All language subtitles for Next.Level.Chef.S02E13.720p.WEB.h264-BAE

- Previously on
"next level chef"...

- Go, go, go!
- Today you won't be cooking

A winning dish,
you'll be baking it.

The winner of the time token
is...

Omi.
[applause]

Great job.

- Ah!

- I'm going to eliminate
the benedict

With the crispy shrimp.

- That dish was cooked
by michelle.

- And it's been
a real dream come true for me.

[dramatic music]

- We are down
to the final six.

- The semifinals are right
within my grasp, baby.

- For today's challenge,
you'll need to reimagine

An old favorite, surf and turf.

Touch that again.
- Yeah.

- That's raw,
not even rare yet.

- I don't know what I'm doing.
- [bleep].

[knives shinging]

[dramatic rock music]

[elevator dings]

♪ ♪

[timer ringing]

♪ ♪

[dramatic music]

♪ ♪

There we are.
Just look at the determination

On their faces, honestly.

How we feeling?
Chefs: Good, chef.

- Welcome back.

We started this competition
with 18 talented chefs

From all around the country,

And now we are down
to the final six.

- The semifinals are right
within my grasp, baby.

This path has been wrought
with self-doubt

And a lot of mistakes.

To make it this far
in this competition,

This means a lot.

- Chris, you finally, finally
have earned your spot

On that top level today.

What is it gonna take
to win this thing?

- It's gonna take
me pushing myself

Beyond my capabilities

And just letting everyone know
that I will not go quietly.

- Okay.
- Nuri.

- Yes, chef.

- Three straight
elimination cook-offs.

Dude,
you're still standing tall.

- Yes, chef.
Today is the day

To get chef stretch out
of that basement.

I'm gonna bring it.

I don't even wanna look
at the basement anymore.

I'm over the basement.

- Tucker,
you're my last chef standing.

Come here.
Do you have any idea

How important this is for me?
Come here.

You're not going anywhere,
okay?

I hugged chef ramsay today.

Like, is this real?

You know, I've looked up to him
for a really long time.

I have the utmost respect
for him,

So don't screw it up,
essentially.

- Now taking something familiar
and elevating it

Into something fresh
and exciting

Is what makes
a next level chef.

For today's challenge,

You'll need to reimagine
an old favorite,

Surf and turf.

- I hear surf and turf,
and I'm like, "let's go,"

And then it hits me.
I'm like... [clicks tongue]

"you're in the basement.
You better start thinking

"of some low-end seafood, man,

'cause that's what
you're getting."

- We're looking
for new pairings

That will wow us with flavor
and great presentation.

Understood?
Chefs: Yes, chef.

- As you know, we have
a little bit of business

To attend to.

Omi.
- Yes, chef.

- Your dish
in the last challenge

Earned you the final time token
of the season.

Are you going to take

The time advantage
for yourself,

Or are you going
to take away time

From any competitor
on any floor?

[tense music]

- I have been pretty banged up
on that platform,

Got the scars to prove it.

I could really use ten seconds
for me

By taking ten seconds away...

♪ ♪

From chris.

- [exhales]

[dramatic music]

- I did not see that coming,

But I absolutely love
your competitive edge.

This isn't about
being nice anymore.

When the platform comes down,

Omi, you'll head
to the platform first.

And ten seconds later,
I'll let you go, chris.

- Doesn't make any difference
to me.

And whatever I get, I'm gonna
make something good from it.

I'm gonna stay
in that top level kitchen.

It's a competition.
I expect nothing less.

Plus, we all know omi.

That token's a little cursed.

- The winner of the time token
is nuri.

- [gasps] let's go!

- With ten seconds
up your sleeve tonight,

We were all expecting
fireworks.

Pilar.

[applause]

- [grunts]

[bleep]!

- Michelle. Well done.

Take care, michelle.

♪ ♪

- So I'm not worried about me.

I'm worried about you, girl.

- Okay, listen. As you know,

Where you cook is determined
by how you cook,

And based
on the last challenge,

Omi, chris, you're gonna start
at the top.

- Mehreen and nuri,

Time to get comfortable
in the basement.

- Obviously, that means,
pilar, tucker,

You've both earned a place
in that middle level kitchen.

I am ready
for some fireworks today.

- Okay, chris and omi,

Both of you head
to the elevator,

And I'll meet you there.

- Let's go, omi.

- That's gonna be
an awkward elevator ride.

- Wow.

[upbeat rock music]

- I know that people were
probably not expecting that,

But I'm
a very tough competitor,

And I'm not sorry about that.

I don't know why anybody thinks
they can play with me.

- I deserve to be at the top.
- Ooh.

- And honestly, I'm going

To rock the walls
in this kitchen.

Uh.
- Ooh la loo.

- God, just two stations?

It's so lonely.

- [exhales]

- All the way to the top.
- That's where we're going.

- Let's go.

Two pro chefs up in here, so...

[laughs]
- aah.

- I think we're both hoping
to climb to the top today.

Girl power on the middle level.

- Feels good to be here.

- Facts.

- Both nuri and I know

That this cook will make
or break our spot

In this competition.

- Let's get out this damn
basement once and for all.

Baby, let's go.

I have cooked
in the elimination challenge

Three times straight,

So everything in my mind
is "get out of the basement."

For me, it's a lot of pressure
on my shoulders today.

