'm frustrated
a little at myself.

I'm here to help you.

We gotta get rid
of those nerves.

- I got to get rid of them.
- Okay?

I'm in my head,
and I need to go back
to my hands and my heart

and cook like I love cooking.

I need to figure it out
because I want to be here.

I want to be
the next level chef.

I don't have a lot of
ingredients,

but if my dad
had these ingredients,

he'd make a feast for everyone.

I want to kind of
tap in to my jamaican roots.

I'm doing a very light rub
on the wagyu.

- Head up, let's go.
- I'm doing this for
my little island.

Gordon:
Top floor kitchen today
for team ramsay,

and they've all got
an amazing cut of beef.

Fingers crossed
we'll get that dish today,

and that'll keep us
safe from elimination.

Nyesha:
How are we getting flavor
into those short ribs?

Number one, you gotta
cook a steak right.

That is gonna be
the last thing that happens

because it's gonna
be so quick.

- Being from texas?
- I mean, that hurt.

They're not gonna
let you back.

No, it really did.
It genuinely hurt.

I am amber from austin, texas,
and I am a home cook.

I am a quintessential
texas girl in many ways.

I am frequently an issue.
Hi, babies.

My favorite thing to do

is cook for my friends
and family.

I'll be honest,
when I serve a dish,

I'm always going for sex sounds.

That's my sort of litmus test
for how good the food is.

Their whole body slumps
and their head goes back
and they're just like--

they do that,
I'm like, "oh, yeah."

a year-long mentorship
with these chefs?

It would be life-changing.

I would be able to really cook
on a larger scale,

to start doing
some private cheffing

and touch more
hearts and tummies.

I still have time
to save myself.

Nyesha:
Amber needs to step up.

Last challenge,
amber's steak was overcooked,

but I think that
she has the potential

to go very far
in this competition.

The time is "cook faster."

cook with intention.

Richard: All right,
you're around 30 minutes,

a little less than,
okay, team?

Whoo! All right! Yeah!

My reputation
is on the line as well.

I do not want to lose, okay?

Oh, I got a plan.

Lord only knows
if it's gonna work.

Uh, you are a minimalist.

Last time, you only had
a couple of ingredients.

This time you have
maybe even less.

I have a flat iron.

Are you gonna wash it off
or something like that?

- I don't know.
- Yeah, I could wash it off.

Rosemary, ketchup,
and a shallot.

You chose these things.

Yeah, I'm gonna do
a barbeque sauce,

and I'm gonna
pickle this shallot.

I mean, you might as well
just pop open

- a can of beer down here.
- God, yeah.

- Okay, gary,
are you feeling it, gary?
- Oh, yeah!

Gary: Chef blais I've seen
on a million different shows.

I'm so excited
to work with him.

As a kid, I was always
attracted to fire.

- I loved fire.
- Whoo-hoo-hoo-hoo!

And I'm very loud
as a person.

"normal people scare me!"

and it's just funny,
'cause my mother would
always yell at me to,

"shut up!
You're being too loud."

now here I am, the loudest
( bleep ) on tiktok.

Wagyu brisket!

( bleep ) it up
with the rub!

Wrap it in some paper
and let it ride!

And I'm making money doing it.

I ( bleep ) love barbecue!

- Gary is feeling it
all of a sudden.
- All right, okay.

- All right, ae.
- Whoo!

All right,
we're back at it, right?

Okay, I got
some thin-sliced steak.

- By choice?
- No!

- Okay, all right. Right.
This is what was left.
- Bottom of the barrel.

- I'm going to finesse
a bulgogi beef situation.
- Okay.

Thin-sliced steak.
Buddha, help me.

That's what this is about.
We're in the basement.

- We're making it happen.
- Oh, my god, I'm stressed.

All my friends upstairs
I know got bold, delicious,
vibrant cuts of meat.

I'm feeling petty,
I'm feeling sad.

But I'm like,
"you know what?

