All language subtitles for Next.Level.Chef.S02E14.720p.WEB.h264-BAE

- Previously
on "next level chef"...

Today's challenge
is an old favorite--

Surf and turf.

- Only one dish will be moving
to the top floor.

Tucker.
[applause]

- Let's go, guys! Let's go!
[cheering]

- Which dish will you
be eliminating tonight?

- The cornish game hen.
- Mehreen.

- Being the last home cook
standing,

I'm just really
proud of myself.

[dramatic music]

- Tonight...

- Go time!

- You've all reached
the semifinals.

For today's challenge,
you'll all have 40 minutes

To create a next level
all-american dish.

- Usa, hey!

- Cook your way
into the finals now.

- Yes, chef.
- There's $250,000 on the line.

[knives shinging]

[dramatic rock music]

[elevator dings]

♪ ♪

[timer ringing]

♪ ♪

[dramatic music]

♪ ♪

Welcome back.
How are we feeling?

- Good, chef.
All: Great, chef.

- You've all reached...

♪ ♪

The semifinals.

- Uepa!

[cheers and applause]

- We finally made it to
the semifinals, folks.

It is the one last giant
step until the finale.

And I got my eyes on getting
into that finale, believe me.

- We started this competition

With 18 talented
social-media chefs,

Home cooks,
and professional chefs.

And now you five

Are one step away
from the grand finale.

Tucker, do you believe
that you've got

What it takes to get yourself
into the finale?

- I absolutely
believe that, chef.

I've had my eye on the prize
since day one,

And I've never taken
my eye off that prize.

- Omi, are you ready
to go all the way?

- I'm ready to go
all the way, chef.

- What drives you?
- My boys, my family.

They are the reason
why I'm here.

- Chris.
- Yes, chef.

- You're a pro chef, man.

You've managed to peak
at just the right time here.

You going to shine today?

- I'm going to shine
real bright today, chef.

- All right.
- It's going to be blinding.

- I love it.

- I think I speak
for all three of us

When I say I'd truly be happy
to mentor any one of you.

However, only one of you

Is going to win
that one-year mentorship

And a quarter
of a million dollars.

Who's ready?

- Me, chef!
- I'm ready, chef.

- Now, listen up.

For today's challenge, you'll
all have 40 minutes

To create
a stunning fusion dish.

Now, typically, fusion cooking
is about combining ingredients

From different
parts of the world

And bringing them together
into one amazing dish.

- Everything I do at
home is a fusion style.

I'm a puerto rican
married to a black man

With mixed babies
in rhode island.

[chuckles] like, everything
I do is fusion.

- But today we are
staying on home soil--

The good old usa.

Your job is to grab ingredients

From two different states

And combine them
to create an amazing,

Next level, all-american dish.

- Just imagine
a louisiana twist

On new England clam chowder

Or a hawaiian-style
philly cheesesteak.

We want you to take
regional ingredients

From two different states

And seamlessly fuse them

Into one unique
and delicious dish.

- Usa, hey!

Usa, hey!

I'm from maryland, baby.

I want to see maryland
and maybe some louisiana.

You know, I could fuse

These two states together
beautifully.

- This is your chance

To create
a new american classic.

- Okay, listen up,

Because there's one last
important thing

You all need to know.

At the end of today's
challenge...

Two of you

Will secure your spot
in the grand finale.

- [exhales deeply]

- The rest of you will
be battling it out

In the last
elimination cook-off

For that third and final spot.

Okay, tucker, you had the best
dish in the last challenge,

Earning you the top
kitchen to yourself.

Head to the elevator.
Good luck.

I'll see you shortly.
- Thanks, chefs.

- Let's go.

Come on, tucker.

You got this, girl.

♪ ♪

- It's not weird to be up
here on my own, you know?

I earned my way up in
this kitchen by myself,

So the road to the
top is a solo ride.

♪ ♪

- Okay, chris and nuri...

You're headed
to the middle kitchen today.

The fight for your spot
in the finale starts now.

Head to the elevator.
I'll see you soon.

- Let's go.
- Good luck.

- Let's go.
- Don't overthink it.

- You got this.

[elevator bell dings]

♪ ♪

- Let's go, baby.
Let's go.

♪ ♪

- Coming from
elimination cook-off

And having to start
in the basement,

I've got everything to prove.

I am a little concerned
about ending up

With two states
that I know nothing about.

I've got last picks, but
I'm only one cook away

From making it to the finals.

I have to give it my all.

[elevator bell dings]
[applause]

- Let's go.

[grunting, laughing]

You both are so talented.
You know that, right?