- Good luck.
- Yeah.

- Good luck.
- Good luck, good luck.

Let's go!

What's the plan today?

- Grab the best protein,
elevate it,

And get my ass out
of this basement today, chef.

- Whatever seafood
and protein I get,

Making sure
that there's something

That ties them both together.

- It's your interpretation

Of a land animal
and a sea animal.

[suspenseful music]

[elevator dings]

- Right. Let's go.

How you feeling?
- Good, chef.

- Good. How you feeling, pilar?
- Good, chef.

- Okay, it's gonna be
a very tough grab, this.

What's the dream ingredient?
What are you looking for?

- Hanger.
- Interesting.

- Octopus.

- Do not grab a mistake.

♪ ♪

- Top level for a reason,
right?

- Amen, chef.
- All right, let's line it up.

It's go time already,
all right?

[hydraulics whirring]

When the light goes green, omi,
you're gonna go first,

And then I'll count you in
when it's time

For you to go, chris, okay?
- Yes, chef.

All right, go!

- I have those first
ten seconds to myself,

And I wanna utilize them
wisely.

- What do you got?
What do we got up there?

Amazing scallops.

- So I see the scallop.

- Five...
- I see that rib eye.

I grab it all, and I'm really
happy with my choices.

- Go ahead, chris. Go.
- Despite the fact

That I only have 20 seconds
at this platform...

Whoop--[bleep].

I swipe prawns.

And all of a sudden,
they all fall off the plate

Because I'm rushing.

I saw the lamb.

Oh, baby.

We can make something beautiful
out of this.

- Gimme the shrimp.

You need more?
- Garlic, garlic.

- [sighs] one. Okay, three.
Grab it.

If you can grab it,
you can grab it.

- Standby, guys.
Two, one, and go, guys.

Let's go.

Pick smart, pick smart.

- I see this new york strip.

That is definitely
the turf I want,

So I'm like, "boop,
this is mine."

And I'm looking at what surf
will go well with this,

And I see some squid.

- Grab, grab, grab.
Octopus, rib cap, okay, good.

- I grab octopus, and then
I see rib cap, I grab it.

I'm just like, "oh, god.

I've never cooked this before."

But I didn't come here
to play it safe.

- Three, two, one.

It's going. Well done.

Well done.
[claps]

- Here it comes. Let's go!

- When I see that light
turn green, it's go,

Like a frickin' dog
in its cage.

I'm like, "I'm going."

I see the venison.

I grab the oysters,
but not my cup of tea.

- Grab ingredients
that are gonna elevate

These dishes, okay?

- I'm trying to grab whatever
is familiar to me.

Luckily, I find a veal chop
and tuna.

I'm not really sure what's
gonna combine them together,

But I had no other choice.

I'm in the bottom kitchen.

- Five, four, three, two, one.

Let's go, let's go, let's go.

Back to your station.

40 minutes starts now.
Let's go!

Mehreen.
- Hello, chef.

- What a grab.
Tuna and veal.

You know that's
a classic pairing, right?

- I actually did not know that,
but that comforts me.

- So with the classic dish--

It's called a vitello tonnato--

Generally the tuna's used
as a sauce.

- All I can think of
is just like

A goopy, pink, cooked tuna.

It sounds disgusting,

So I'm definitely
not making that.

I've never cooked
a veal chop before,

But I'm assuming it's similar
to a lamb chop,

Just much bigger.

- Think about transforming
these ingredients, right?

- Right.
- That's really important.

The surf and the turf are
the star of the plate, right?

- Gotcha.
- The rest are just

A supporting ingredient.
- Okay.

Thank you, chef.

- Nuri.
- Yes, chef.

- Have you ever cooked
venison before?

- No, chef. I have not.
- Okay, so you need

To grab ingredients
that you know

You can bring to life, right?
- Yes, chef.

Being in the basement,
you don't get first pick

At ingredients or second pick.

You get the last, depleted,
least-wanted ingredients.

- How are you incorporating
venison and oyster?

- Um... I'm still bringing it
to life, chef,

But today, I'ma bring it.

I'm a little nervous.

I'm second-guessing myself.

I don't know which way
I'm gonna go with it.

- Don't overthink it.
Focus on one thing first, okay?

- Yes, chef.
I do not wanna go

Into another elimination

Because my luck might not be
so good on the fourth time.

- Think about how these plates
are gonna look, yes?

Yes?

- Think about how
this is gonna eat, right?

- Yes, chef.
- That raw oyster might not

Be so--
- I need to cook that.

- What's your plan?
- I'm gonna do venison

And fry the oyster, chef.

- Make it make sense, right?
- Yes, chef.

I'ma bring it.
I'ma bring it, chef.

I have to just bring it
all together

To make sure this dish
is cohesive.

- It's a rough day
in the basement.

I have two chefs
that are cooking

With proteins that they've
never cooked before.

Mehreen never cooked veal
before,

And nuri is cooking scared
right now.

It's challenging, right,
making a next level dish

With not next level equipment.

Man. [sighs]

[tense music]

- 10 minutes gone,
30 minutes to go.

Tucker, what'd you grab?

- I have a strip, some squid.

- How are we gonna get
this squid involved?

- Crispy, salt and pepper.

- Yeah, good.
- For sure. Classic italian.