This is not gonna break me.

I'm gonna maximize.
Whatever I gotta do."

- how is everyone feeling?
- Great, chef.

- Doing great, chef.
- You planning on plating
on time today, sergio?

- Oh, yeah.
I'll be ready for you.
- Yeah, you are. Let's go.

My man's awake today.

- How much time is left.
- Thyme is right here.

- No, time left in the game.
- Oh.

Nyesha:
I want my team to win
because I believe I chose

the right chefs
to bring it home.

And I want to nurture them
and see them grow

because that's the investment
I have in them.

And of course I want to beat
richard and gordon.

Let's be honest,
we got five of the best cuts.

Ooh, there we go.

This is it, guys.
We wanna win. Come on.

- Kenny, talk to me.
- I'm gonna go with a filet.

The rolls-royce.
What are you doing
with the eggs?

- Gnocchi. Yeah.
- A gnocchi?

A gnocchi's gonna be
a nightmare to get done.

Get that in early.
Let's go.

- Yes?
- Done deal.

Richard: Courtney,
this is redemption day.

Have you cooked
with a hanger steak before?

I've never cooked with
a hanger steak before.

The hanger steak's
a really special cut
of meat, actually.

There's only one per cow.

Ooh, I got a good cut of meat.

Somebody up above
didn't realize what this was

and I'm thankful that it made
its way to the basement.

I mean, the stakes are high,

and I want to do
my absolute best.

Because if I can save
the four other people around me,

I'm happy to do that.

Ooh. Why did I do that?
Nobody knows.

All right, mariah,
you're the first-round
draft pick.

- No pressure, no pressure.
- Oh, thanks, yeah.

I'm thinking
about doing a play, like,

instead of chicken and waffles,
cube steak and waffles.

- Cube steak,
that could be tricky.
- Yeah.

- Go with your instincts.
- Okay, will do, chef.
Thank you.

Come on. Top flight kitchen,
top flight dishes, yes?

- All: Yes, chef!
- All right, look at me,
all of you.

I told you there's a surprise.
What goes well with a steak?

Steaks need heat.

Nyesha:
We warned you about surprises.

- Let's go, let's go.
- Okay.

Oh, my god,
what is happening?

Why is that thing--
why is that thing coming down?

Richard:
Listen, you didn't think
we'd have just one

- platform drop, did you?
- Oh, no!

The platform is dropping.

You know what steak needs?
Steak needs some heat.

- It needs some spice.
- What in the hell is going on?

Like, we already
picked our item.

This is serious.
The fun has stopped.

- Why? Why?
- Oh, my gosh.

What's happening right now?
What is happening?

I told you there's a surprise.

What goes well with a steak?

- Chilis.
- Steaks need heat.

My team, we are strong.
We're super strong.

And I'm gonna test these chefs
in every way possible,

to really find out
who is that next level chef.

Each of you grab a chili

and infuse it across your dish.

You've gotta use it!
Let's go!

Ten seconds!

Devonnie: Basically, I think
it's a gift from the gods

because I know
what to do with this!

- Devonnie: Yes!
- We use a lot of pepper
in jamaican cuisine,

so I decide to grab
the habanero pepper.

Gordon:
Five, four...

I'm gonna pickle these,

add a nice little element
to my dish. Good.

Gordon:
...One, and go!

Well done! Chilis!
We need the heat.

Nyesha:
Let's get some chilis.

On the platform.
Go get your chilis.

- Okay. All right.
- Let's go, let's go, let's go.

A next level chef
knows how to adapt.

Anything can happen,
and it's happening.

So I grab what I think
are sichuan peppers.

They're diablo peppers,

which I've never used.

Steak needs some heat,
it needs some spice.

You have to grab a chili pepper.
You have to use it in your dish.

You can grab
as many as you want.

Huge curve ball. Ugh!

I already got this dish going.

- Ah!
- Oh! Oh!

- This isn't good.
- I thought it was
gonna be steak.