Think about that next step
always--mindset, strong.

[elevator bell dings]
- go, go, go.

- Okay.
All right, gentlemen.

Ready to do this?
- Yes, chef.

- We're ready to earn
your way into the finale?

- Yes, chef.
- Yeah.

[elevator bell dings]

- You ready?

- Super ready, chef.
- Come on.

Yeah?
You got this, okay?

Just grab smart, okay?
Don't try to be too ambitious.

- I'm hoping I can maybe fuse
california, hawaii,

But I'm not set on anything,
because my philosophy is,

The platform tells you
what to do.

- Line up.
Come on.

Okay?

Platform is moving.

When it goes green,
you go, girl.

- Yes, chef.
- Okay.

Five, four, three, two, one,
and go.

Have a good look.

- Well, I'm not getting run
down by chef stretch today,

So I get
to the platform first...

'cause I'm alone.
[chuckles]

- So colorado,
washington, hawaii.

- Rib eye, chef.
- You're sure?

Think about the fusion
on this one.

- California.
- You sure?

Well done.
[claps hands]

Texas and california.

- The platform is on the move.
Go time.

Let's go.
Okay.

- First thing I see on
this platform is salmon.

And literally without looking,
I grab from the bottom

Another basket, and that's it.

Washington state and florida,

The state that I now call home.

- Top one with the protein.

You can put it right
behind you if you want.

You got it?
Okay.

- I see colorado.

I see the beautiful lamb rack.

Grab it, then I look and
see the herbs in wisconsin.

I'm like, perfect.

Wisconsin, let's do it.

- Whoo!
Good thing you're strong, nuri.

- Yes, chef.

- Go!
[clapping hands]

- I see louisiana.

That's dear to my heart.

My family's from louisiana.

I can't even believe
that made it down here.

Like, when you think of food
in the united states,

Louisiana is pretty at the--

I think that's top five.

- Okay, baby.
- Let's go.

40 minutes starts now.
Let's go. Full throttle.

What'd you grab, omi?

- I've got massachusetts...

- Okay.

- And new mexico.
- Oh, we love that.

- We love that!
- We love that.

- Between the native american
roots of new mexico

And the charm
that massachusetts has...

Wow!

I'm good to go here.

I got codfish,
I've got masa.

I've got some really
amazing ingredients

To make a bomb meal today.

- What did we get, pilar?
- I got hawaii and louisiana.

- Oh, yes, ma'am!
[both chuckle]

Lean into it.
[claps hands] let's go!

- [exhales deeply]

- All right, nuri, what
states did you grab?

- I grabbed colorado
and wisconsin, chef.

- Do you know the dish
you're making just yet?

- I know I'm going to
do a beautiful lamb rack

With a herb crust,

Roasted fingerling potatoes.

- So you watched cooking shows
as a kid instead of cartoons?

- Yes, I did, chef.
I didn't even watch cartoons.

I watched food network,
"cutthroat kitchen."

- Oh, my gosh.

- "30-minute meals"
with rachael ray,

Gordon frickin' ramsay.

- Who knew you'd be cooking
under pressure like this?

- Literally.
[chuckles]

♪ ♪

- So tell me about
the composition of the dish.

Where are we going
with this one?

- We're going to texas
with the steak...

- Got you.

- Doing a little grilling like
how they do in texas, I hear.

I've never been,
but I just assume.

But then we stopped
in california

For all of our beautiful
produce over here.

- How are you going to bring
that california fusion to it?

Where are you going?

- I'm going to do
some grilled peach,

Show off the nice grill marks.

My tattoo over here says
"I'm not serving a menu,

I'm serving a story,
I'm serving my soul."

And I fully believe that.

That's part of my,
like, food philosophy,

Is you put your soul
in that plate every time.

I'm just hoping that
that's enough

To get it in that finale.

♪ ♪

- All right, chris,
what two states?

- I got florida
and washington here.

Washington has given me
a beautiful salmon.

- Okay.

- I got kumquats from florida
and lime leaves.

- Okay, so the
pacific northwest and florida.

- Yeah.
- All right.

Let's not set the
flag on fire there.

- Sure, respect, respect
to the state of florida.

- Sunshine state.
- Sunshine state, baby.

- There it is.

- What's your plan
for your dish?

- I'm going to make a
beautiful cajun louisiana

Braised collard greens...
- Wow.

- And some
nori-crusted mahi-mahi

Hawaiian fusion today, chef.

- How are we preparing
the mahi-mahi, chef?

- I could steam it
in this banana leaf.

- Love that.

- This is the semifinals, so
it's just a ton of bricks...