I've never paired
these things together,

The new york strip
and the crispy squid,

So we'll see how this goes.

What can I use as acid
on this plate, chef?

- So no acid will bring
a little bit of heat,

Like a little touch
of chili flake or--

- There's some chili flake
in here, chef.

- Okay, there you go.
- Seafood needs acid,

So I'm just honestly
pullin' things

Out of the box at this point,

Just hoping that I can make
this happen.

- Right, pilar.

Rib cap, octopus.

That was the wish list, right?
- Yes, it is.

- Two of the most
sought-after proteins

But, let's be honest, two
of the most difficult to nail.

Where are we going?
How are we gonna elevate this?

- Um, I'm gonna marinate
this right now.

- Good.
- Not sure what I'm gonna do

With this yet, but I'm just
gonna keep moving as I go.

Octopus usually cooks
for a long time,

And I don't have a long time,

So it definitely adds a level
of stress.

- Have you cooked
with much rib cap?

- Um, not much with rib cap,
chef.

- No? It's the dream cut, yeah?
- Yes, chef, heard.

- How does it feel being back
together in this same kitchen?

What does it say about you two?

- These women chefs
in the industry,

We're pushin',
and you have to keep fighting.

You have to just
keep being better

Than everybody else.
You have no choice.

It's not about earning
the respect

When you're a woman.

You just have
to demand the respect.

- Top six.
I'm feeling this--

This raw--this hunger.

- I've been fighting
the whole way.

I've always had my eye
on the prize, chef.

I got a baby girl
to make her proud.

- Keep that in mind, okay?
- Yep.

- Hey, very best of luck.
- Thank you, chef.

- Pilar grabbed two
of the most difficult proteins

On the planet:
Rib cap and octopus.

I'm just hoping
she can execute them.

They are the chef's dream,
but...

Fish is in her wheelhouse,
rib cap is not,

So she's a little bit panicked
at the moment.

And how do you cook an octopus
in 40 minutes?

- You go the choice pick,
though, huh?

You got these three massive
diver scallops,

Just absolutely gorgeous.
- They're beautiful.

They're stunning.
- Yeah.

- I've been making
puerto rico proud

Since I've been here.
- Yes, you have.

- And now it's time

To make new England proud.

I'm from rhode island.

I wanna make
new England clam chowder.

We all know it and love it,

And because I wanna
elevate it,

I'm making it with scallops.

The turf is my rolled rib eye.

I wanna make sure
that I stick to the flavors

Of new England, but of course
through that omi-fied version.

- Okay.
- So it's gonna have--

- Did you say "omi-fied"?
- Omi-fied.

- I love omi-fied.
- [laughs]

- I love that you got
your own catchphrase already.

- Wow, she's already doing it.
I love it.

- Fantastic.
- I love it. I love it.

- All right, so, chris,

You were really confident
that you didn't need

The ten seconds.
- Yup.

- How do you feel now?

- Look, I could've used
the extra ten seconds for sure,

But I've put myself
in worse situations, chef.

- The surf part is prawns.
- It's gonna be prawns.

We're gonna do a cornstarch fry
of these guys.

- Okay, got it. And then lamb?

- This lamb, yeah,
and bone marrows.

Lamb and shrimp?

This is going to be the new new

For surf and turf.

- Not a combination
you see a lot of.

- I'm going for honestly
taking risks here, chef.

I have to.
- Okay.

- They're gonna see this,

And they're gonna be like,

"I don't know why I like this,

But I really like this."

And that is what we are trying
to do here.

All right, chris.
All right, omi.

It's time for that--
both: Mid-round mayhem.

- You know it, baby.
- And listen.

Today's mid-round mayhem is
one of my favorite vegetables

Of all time: Carrots!

Chris, you need this, dude.
- Oh, baby.

- Pretty.

- Beautiful,
did you get the right ones?

- Yes.

- We're gonna liven things up.

These plates need
is a little color.

Carrots. Let's go.

Grab, girl. Grab, grab, grab.

Let's go. Beautiful.

Five seconds, guys.

[platform chimes]

- We need some color
on these plates.

Make these plates gorgeous.

Oh, look at those carrottops.

- I see some beautiful
rainbow carrots.

I'm like, "this is gonna
complement the dish very well.

Perfect."

Beautiful. Mid-round drop.
[exhales in relief]

It's on my side this time.

I'm happy with that.

- Uh, carrots.
Which ones did you get?

- Rainbow carrots, chef.
- Okay, beautiful, rainbow.

Don't lack concentration
on that rib cap.

You wanna cook that
on a high pan,

So you don't boil it during--
- yes, chef.

- Treat it like
you're cooking a rib eye.

- Yes, chef.
- See what I'm saying?

Get the pan nice and hot.

- The rib cap is cooking
a little slow.

It's not cooking
how I want it to.

- The only way around it now
is just getting some form of--

Get a sear on there.

There you go. See, that fat's
rendering down there now.

- Yes, chef.

- 25 minutes to go, okay?

[timer ticking]

- Now is the time to drop in
some butter.

You don't have
to be too precious

With a big steak
like this, okay?

How does it feel to be
in this competition

At this point in the game,
the last home chef?

- It is surreal.

- What an opportunity, huh?
- Exactly.

The farther I get
in this competition,

The more I get to learn
and the more I push myself.