- ( laughing )
- but it wasn't.

- Aw, man, we're crushing it.
- Roice, tell me what you got.

So I got a tomahawk rib-eye.

- Man, how happy
are you right now?
- Pretty happy.

Did not grab
a starch in time,

so I'm gonna
create my own starch.

I'm gonna create a thyme
and brown butter cracker.

Smart.
I love the idea, roice,
of the biscuit, yeah?

- Thank you, chef.
- Love it.

I knew I forgot a starch.

But I can make
a brown butter cracker,

and I know
they're gonna die for that.

All the juices on that plate
are gonna get soaked

right up by that cracker.

What's it feel like
to have the rib cap

on the back of that
processed beef?

- Better than
potted meat, right?
- I'll say.

I'm gonna do a jerk rib cap
and an asparagus puree.

Dude, those hands are shaking.

What do you expect?
You're in front of me.

Closest I've been to you
is youtube, so...

You do not look like
a guy that shakes.
Come on, man!

Nothing to be
nervous about, reuel.

Gordon:
20 minutes to go.

Remember, two of you will be
cooking off in an elimination,

and I don't want it
to be anyone from my team.

We need to beat those
two kitchens downstairs, yes?

- Yes, chef.
- Yes, chef!

Come on. Let's go.

Nyesha:
Ten minutes, guys.

Cook with your gut.
Cook with intention.

We got flambé.
Okay, chef zachary.

Watch them eyebrows.
Let it-- just let it be.

- I only have
half eyebrows anyway.
- Just let it burn off.

Working like
lightning speed, girl.

We trying to make moves
happen over here.

Pyet: I am making
a pan-seared tri-tip steak

with ginger glaze, carrots,
and sautéed bok choy.

I'm cleaning my bok choy now,
trimming it,

letting it kinda air dry.
I'm gonna sauté it at the end.

- Nyesha: Where are you from?
- I'm from kansas city,
but I live in la now.

- Oh, so you're familiar
with tri-tip.
- Yeah, yeah, yeah.

I mean, I don't
cook it very often,

but I think I know what
I'm gonna do with this.

- Okay, good.
- My name is pyet.

I'm from kansas city.

I'm a social media chef

and I am native american.

I grew up on a reservation
most of my childhood.

I moved to los angeles
to follow my dreams

of being a big-time chef

and wasn't making
a lot of money.

I couldn't even pay rent,
so I was living out of my car.

I was at my lowest low
trying to figure out
why I'm doing this.

It all was circling around
bringing pride to my people,

and, like, how can
I do that through food?

And I started focusing on that.

That's when things
really started to turn
around for me.

When I win
the next level chef
competition,

I plan on using the money

to open up a few pop-up
restaurants

where I'm able to cook
and showcase

native american food
to the public.

I also want to buy a new car.

( laughs )

in case I have
to live in it again.

It'll be nice and big.

Oh, yeah.
That's that sear I want.

Oh, I love that sizzle! Whoo!

- Is that a roux?
- It is a roux.

Gonna make a little béchamel.

I'm going to do
a seared top round

with a swiss chard gratin.

A top round's probably
a little tough.

Yeah, I'm worried
about the top round myself.

The thing you have to be
careful about

is that it can be tough, right?

The other teams are up there
cooking with wagyu beef,

so you have to take this
top round to the next level.

I'm incredibly nervous
about this cut of meat.

I've cooked it before.
It was not great.

With this competition,
there comes a lot
of self-doubt.

You know,
"do I belong here?"

I'm a home cook
from a town of 3,400.

It is a heavy weight
to prove myself.

Remember, we're the first
floor that plates.

Nyesha:
Make sure there's balance
between the protein

and the starch.
Make sure there's balance.

Produce a little more.

- Two minutes, guys.
Start plating.
- Heard.

Woman: Heard, chef.

Amber, put your plate down
so you can plate on it.

Bring the food--
it's not funny.