[chuckles]
of pressure

Weighing on my
shoulders right now.

- This is the dish that's going
to bring you

Into the finale, right?

What's the plan?

- I want to incorporate
this masa.

- Amazing.
How so?

- If I make a beautiful
tortilla, cod taco.

- This is a fairly big
portion of fish, right?

So you don't need

To necessarily
serve the whole thing.

- Trying not to plate
like a puerto rican today.

[chuckles]
it's our thing.

The more food we put
on the plate,

The more love
we are giving you.

- 25 minutes left.

25 minutes.
- Heard 25, heard 25.

I pretty much picked
the two states

That are the most opposite
they could be.

One's more of, like,
a temperate environment,

And the other one is
way more tropical.

This really puts
me to the test.

Where was I?
There we are.

- Salmon's the star.
Salmon's gonna be our star.

Our mushrooms are
going to be the side.

The mushrooms, dill,
salmon, pickled onions--

Just remember, like,
you're usually doing,

Like, one thing too much.

Somehow you've taken
washington state and florida,

And we're in scandinavia
a little bit, too.

- I'm showing you guys
that I'm worth my salt

In these kitchens.
- I love that.

And just make sure you're
fusing yourself into this.

And you've cooked
in so many places.

You have so many dishes
in the back of your head.

You've cooked for
so many other chefs.

Now's the time to
start doing your food.

- Heard that, chef.

- You're the last team blais
member standing here.

- I've been working very hard
for this moment.

I won't let you down,
and I won't let me down.

- Man, I want chris
to get to the finale,

Or else there's going
to be no team blais members

In the last round.

He's got washington state
and florida.

They're so far apart.

And sometimes chris's ideas
are so far apart.

Can he bring it together
to get to the finale?

- No.

Nope, no, no, no.

♪ ♪

- Don't get caught up
with the tortilla.

You don't want to waste
all your time

Only doing one thing.
- That's right, chef.

- Do you,
but you feel me, right?

- I'm starting to make
my dough,

And I'm struggling because
I don't have the manteca.

I don't have any lard
to add to my masa,

To get the consistency that
I would get for a tortilla.

♪ ♪

What is it doing?

I'm going to use some oil and
hope to god that it works.

Here we go.
[bleep].

Come on, baby.

This is it.
Like, this is the moment.

If there's any time
in this competition

Where you need to get your act
together, omi, it's right now.

I cannot go home on some tacos.

[dramatic music]

- I absolutely love
that omi has grabbed

Massachusetts and new mexico.

These are her
quintessential flavors.

She's over there making
her own tortillas.

She's bringing some
beautiful fusion flavors.

If she can pull it
off, this is her spot.

♪ ♪

- The semifinals.
Can you believe it?

- I can't believe we're here.

- Nothing would make me
happier than to get both of you

Into the finals.
Both: Yes, chef.

- Let's make this happen.

- I want this so bad.

Like, I'll probably
drop to the floor and cry

If I do end up
in the damn finale.

Like...

I deserve it.

- What are we gonna be doing
a year from now?

- Pop-up shop, chef,
all around the country.

- Listen, dream big.
- Restaurant.

- There we go.

- Stay focused.
Eye on the prize, okay?

Think about that title
of next level chef, right?

What do you have in here?
- Red beans and rice.

I put the blood sausage
in there.

- Mm, amazing flavor.
- Got to bring it, chef.

- I mean, all day,
every day, girl.

Richard and gordon don't have
a chance against me.

I got nuri, pilar, omi.

They're all really
strong chefs,

And I want
a team arrington finale.

Breathe.
- Yes, chef.

- You're creating

The most beautiful
orchestration right now.

That's all you need to do.

♪ ♪

- You're playing for a spot
in the finals

Of "next level chef" right now.

Let's go, guys, okay?

- Let's get working
on this lamb rack.

- Are you going to leave the
lamb rack whole,

Or are you going to cut it--

- I'm gonna leave it
whole and then cut it

Into chops as I plate, chef.
- Okay, I like it.

So then we definitely
want to get that cooking.

- Yes, chef.
- Okay.

My concern--
I'm not freaking you out--

Is just the vegetable
component of this dish.

- The vegetable component.

- And if it's tomatoes,
potatoes, and corn,

That's fine,
but let's just make it tight.

It's almost a succotash.

Yeah, and just make sure
you have enough flavor

That's going to cut through
the gaminess and the fat

Of the lamb.
- Yes, chef.

- Love it. Love it.

♪ ♪

[sizzling]
- good. Beautiful.

Beautiful.

♪ ♪

Semifinal cook for a spot
in the finale.