- What drives you?
- I just love

That I will never be finished
tasting all the food

In the world.
- Yes!

- And I wanna continue
doing that.

- Yes.
- I can't believe

I'm the last home cook
standing.

Knowing that I left my job
to be here,

It would mean the world to me

If I could get
to the semifinal.

- You're working
a lot more organized

Than the first time I saw you
in the kitchen.

- I'm so relieved, chef.

[dramatic musical sting]

- Think about how
you're utilizing

The next 15 minutes, right?

Crucial.
- Yes, chef.

- Don't over think it.
Just sear it.

Just let it cook, nuri.
Just let it cook.

Okay?
- I'm just about there.

- Even though I've never
worked with it,

I know that venison is
a beautiful piece of meat.

If executed properly,
it can be a showstopper.

[suspenseful music]

- You grabbed
such great ingredients

That you almost really never
see them together

Because they're both stars,
right?

- Yeah.
- So the key here is gonna be,

"how do you bring
these two together?"

- I'm thinking there's nothing
that can go wrong here.

I've got rib eye.
I've got scallops.

This is gonna be great.

I'm about to break
this curse of the token.

If it's gonna be
a next level surf and turf,

We're gonna make it next level.

- Okay.
- It needs to be perfect.

- Are these
two different sauces?

- These are gonna be two
different sauces that I got--

- Okay. All right. Okay.
- We're gonna have one

To glaze the lamb with

And one that's gonna go
with the prawns,

Since they are gonna be
cornstarch fried, these guys.

- Okay.
- I'm trying not

To overcomplicate this,
but I can't help it.

We're getting judged
on perfection at this point,

And so I gotta just tow
the line like a trapeze act.

- Bring it in a little bit.
You have so many ideas.

You know how to do all of it.
- Yeah.

- You got, like,
four dishes here.

Okay?
- Yeah, I got it.

- I love this idea,
crispy prawns, gamey lamb.

It can work.
He knows his flavors.

He's got, like,
three sauces working.

Typical chris, he's just gotta
bring it together.

Omi, she's got a gold mine
of ingredients.

It's all the makings
of a top level dish,

But can she bring it together?

- Steak's moving? Yes? Good.

- I definitely do a lot
of turf,

But cooking fish
is always tricky.

There's not, like,
medium-rare, medium.

It's either you nail it
or you don't,

And so I'm concerned
about a few things here.

- The calamari--
- I should open 'em up?

- Well, 'cause then that way
you can just them

Nice and crispy, and then
that just sort of gets it

Even more crispier.
- Oui, chef.

- Hey, I never wanna put
too much pressure on you

But it's only you and me left.

You know that, right?
- Oui, chef.

- There's a target
on both our backs.

- Yes, there is.
- Those judges want me

To be left with nobody in here.

Just forget that.

- I know I'm chef ramsay's
last chef standing,

So it's a lot of pressure.

I just wanna show him
that I have what it takes

To get to the top.

- Okay, ladies, we're down
to ten minutes to go, okay?

- Ten minutes to go, heard.
- Ten minutes, yes?

- Yes, chef.

- Is our rib cap working?
- Yes, chef.

- So that's still way under,
okay?

That's still raw,
so turn that gas on.

Let's go. Damn, damn, damn.

- It's definitely stressful,

Focusing on two proteins,

And this rib cap
is still undercooked.

Not what I wanna hear. [sighs]

- I said the secret
of that is in the resting.

We gotta cook it first before
it rests, obviously, yes?

Let's go, guys.
- I am definitely

Regretting this choice.

- Touch that again.
- Yeah.

- That's raw,
not even rare yet.

- I don't know what I'm doing.

- [bleep] hell.

[dramatic music]

- Let that sit in there now
and just baste it.

It's easy to let it rest
in there.

Just don't slice it too thin.

- Until I slice the rib cap,

I don't know how it's looking.

I gotta wait
till the last minute.

Be careful there, yes?
- Yes, chef.

♪ ♪

- Five minutes, guys.
Last five minutes, yes?

Both: Yes, chef.

- How we doing, mehreen?
- Good, chef.

- Make sure it makes sense,
okay?

The tuna makes sense.
The veal makes sense.

You're really storytelling
in your dish, okay?

- Okay.
- You know what I mean by that?

- Everything has, like,
a purpose in the overall--

- Absolutely.

Please don't overcomplicate
this.

- I know that I've killed it
before in the basement,

But to pull together a dish
that I've never made before

Or a protein
I've never cooked before,

I feel more pressure than ever.

- Let's go, nuri.

Do you have your--everything--
- just about.

I'm just trying
to visualize everything.

I got my venison,
I got my hash,

I've got my carrots.

- You're moving too much,
but not

With intentionality, nuri.
- Yes, chef.

- Come on, guys. Let's go.

- Two minutes remain.
- Two minutes, heard.

- Both of you have
so many components

To get on this dish.

- Heard that, chef.

- Visually, you got this?
- Yes, chef.

- Make sure you cut
that string off of there.

- Yes.
- Okay, I've been fired

From a place for that, okay?

- Ooh, no.

I don't wanna get fired today,
chef.

- 90 seconds, ladies. Let's go.

- Take your time.
Let the knife do the work.

- I don't know how rib cap
is even supposed to look.

I'm just hoping
it's cooked properly.