No, I'm sorry, you're right.
Yes, chef.

Last two minutes.
Here we go.

Oh, my god.
My hands are shaking so bad.

Let's go, team blais.
Your platform is here
and you've got 15 seconds.

You have 15 seconds!

- Eight, seven, six, five.
- Oh, that looks good.

Did you get everything on there?

- Yes.
- Three, two, one.

- Good job, everybody.
- ( cheering )

- yeah!
- Yes! Whoo!

Platform's coming.
Let's go, let's go!

Look at that valet service.
Valet!

You know how good it feels
to not have to jump this time?

- Let's go! Exactly, let's go!
- That's right, baby.

- Let's go, let's go.
- Whoo!

Gordon: Come on.
Come on, come on.

We have got to plate, guys.

- Five, four, three...
- There we go.

...Two, one, and go.

- And, yo, we're done!
- Well done! Well done.

- Good work.
- Oh, ( bleep ). Biscuits.

Oh, no. My four biscuits
are still there.

I forgot to plate them.
I'm gutted.

I have the absolute best
kitchen to cook in,

and I made another mistake.

I forgot another thing
for my dish.

Roice, don't do this to me.
What's wrong with you?

I didn't choose you for that.
Smarten up.

I'm looking
for the next level chef.

Now, each of us
have no idea who cooked what
on the other kitchens.

Yes, we each want
our team to win,

but the integrity of the dishes
are always the first priority.

We'll be basing all our
decisions purely on taste,

presentation,
and how you conceptualized
that next-level steak.

Richard:
The top dish of the day

will get safety
for their entire team.

The two losing teams
will then have to send someone

into the elimination cook-off.

Each one of us mentors

wants to have the best dish,

or else we're gonna have to
put someone in the elimination.

Right, shall we start?

- Nyesha, with the top level?
- Yes, chef.

- Okay.
- This is the rib cap.

Is that a chive bundle
around that asparagus?

- Yeah. Yeah.
- The asparagus is peeled?

That rib cap
is cooked beautifully.

Potatoes, asparagus--
it's a very cohesive dish.

There's an elegant chili
on my palate.

Second dish.
New york strip.

As always, the essence,
in my mind, is the cook.

- Absolutely.
- How did that go?

- Steak challenge.
- Oh, no, no.

- Look at that.
- Stunning.

To me, this
is perfectly cooked.

Stop doubting yourself.

So, this is a filet mignon,
the rolls-royce cut.

- Homemade gnocchi.
- You made gnocchi?

Slightly under.

- Gnocchi's beautiful.
- Soft, pillowy.

Nice riff on steak
and potatoes.

- A rib-eye.
- Artfully plated.

The onion really
wakes this dish up.

- It's sweet, it's spicy.
- That's good.

And then, finally, tomahawk.

So, this individual decided to
make the most amazing cracker

- but forgot to put them on.
- Bummer.

This would have been
a huge selling point
in our choice.

Oh, no.
I don't want to go home.

Hopefully that tomahawk
was good enough.

- I'm just super stressed.
- Next up, mid floor.

Tri-tip.

- That cook.
- Whoo.

The actual cook
is absolutely perfect,

and a tough protein
to get right.

You have nice crust on this.
It's rested.

Gordon: But the bok choy
doesn't make sense.

You can't put that on raw.

Whoever cooked this,
this stuff is horrible raw.

Pyet: Dagger in the stomach.

I walked into this challenge
feeling extremely confident.

And, like, what was I thinking
when I grabbed that bok choy?

- Next one?
- This is the flank steak.

- It's cooked beautifully.
- It's gorgeous.

Yeah, it's got this
rustic charm, this dish.

- This is someone who cooked
a lot of red meat before.
- Flavor.

- The seasoning's on point.
- Absolutely.

The one thing it needs for me
is the heat.

- I can't taste the chili.
- Next one, skirt steak.

Unfortunately, inside
it's actually raw

because it's a solid mass.