Great grab by tucker.

She went the texas route
for the protein.

That's in her wheelhouse.

Then that fusion
of that californian lightness,

So all those ingredients
from her home state.

If she pulls this off,
it's a winning dish.

And trust me, she needs
to bring this home.

Right, let's have
some mid-round mayhem.

This dish sounds amazing.

But I need it looking stunning,
so let's elevate our plating

With stunning plateware.

Got the rib eye,
so it's quite robust.

Okay.

- I got chef ramsay
all to myself.

I'm in the top kitchen
from a comeback--

Basement, middle,
top alone with chef ramsay.

That dish has to take
me to the finals.

- Make it look perfect.

You good?
Ah!

Well done.
That's a beautiful plate.

- So that platform's
about to drop.

What's going to take your dish
to the next level visually?

You can grab anything that's
on here--spoons, tweezers.

- Oh, baby.

- Five, four, three, two, one.

You got it? Okay?
- Oh, I got.

Yes, chef.
- All right.

Okay, nuri, what did you grab
in that drop there?

- A beautiful
white plate, chef,

Because I got nice colors.
- Got it. Okay.

Chris, what did you grab?

- I grabbed just a plate
and a square ring mold.

- Got to impress with
the presentation today.

- Okay, guys, it's time
for the mid-round mayhem.

- It's mid-round drop,

And the smoking gun and dome
make it down to the basement.

What are these guys
doing up there?

- You want a smoky element?
Is that what you're going for?

Smoke gun?
- Yes, chef.

And I'm hawaii, which is known
for smoky flavors.

Smoky mahi-mahi, chef.
- Look at these plates.

Oh, they're so beautiful.

- I see this
beautiful glass plate

With a bulb of
flowers at the bottom,

All these different colors.

It says omi.
It calls my name.

I pick it up,
and we are now one.

Already took that
smoking gun, huh?

♪ ♪

- I got to go bold or go home.
Fear is an enemy right now.

I've been fighting all the
way through this competition.

I want to end this journey

With going straight
into the finals today.

- Don't cook scared.
- Okay.

- Take me back to those
cooking classes online.

How did this start?

- I just found myself without
any kind of restaurant job

When the pandemic hit

Because all the
michelin restaurants closed.

- Yes.

- So I went
into teaching online.

And then I just loved it,

Because food is love
is something I truly believe.

- Yeah.

- My family
instilled that in me.

♪ ♪

- What about sauce
over here for you?

- Mushrooms, the onions, a
little bit of garlic in there,

A touch of cream.

- Good thing
about the salmon is,

You don't need too much, right?

Like, you know
that the salmon--

- No, I can cut that down.
- All right.

Both of you have
these fatty proteins.

Do I have something
that's going to cut

Through some of that fat?

- I want the salmon
to be spot-on juicy

When it goes out to the judges.

- Remember when we
started this thing?

Both: Yes, chef.

- There were five, six
people up on each floor.

Now it's just the two of you.

Absolute warriors throwing
down to get to the finale here.

♪ ♪

- My mushrooms are a-okay.

I know that my
flavors are there.

I used to work at a fish
station at a restaurant.

Salmon was on our menu.

So, if I don't get this right,

I might as well
just pack it up and go home.

I am gunning
for that finale spot.

Okay.

♪ ♪

All right.

♪ ♪

- Okay, what are we doing now?

- This is
the beet pistachio pesto

That I was telling you about.
- Okay, all right.

That's not a new idea.
- You're like, chris! Chris!

- No, I just wanted to make
sure that it's not

Another new idea, okay?
- Don't worry, chef.

- Okay. Got it.

The salmon's under
control somewhere, right?

- Salmon is under control.

♪ ♪

- Only ten minutes left.
- Ten heard.

- You feeling good?
- Yeah.

- Okay.
- Now we're planning.

That $250k and the year-long
mentorship is on the line,

So I am not facing any
roadblocks whatsoever.

Like, I'm laser focused,
and I'm going after it.

[dramatic music]

Oh, come on!
Close, damn you.

I look down.
The oven door is open.

Come on, you're better
than that, dude.

I have to make sure that
my salmon is cooked,

Because it's got to be perfect.

- Think about the people that
you're cooking for back home.

Think about the people that
told you you couldn't do this.

Who told you
you couldn't do this, nuri?

Not me.
- A lot of people, though.

But not you, chef.

- This guy's going to
eat those words real quick.

Really, this competition
has been about me versus me.

It's me overcoming
the self-doubt.

I'm just thinking about
what those naysayers

Are going to say when
I get into the finals.