- There you go. Beautiful.

Lovely.

[suspenseful music]

- One minute left.

Tap it here first.
- Yes, chef.

- This is nice.
Love that, mehreen.

I see the dish coming together.

- I see it.
- Great.

- I'm loving it.
- That's all that matters.

- The past few challenges,

I've been picked
for my plating,

So I definitely feel a little
bit more nervous than usual

About my final presentation.

♪ ♪

- Platform's here, guys!

Get these plates done.

Come on!
Don't miss the platform.

Okay? Keep going.

Five, four, three, two, one.

- All right, I'm happy
with that.

I'm happy with that.

- Ten, let's go.

Let's go.

Five, four, three, two, one.

The platform's moving.
Well done.

Come on. Heads up.
- Whoo!

- Well done.
- [sighs]

- Man, good job.
- [exhales]

- The platform's here!

Platform's here, omi.

Yo, are we gonna break
the curse of the time token?

- We're breakin' the curse!

- We're breaking the curse.
Let's go.

- Whew!
- Good job.

- Whoo!

- Good job.
- Good job, omi.

Good job, omi.
- You too, sir.

- Good job.
- Thank you, chef.

[tense music]

♪ ♪

- Wow. Okay, well done.

A modern take
on a surf and turf.

Difficult.

Now, by the looks of things,

Some of you got
really creative,

And some of you
were somewhat struggling.

Richard, nyesha, shall we?
- Yes, please.

- Let's.
- Let's start, uh,

In the basement.
Nyesha, please,

What do we have?
- First up,

We have a venison.

This is roasted,
and it has a crispy oyster,

Finished with
the glazed carrots

And red pepper.

- Mm, I mean,
it's a tough grab,

That, venison and oyster.

Odd combination.

Let's see how it tastes,
shall we?

♪ ♪

Venison, you know,
it's quite rare...

But it's actually--
it's melting in my mouth.

So that's cooked beautifully.

- Oh, yeah.

Like, I'm just--I'll keep
playing that back in my head.

"the venison has melted
in my mouth."

[laughs]

- However, oysters feel
a little bit sort of strange,

So it's a bit
of a strange combination.

Is it good enough?

Uh, I'm uncertain yet.

- Yeah, the venison
and the vegetables,

Really, really nice fall dish.

The oyster's not connecting
to the dish.

- Damn it, damn it,
damn it, damn it.

I thought I did so well.

I'm hoping I've done enough,
but at this point,

All of the dishes
will be amazing,

So I know it's very little room
for error.

- So next up we have
a veal chop with a tuna belly.

This is served
with a spicy tomato sauce

In the center
and charred cabbage leaves

With a corn
and carrot succotash.

- It almost looks
like a sort of salad of tuna.

I hope it tastes better
than it looks.

- Ooh, this sucks.

This is not
what I was expecting to hear.

I can feel my heart drop
to my stomach.

I do not wanna go home.

♪ ♪

- It does feel disjointed.

It's just the tuna
and the veal,

And then even the vegetables
sort of just are

Tossed together on this plate.

- The veal's slightly dry.

Tuna's delicious.

We're stuck halfway,
unfortunately.

- I just wish it looked more
of a cohesive plate.

- Shall we move to the dishes
in the middle floor?

This is a new york strip

Served with a salt-and-pepper
squid on top.

Carrots are sautéed
in bacon fat,

Potatoes sautéed also
in the bacon fat,

Then a beautiful little demi.

- Visually, this looks
like a modern version

Of a surf and turf.

- Deep-fried squid
looks phenomenal.

- Mm-hmm. Please, dig in.

- The squid...

Is really a great costar here
to the roasted meat.

You're getting
that salt-and-pepper flavor.

This is cohesive.
- I get pronounced beef flavor.

I get amazing texture

Coming from the crispiness
of the squid.

When I think about a reimagined
surf and turf, this is it.

- I'm happy for this individual
'cause it's cooked beautifully,

And it's properly thought out.

Good job.

- I have to keep
a straight face,

But I'm like--inside,
I'm like, "aah."

- Next one, quite possibly
two of the toughest grabs:

A rib cap followed by octopus,

And the sauce
is a thyme reduction.

- Visually, I like it.

It's a restaurant-style
plating.

The sauce did sort of run
all over the place.

I don't know
if it reduced enough.

- Mm, dig in, please.

♪ ♪

- Chef blais looks like
he's really struggling.

Oh, here we go.

I'm not ready to go home.

I have not done
all I can do here,

But this isn't
looking good for me.

♪ ♪

[suspenseful music]

♪ ♪

- Wow.

Tough challenge
and tough proteins.

The steak is undercooked.

The octopus, you either
cook it really quick

If it's sliced thin,
or you cook it forever,

Pressure cooker, braise.

I know you don't have time
to do that.

- Unfortunately,
I'm having to chew

On both the surf
and the turf components

Of this dish quite a bit.

I love the visuals.

The octopus,
when you're not cooking it

In a pressure cooker,
you've gotta remove that skin,

'cause it's just
like chewing gum.

- I'm hoping and praying
that I did enough

To at least just stay
in the middle kitchen.

I do not wanna go
to that elimination.

- Richard, should we head
to the top floor?

- Over here, we have
a roasted lamb

With a crispy prawn
and a prawn bordelaise

With some roasted carrots.