Very hard to swallow.

- Next one?
- This is a top round, yes.

- Plating looks
a little bit dated.
- Yes, very dated.

Clearly the elevator
also stops in 1984.

So, whoever cooked this,
I don't know if you're
a social media star,

a home cook,
or a restaurant chef,

I don't give a ( bleep )

because that right there
is cooked beautifully.

There's love on that plate.

- The final dish?
- Final dish,
we have a short rib.

This person grabbed
three ingredients--

petit onion, sweet potato,
and short rib,

and sesame seeds as a garnish.

And those sesame seeds,
they look like birdseed

at the bottom
of my granddad's cage
for his parrot.

- Wow.
- My grandmother,
as a korean immigrant,

would be ashamed to see
any sort of sesame not toasted.

They just seem
like an afterthought.

- There's no seasoning
on there whatsoever.
- Zero.

I'd love to taste a little bit
of more chili throughout this.

To cook a bad steak twice?
It brings shame on me.

I know that my friends and
family love me no matter what,

but every other texan is gonna
be sending me hate mail.

- Shall we?
Basement, richard, please?
- Yep.

Richard: I'm excited
for gordon and nyesha

to taste my team's food.

They may not have had the best
ingredients or equipment,

but I think their tastes
are gonna shine through.

This is a flat iron steak
that fell from the sky
into this kitchen.

- What? What?
- Yes.

- You dropped it.
- Mm-hmm. Shh. Shh.

Did any other vegetables
fall from the ceiling?

No, but, thank goodness
that these hatch chilies

did arrive
in the mid-round drop.

- Shall we?
- Yes.

There was no seasoning
on that meat.

And the barbecue sauce
is a little too sweet.

Brutal. Brutal.

I'm really feeling
like I need a drink.

All right, next up,
a korean barbecue inspired dish.

- Bulgogi chopped beef.
- Is this chili meant to be
a garnish or eaten?

That was hidden in there
purposefully undercover

- for one of those--
- sabotage.

Well, the actual beef
is delicious.

I want to get that inside
a little lettuce cup

- and do a wrap.
- So much flavor in there.

It's good.
Is that a waffle?

It's chicken-fried cube steak
and waffles.

- Basement kitchen.
- Kudos, whoever done that.

Um, and the steak,
to get one of the cheapest,

the kind of cut that my mum
would serve us

every Friday or Saturday night,
it takes me home.

Very, very inventive.

A hanger steak with
a carrot top chimichurri.

So, steak is just
on the raw side.

When you have that white fat,
that is so solid.

- Never had a chance to render.
- That, unfortunately, is raw.

What a shame.

- Oh.
- ( bleep )

- what a shame. It's just raw.
- It's undercooked.

- What a shame.
- I'm extremely
disappointed in myself.

I know how to cook a steak.

"you screwed
this ( bleep ) up again."

top round steak
with a swiss chard gratin.

I can't believe
that this dish comes
from the basement.

It's a piece of art.
The color on the panko
breadcrumbs.

- Gorgeous.
- Is there anything more

inviting than
buttery breadcrumbs?

What?

- Gratin are exceptional.
- Delicious.

This is exactly what this
competition is here to prove--

that an excellent chef
can make magic

no matter what level
they're on.

Nyesha:
Just a beautiful burst of chili.

It is a pleasant sort of
burn there in the end.

- What?
- Amazing.

Jonathan:
When there are titans
of industry trying your food

telling you how well you did,
it's the ultimate validation.

And sometimes you feel-- whew.

Sorry.

I'm so proud of you.

All of you,
please give us a moment.

I'm just sweating.
I know I'm going to be
in the elimination challenge.

This is tough.
Very tough.

What a shame
with that tomahawk,

by the way, those crackers.

Top floor kitchen,
there's some beauties there.

That rib cap.
I know he's on my team,
but that's beside the point.

- That's the best dish today.
- Very impressed with that.

The utilization of herbs,
it was very elegant.

I mean, I think
the swiss chard gratin

is one of my favorite things
of the whole day.

The fact that it
was cooked in the basement?

That looks like a top level--

- yeah.
- Absolutely.

- It tasted like a top level.
- Absolutely.

For me, my top two,
definitely the rib cap

- and definitely the gratin.
- Definitely rib cap.

That's no question for me.

Let's go.

There is one dish
that we felt hit all
the right notes.

Congratulations...

Reuel.

- Yeah.
- ( cheering )

- love you.
- You saved my ass, man.

So much confidence
in this dish.

Reuel, this looks like it comes
from a top level restaurant.

If I went to any michelin
restaurant and received this,
I would not be mad.

I put my soul on that plate.

This is all validation
to this point.

I'm here to bring food
that slaps.

Team ramsay,
you're safe from elimination.

All five of you, well done.

I love you, reuel!
You're the best!

Seriously? Gordon wins
the first round?

I mean, his team
was on the top level.

Look out, gordon.
Look out, nyesha.

We're coming for you.

Nyesha and richard,

both of you had to chose
one member from your teams

to go into that
head to head cook-off.

Nyesha,
who are you sending in?

My choice is...

Who are you sending into
that head to head cook-off?

Nyesha:
This person has an amazing
amount of potential,

but I can only
take them so far.

It's up to them to perform.

This cook-off might be
just what this person needs

to bring the intensity
and work under pressure.

Amber.

There's a lot of missing steps

in between the conception
of the dish

and the execution of the cook.

I cannot go home
on a steak challenge.

Steak twice in a row,
as a texan, it's--

it's my favorite food.

It's what I do best.

I'm in shock and disbelief.

Richard, tough decision.

Who are you sending into
the head to head cook-off?

Richard:
We don't want to send anyone
home, but this is tough.

Someone has to go
to the elimination.

Courtney, she hasn't showed up
two plates in a row now.

Gary isn't grabbing
ingredients.

I don't know if he's kind of
in the game, so to speak.

It's a tough decision.

My heart is pounding
at this point.

My hands are like clams.

I have never had clammy hands
in my life ever.

I will send in a chef
who I know has got
some big flavors.

- It's me.
- No, it's me.

It's me. My heart.
My heart is just beating.

My dish has not been
the best dish twice now.

Gary.

You grabbed only three
ingredients today.

I'd like to see a little bit
more cohesion in your dish.

But most importantly,
I think you're gonna grow
from this experience,

and I think you can
take amber down.

Okay. What?

These mentors
are not playing.

Everybody except amber and gary
head to the elevator.

I'll see you on the top floor.

- You got it.
- You got this.

- Cook from your heart.
- You know how to cook. Cook.

- Good luck, good luck.
- Cook.

Each of you struggled earlier
in your attempts

to get your steak
to the next level.

So let's see what you can do
with a feature ingredient

that goes hand in hand
with steak,

and that's wine.

Both of you
will have 30 minutes

to cook one amazing
wine inspired dish.

This is not a position
I really wanted to be in.

Gary needs to cook perfectly.

Team blais has to win here.

Amber, I believe in her.

I want to prove that I have
a good eye for raw talent.

I know she can do it.

We want to give you every
possible chance for survival,

so the platform's
going to remain on the floor
for the entire cook.

- Thank you.
- Yeah.

This elimination,
I'll be with you
during the cook.

Richard and nyesha will join us
after you've finished cooking.

They will taste blindly,
then decide whose dish is best.

- Yes, chef.
- Yes, chef.

Both of you,
head to the elevator.

Next-level dish,
top floor kitchen.

Gary:
I don't really know
much about amber,

but it's me or her,
at this point,

and I want to send her home
'cause I want to stay here

and I want to be
the next level chef.

Amber:
I wouldn't be here
if I couldn't win this.

I'm just telling myself,
"I don't care what happens.