- The bone marrow is worked
into the sauce as well,

So there's a lot
of sauce work going on here.

- Lamb rack and shrimp,

I haven't seen that before

On a surf and turf.

- Lamb and prawns--

In this case, it does--
it does work.

- The sweetness from the shrimp

Complements the lamb
and that gaminess

Really beautiful,
a flavor profile

That actually,
I've never experienced.

- Lamb's cooked beautifully.

Let's get that
absolutely clear.

Bordelaise sauce, exceptional.

- Here we go!

That's how my brain works,

Just pulling random flavors
together.

That's my superpower
as a chef.

- Over here,
we have a rolled rib eye

With a scuba-dived scallop,

Corn and potato chowder,

The carrots,
and some swiss chard.

- Visually, I'm not too sure
if I'm getting an appetizer

And entrée in one.

I need to see if that works,

Serving a soup and a rib eye
at the same time.

♪ ♪

So, frustratingly,
the rib eye is drowned

By the overwhelming creaminess
of the chowder.

What a shame.

- When we think about
a reimagined surf and turf,

Are you celebrating the surf,

Or are you celebrating
the turf?

Individually, they're great,

But together, it's not really
making sense.

- It's a gut punch.

I feel like the days of hoping

That someone else had
a worse dish are long gone.

- Combining two proteins
is a tall order.

Some of you did it well.

Others absolutely struggled.

We've got a lot to think about.

Give us a moment, please.

[soft tense music]

♪ ♪

Highlight for me
is the new york strip

With the salt-and-pepper
squid.

- Yeah, that was delicious.

- Squid was so seasoned well.

It was a perfect costar.

- That prawn
and bone marrow dish

With the lamb--it was delish.

- Yeah, and a lot
of these dishes had both stars

Just bangin' heads.
- Let's talk about

The veal and the tuna.

- Really disappointing.

- That sauce was so strong.

- Yeah, what a shame.

Strange combination,
but you're in the basement,

And you've got oysters
and venison.

The venison was delicious.

- Yeah.
- That dish lacked sauce.

- Totally.
- You're looking for something

To bring the surf
and the turf together.

- Yeah.
- Of course.

- But there's not much left
on the platform

When it comes
down to the basement.

- Scallops and rib eye.
There were three dishes there.

Roasted scallop,
beautifully done,

Clam chowder,
and a huge rib eye.

That was
a clash of the titans there.

- Yes.
- Trying to break the curse

Of the stupid token.
- Oh, my god. That thing...

- The one to me, gordon,

That was tough to figure out
and tough to eat

Was the octopus
and the rib cap.

- Oh, my gosh,
quite literally.

- This individual tonight
somewhat panicked.

Both: Mm.
- And it showed on the plate,

Didn't it?
- It did. It really did.

- Totally.
- It's not easy at this point.

This was a tough challenge.
- Mm-hmm.

- Tough choice.

- The worst part.

♪ ♪

- Okay, chefs.

Absolutely not
an easy decision tonight.

And in fact, only one dish will
be moving to the top floor,

And that dish was...

The new york strip and squid,
tucker.

[applause]

[inspiring music]

Dynamite dish.
I'd have it on my menu,

Uh, tomorrow, quite honestly.

Good job.
- [exhales] thank you, chefs.

I got the top dish,
another win.

I am the only one
on the top level

In the next challenge.
I'll have

That big-ass, beautiful
kitchen all to myself.

- Chris, really good job.

But there are only great chefs
left in this competition.

We're getting down
to the tiniest of details now.

Three dishes tonight
that we felt missed the mark.

The first dish
that will be cooking

In the elimination tonight
was the tuna and veal chop.

Mehreen, it just sort of lacked

The understanding
of a surf and turf.

- This is
my third elimination.

I've done it before.

I can do it again.

I'm ready to do
the dance again.

My eyes are already set
on being in the top five.

- The second dish
that missed the mark completely

Was the rib cap and octopus.

Pilar, this wasn't
your best dish,

And I know you can do
much better.

- I try to push myself

And not stay
in my comfort zone,

And that backfired today.

I just bit off
more than I could chew.

- The third and final dish
in for elimination is...

♪ ♪

[tense music]

- The third and final dish
in for elimination is...

The scallops and rib eye.

Omi, it was like three dishes
trying to work as one

And just too much on there.

It's so rich.

- The fact that I was not able
to pick up

On the richness of both
of these proteins

Makes me so upset.

How did I not see that coming?

- The good news is,
all three of you

Have got a chance
to prove yourselves.

Chris, chef stretch, great job.

- Thank you, chef.

- You guys will be kicking off

The next stage
in this competition

On the middle floor.

Well done.

- Top five, baby.

One, two, three,
four, five, baby.

♪ I'm out the basement,
I'm out the basement ♪

♪ I'm out the basement, baby ♪

- Okay. [sighs]

That means, mehreen,

Omi,

And pilar,

You'll have one last chance

To save yourself
in this competition.

You missed the mark today

With your dishes
from the land and sea,

So for today's
elimination cook-off,

We're heading to the air

As you tackle your best version
of a bird dish, understood?

Both: Yes, chef.

- Okay.

Tucker, so here's the point

I would tell you to usually
head off to the lounge,

But since you're by yourself,

Why don't you join us
in the elimination

To watch the cook-off?
- Yes, chef.