You do not walk out of here
leaving, period."

holy ( bleep ).

- Yeah. Mm-hmm.
- That's a kitchen.

You get into the upstairs
and it's like you just walked
into a ferrari dealership.

This is great.

Right, if there's ever a time
for a next-level dish,

it's right now.
There's a lot at stake.

Your 30 minutes start...

...Now.

Let's go, guys. Off we go.

One wine-inspired dish.

If it's a white wine/red wine
reduction, get the wine on.

Y'all got this,
y'all got this.

Do what you know,
and do it well.

Gary: First thing I grab
is the pork tenderloin.

I love cooking
with pork at home.

It's one of my staples
in barbecue,

and I feel comfortable
working with it.

Okay, good.
Chicken breast.

Amber:
Chicken really gets people.

If you undercook it,
you're going to the hospital.

If you overcook it, you're
having an unpleasant meal.

So it's a pretty big risk.

- Nice pans.
- All right, come on, come on.
Come on, come on, come on.

Why pork tenderloin
on a night like tonight?

Very little fat
and an absolute nightmare
to get right.

- Tell me about it.
- I'm gonna grill it
in medallions.

So, grilled medallions
of pork with what?

Garlic and white wine sauce.

That's good.
Think about it visually, okay?

Elevate that thing.
22 minutes to go.

- Watch that reduction.
Good luck.
- Thank you, chef.

Right, tell me,
how you feeling?

Chaotic, but I have got
a lemon butter white wine sauce
that I like doing.

Gotcha. And how are you
going to elevate--

there's also some
white wine in that rice.

Okay, cook that nice and slow

so you don't boil
that rice, okay?

- Okay.
- There you go. Good.

- Whoo!
- Oh, no, no.

- Whoo!
- Put it down, put it down.

- Put it down. Let it burn.
- All right.

What it's like cooking
with gordon ramsay

is probably what it's like
playing basketball

- with michael jordan.
- That's it.

You are out on the court
with the top of the top.

You want to impress them,
but more than anything,

you just don't want
to screw up.

- 18 minutes to go, yes?
- Thank you, chef.

- Good job, gary.
- Okay, all right.
On the bias, beautiful.

Let's start thinking
about those potatoes
and brussels sprouts.

- Excuse me.
- Go.

Gary:
There's a lot going on.

I'm not used to
this environment.

It's hectic, it's chaotic,
it's intimidating.

Gary, you got this.
You know what you're doing.

It makes you sweat.

( bleep )

I just burnt the sauce.

- I scorched it.
- It's all right,
it's all right.

- Breathe, gary, breathe.
- You got it.

It's a crucial part of the dish.
It has to be there to actually
make this dish work.

- You good. Take a breath.
- This the last thing I need

when I only have 30 minutes
to make this dish.

( bleep )

( bleep )
I just burnt the sauce.

( bleep )

- what happened?
- I burnt the sauce.

- How'd you burn it?
- I wasn't monitoring it.

Come on, come on, come on.
You still got 15 minutes to go.

So now I start over.
It's a pretty simple sauce.
Just start it over.

Pyet: Why are you using
a paring knife to do that?

Girl, I don't know.

There you go.
Cook like a chef, baby.

Five minutes to go.

Amber:
What I'm concerned about

with my dish is the chicken.

This is not cooking at all.

Heat's-- I'm gonna take it
last minute.

Last minute.
It's not going quick enough.

I am shaking in my boots.

Gordon:
Sixty seconds to go.

Everything you put
on that plate now

is worth a quarter
million dollars, come on!

Next level, I told you.
Let's go!

It's gorgeous.

Get your sauce on there, man!

- Your sauce, gary!
- Taste it!

- Okay, awesome.
- Good job, gary.

All:
Ten, nine, eight, seven...

Six, five, four,
three, two, one.

- Gordon: And stop.
- Great job, guys!

( cheers and applause )

great job.

Thank you. Thank you, chef.