- Tucker, chris, and nuri,

Please head to the elevator.

- Yes, chef.
- See you upstairs shortly.

- Thank you.
- Bye, nuri.

Goodbye, mehreen.

- At this point in the game,
everything's on the line.

We got one pro chef,

One social media chef,

And we have one home cook.

Someone who's really good
is going home tonight.

- It's the time
to make it count, ladies.

You know how it goes up there.

Not an easy place to cook,

But all three of you
have done it once already.

All: Yes, chef.

- Okay, I will meet you
upstairs shortly.

- Good luck, ladies.
- Good luck, chefs.

You got this, okay?

- I'm not going home.

I'm just frustrated

That I have to prove it again,

But I know I can be
a semifinalist.

- Let's go.

- I did not come
this far to let up now.

I'm here to win,

So I'm gonna fight my way
outta there

Like I did the last time.

- Let's go, you three.
- Whoo.

- Let's go, you lot.

- I'm going into this
throwing 'bows.

I'm not going home yet.

I need to cook
like it is the last time

I will ever cook in my life.
[laughs]

[dramatic music]

♪ ♪

- Omi, pilar, mehreen,

Eye on the prize

For that title
of next level chef, right?

All: Yes, chef.

- Let's do this.
- Let's go.

- Hands on the elevator.

- Relax.
- Let's go, you three.

Another chance to stay in it.
Let's go.

- Platform's on the move.

[suspenseful music]

[platform chimes]
go.

- Mine.
- Ooh.

- Frickin' omi jumped
at that chicken like mario.

- I don't even have time
to be annoyed

'cause that was so cool.
[laughs]

- Grab your protein.
Build around it.

Set it down on your station
if you need to.

Squab, nice.

- I just immediately go
to the squab.

Never cooked a squab before,

But this is a competition.

I wanna show a range
of flavors,

A range of protein.

I don't wanna keep showing
the same thing

Over and over again.

- Pilar, what's the plan?
Oh, celery, yeah.

- Maybe I'm thinking
a tomato fennel fondue,

Celery root purée.

- And think about squab, right?

Flavors that balance
that out, right?

Rich flavors with that squab

To brighten it, right?
- Yes, chef.

- It's a darker meat,

Right, so you wanna balance
that out.

- Yes, chef.

- Omi, what's your plan?

How are we cooking the chicken?

- We are gonna be
searing it first...

- Beautiful.
- And then finishing it off

In the oven with the sofrito.

- Excellent. Excellent.

- This is a bird challenge.

Chicken is very easy
to go on the dry side

Or be undercooked.

I need to make sure that this
chicken is cooked perfectly.

- Get that sofrito started,
right?

Build that depth
of flavor, chef.

- Yes, chef.

- Mehreen.
- Yes, chef.

- What's the plan?
- I'm gonna do

A tandoori-grilled
cornish game hen.

- Excellent.
- On a skewer.

And then I'm gonna start
on a dough for naan.

Making homemade naan,
tandoori cornish game hen,

And the fixings is impossible
in 30 minutes,

But the impossible has
to be possible today.

- 15 down, chefs. 15 left.

- 15, heard.

- 15, heard, chef.

- Yeah. I know, right?

- That's concerning.
- Just weird.

- Start thinking about
when you're dropping

Your proteins, right?

- Reenie, you got a pan
gettin' hot?

- I'm gonna grill the chicken.

- Okay. Nice, nice.

♪ ♪

- Okay, that is stickin'
like a [bleep].

I've never used
this grill before.

It's not charring
the cornish game hen

As much as I want it to,

And it's not releasing it
either.

It is sticking.

- Pull it.
- Pull it?

- I feel parts of the chicken

Starting to fall off
the skewer,

And I don't have time to think
about how stressful this is.

This cornish game hen needs

To get cooked on time,

And it has to be
perfectly cooked.

[suspenseful music]

- The grill is not charring
the cornish game hen

As much as I want it to.

- Pull it. Don't worry.
Pull it.

- Pull it?
- Get it off.

- It's--
and of course,

It sticks like a [bleep].

It's comin' out.
- There you go.

- Maybe I'm just gonna try it
in here.

So I go to plan b.

Let's try this.

And forget
what's just happened.

The past is in the past.

- Bring these dishes together
in your head.

Seven minutes left, guys.

Seven minutes.
- Seven minutes.

Last seven, y'all.

- What's the plan
with the celery root?

- I was gonna rice it,
but it's not done yet.

Still a little hard.

- You're in this competition
for a reason.

Think about all
those young ladies

You're inspiring back home
right now...

- Yes, chef.
- Who wanna be just like you.

- Six minutes left, guys.
Six minutes!

- Six minutes, y'all.
- Let's go.

- Come on. Push, push, push.

- You want
a nice, balanced plate, right?

- Yes, chef.
- Show your elevated cooking.

- I'm throwing this dough
together for naan.

It's a little stressful

Because I have
never used a pizza oven

To make naan before.

I'm just hoping the texture
comes out right.

- Next step is
check my chicken.

Absolutely everything
in this moment

Is riding on this chicken.

♪ ♪

I go to check the temperature,

And it's not reading the temp
that I need it.

I cannot go home on this bird
not being cooked all the way.

- You got this.
Stay in control, chefs.

Stay in control.

- The naan I put
into the pizza oven--

It looks way too hard,
so I have to throw this out.

- [squeals]

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

- I'm gonna put the next naan
into the cast iron

Because time is passing.

It needs to be perfect.

That doesn't seem physically
possible to me right now.

- Three minutes left.

- Still bad. It's too hard.

The judges have been
very particular about purées.

It's too late to regret it.

I just gotta move forward
and pivot.

- Get it in there, girl.

Use that bicep, yes?
- Yes, chef.

- 1:30 left.

- Holy [bleep].

- It's intense. It's stressful.

It's a lot at stake,

But I'm literally thinkin',

"at least it's not me
this time."

I'm like, "wow."

- How we looking?

- Looks good, chef.

This is a huge upgrade

From a few minutes ago.

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

It's mixed. Be done with it.

Next step.

- What's going on top?

- The pickled onions
and fresh cilantro.

- 30 seconds left.

Come on, pilar.

Tight, tight, tight, okay?

Tight.

Ten!
All: Nine, eight, seven, six,

Five, four, three, two, one!

- Good job.

[applause]

- I know that my flavors
are there.

I was very intentional
with my plating.

I've left it all
on that plate,

And I've done all I can do.

[dramatic music]

♪ ♪

- How was that?

- Intense.

Three strong women.

Three good dishes
in front of you.

Let's start with the squab.

- This is
with a crushed celeriac

And a fresh tomato
and arugula salad

With garlic green beans.

- Visually,
it looks appetizing.

It's light. It's elegant.

Shall we?

[tense music]

Pigeon's cooked beautifully.

Pink, it's rested,
skin's caramelized beautifully.

Whoever cooked that is cooking
with finesse.

The weird thing--
I'm gonna call it out--is,

You just don't
stick tomatoes

On something gamey as that.

- I mean, I like
the celery root with it,

Which is a classic pairing.

It is the tomato, the arugula,
and it's throwing me off,

But the squab is cooked
perfectly.

- Okay, our next dish.

We have here
a chicken breast sofrito

Served with a cilantro rice
and brussels sprouts.

- Rice in a square ring mold,
take it or leave it,

But it looks like
it's gonna taste good.

- The hero for me
is the chicken.

I mean, really good.

Sauce, another level
of elevation.

Delicious.

The big no-no here is the rice.

It needs more spice,
it needs cilantro,

And it needs to be cooked
with fragrance.

- Flavor-wise,
I'm all about that sauce.

Chicken, a little bit,
you know, basic

Comparative to the squab,
but, you know,

Chicken and rice all day long.

The sauce is tasty.

- Okay, our final dish,

A play on a tandoori chicken

Made with cornish game hen

On naan bread

With cucumber, yogurt, herbs,
pickled shallot.

- Visually appetizing.

Everything looks homemade,

Which is authentic,
which is good.

- Absolutely.

♪ ♪

- We all know that I'm a sucker

For someone baking
their own handmade bread,

But I want more--
a little bit more

Cooling element of the yogurt.

- It is a delicate bird
to get right.

It just needs more seasoning
for me.

Does it hit all the notes

Of a elevated dish,
fine dining?

No, but the naan bread
is just off the charts.

It is absolutely stunning.

- Okay, gentlemen,
I mean, obviously

Three incredible dishes.

Unfortunately, we need
to eliminate one dish tonight.

Gordon, which dish will you
be eliminating tonight?

- God, this is so hard.

They all taste delicious.

We're nit-picking.

But this was a challenge
of taking flight,

And so...

♪ ♪

The dish I'm gonna eliminate...

Is the cornish game hen.

The naan, though,
that was exceptional.

The cornish game hen just lacks
a touch of seasoning

And a little dry.

- Richard, which dish will you
be eliminating tonight?

- Three really tasty dishes,

And three dishes
that all had minor flaws.

This one's not easy.

The dish
that I'm eliminating tonight...

♪ ♪

It's the cornish game hen.

- Cornish game hen was cooked
by mehreen.

[somber music]

♪ ♪

- Mehreen, uh,
I do wanna let you know,

As your mentor, like,
I really believe in you,

And when you write your book,

Please let me pen part
of the foreword for you.

- I would love that so much,
chef.

Thank you.

- And it's been my honor

To be your mentor.

- Thank you so much, chef.

♪ ♪

Being the last home cook
standing

And to know
that everything I've learned

In the last two years
has kept me here,

Cooking alongside pro chefs,
for this long...

- Take care.
[applause]

- I'm just really proud
of myself.

♪ ♪

- We are this close
to the finale.

There is no room
for mistakes right now.

Understand that.

Good night.

Both: Good night, chefs.

- Good job.
- Oh, boy.

[dramatic music]

- Tomatoes with pigeon.

[laughter]

- Nailed it. [laughs]

- Next time
on "next level chef"...

- Go time!
- You've all reached

The semifinals.

- [cheers]
- whoo!

- Only three of you
will continue on

In that finale.

- That 250k

And the yearlong mentorship
is on the line.

I got my eyes on getting
into that finale.

Believe me. Oh, come on!

♪ ♪

- The semifinals.
Can you believe it?

Cook your way
into the finals now.

- Yes, chef.
- Stay focused.

Eye on the prize.
- There's $250,000 on the line.

- Don't cry, dude. Don't cry.