That's the best dish ever.

( laughter )

it just hit me.

This is a confidence I haven't
experienced here yet.

I know this is a good dish,

and, quite frankly,
I would like to eat it.

Gordon:
Right, both of you, well done.

Now I'm going to ask you
that you do not reveal
who cooked what dish

because richard and nyesha
are tasting these blind.

Super, super professional,
is that clear?

Yes, chef.

Gary:
I'm pretty confident
in what I made.

I made a sauce that I love.

Meat is my wheelhouse.

I think I nailed this dish.

Nyesha, richard,
two incredible dishes.

One's a pork tenderloin
with sprouts, potatoes.

And the other one
is a chicken breast
with rice, broccolini.

Both used white wine
across their dishes--
the hero of the dish.

Nyesha:
It's very challenging
to send one of your own in

because they're all
kind of like my babies.

But at the end of the day,

I'm looking
for the next level chef.

Gordon:
We'll start with the chicken.

You have to be insane
to cook chicken breast
in a moment like this.

'cause if you undercook it,
you're gonna get destroyed.

If you overcook it,
it's gonna be dry.

It was cooked just right.

But I would have loved to see
a little bit more punch.

- Interesting.
- I want some modern flavor,
a little bit of spice.

Butter sauce, delicious.

I definitely get a pronounced
wine flavor.

If anything, I would say
a little salt to elevate it,

take it on-- on a journey.

Let's move to the pork, please.

I'm not reading wine.

The pork is seasoned well.
The dish is cohesive.

Richard:
I'm picking up the wine.
I get the acidity.

My knock on this dish
is where's the personality?

This is a moment where you
gotta let us know who you are.

This is the moment.
But two tasty dishes.

Nyesha, the winning dish,
in your mind?

This is brutal, but ultimately,

I'm going to pick the dish
that is the tastiest,

and I hope it's amber's.

The winning dish for me is...

...The chicken.

If this goes to a tie,
I'm going to have to break that.

Richard blais,
is it the pork or is it
the chicken?

It all comes down to me.
This is not--

of course, I'd like
my team to advance.

I don't know
whose dish is who.

I just have to pick the dish
that I preferred here.

I hope that's gary's dish.

The winning dish...

...The chicken.

Congratulations, amber.

Oh! Oh, my gosh!

I am so grateful
that I'm still on my journey.

I know that it's
by the skin of my teeth.

This is not cooking at home.

What's good enough for home
is not good enough for here,

and I have got to level up.

Gordon:
Which means, gary,

unfortunately you will not be
the next level chef.

But, young man, I don't think
we've seen the last of you.

It definitely sucks that
it's me to go home first.

Second one, fine.
First one, no.

But this is not the last
you're gonna hear from me.

- Good job, gary.
- Good job.

- I'm just getting started.
- Bye, gary.

- Tough.
- Very difficult.

Richard:
Team trailblaisers,

we lose our first player
in the game.

I got four players left,

but they're
four dynamite chefs,

great stories,
lots of personality,

and even more importantly,
delicious food.

If you thought this was tough,

wait till you see us
next time.

Cook knowing that it could
be your last time.

Listen to your mentors.
We want the best. Good night.

- Good night.
- Night, chefs.

- Thank you, chefs.
- Thank you.

- Amber, you killed it.
- Girl!

Y'all, I'm grateful
to all of you.

Gordon: Next time
on "next level chef"...

Your main challenge for today
is devoted to Italy.

- Let's go.
- I make money with meatballs.
I'm in this to win it.

I grabbed the lobster.

I have never cooked
a live lobster.

I'm making rookie mistakes.
Oh, my god. Come on.

Courtney:
Jonathan is a hot mess.

Jonathan: We have to
completely start over.

( bleep ) I could be in
the bottom two today.

What's happening right now?

Chef ramsay is always like,
"expect surprises."

okay, but can't they
be good ones?

- Oh, my god.
- Ahh!