So today I'm cooking
for all the people

Out there that told me no,

Because no one's
going to believe this.

♪ ♪

- There you go.
Ice water.

Shock and then blend.
Good.

- I listen to everything
chef ramsay says.

He's my mentor.
He chose me for a reason.

He believes in me,

And I'm just going to make him
proud today.

- Five minutes left, okay?

Push hard!
Hurry up.

The most important next five
minutes of your entire life

Right now, okay?

Just crush it
with the back of the--

There you go.

Yes, pilar. Yes, pilar.

Come on, omi.
Winning dishes.

- Come on, baby.

- Talk to me.

Are we doing one taco?
Are we doing three tacos?

- We're doing three tacos.
- Okay. Beautiful, sexy fish.

- Yes.

And then my crema is going
to be on the bottom.

- Make it nice.
- Yes, chef.

- One plate of intention
and fusion.

Come on.

♪ ♪

Hurry up, omi.

Minute and a half.
Let's go. Start plating.

- Every single time
I'm plating,

Those 90 seconds are the worst.

My hands just can't
control themselves

With what it is that I'm
trying to put on the plate.

♪ ♪

- All on you now, okay?
All on you.

- Yes, chef.
- I can't do it for you.

A spot in the final.

Taste, taste, taste.

Bring it home, tucker.
Bring it home.

Come on, you got this.
Here we go.

The best plating
you ever done, okay?

The best plating.
- Perfect.

- Okay?

♪ ♪

- Keep it tight and beautiful.

Cook your way into
the finals now...

- Yes, chef.

- So you don't have to go
into the elimination cook-off.

You don't want that pressure.

- Come on.
Platform's coming.

- I have to get my plate
on the platform today.

This is my last opportunity
to get into the finals.

- Do not wait.

- This is go time.

I got to go.

- There you go.
Keep going.

Five, four, three, two, one.
- Come on, baby.

- Make it tight.

- [grunts]

- That ballet, though.
- Whew.

- You got all the elements
that you put out on the plate.

The platform is here.

Chris.
- Heard. Coming over.

- Ten seconds.

Five, four, three, two, one.

[scattered applause]

- Good job, baby.

- Bring it home.
Bring it home.

Platform's there.
Platform's there.

Come on, gently,
one at a time.

Well done.
[claps hands]

Breathe!

♪ ♪

- We have the finals
on the line here.

Everything is going to be
down to razor-thin details.

- Wow.
Take a look at these.

We asked you for
next level dishes today,

And, man, have you delivered.

Well done.

We know what's at stake,
because two of you

Will secure your spots
directly into the finale.

♪ ♪

That means three of you,
you're headed

To the last elimination
cook-off.

You've got one chance to get
yourself into the finale.

Right, nyesha, shall we
start with you first?

- Yes, please.

First up, we have a trip
to hawaii by way of louisiana.

There is red beans and rice

And a banana-leaf-steamed
mahi-mahi.

This chef actually
used the blood sausage

From louisiana in
the red beans and rice as well.

- Tough combination.

♪ ♪

- This is so much
riding on one plate.

[voice breaking]
I just want it so bad.

[cries]

I want it really bad.

♪ ♪

- I think
it's a very bold move.

So many components
to this dish.

It's really technical.

Mahi-mahi, so unforgiving
because there's no fat.

That is such a tough fish.

♪ ♪

- Mahi-mahi, such a tough fish.

So unforgiving
because there's no fat.

That is just...

Moist, flavorsome,
next level cooking.

- Yeah, I mean, I love what
the chef did here with seafood,

Pork product, and rice.

- This is, for me,
a beautiful showcase

Of how to balance ingredients
from one place,

Techniques from another.

Great job.
- [exhales deeply]

- Next up, we have a trip
to massachusetts

By way of new mexico.

This is a blue-corn taco,

Celebrating the cod

With a pepper sauce
and a crispy bacon over top.

- Visually, the homemade
tortilla looks slightly odd.

Shall we?

[dramatic music]

- I'm going up against
four professional chefs,

And I have to trust
that what got me here

Is what will keep me here.

♪ ♪

- Tortilla's delicious--let's
get that absolutely right.

Love the pepper sauce.

- I would have loved
to have seen the cod maybe

Presented in a different way.

- Mm-hmm.
- Totally.

I think the cod is
cooked beautifully,

But my palate is searching
for some variation in texture.

- All right, moving over here
to the middle floor,

We have florida
and washington state.

We have a crispy-skinned
salmon with a beet pesto

And some of those
wild mushrooms,

Onions, and pickled kumquats--
citrus from florida.

♪ ♪

- Yeah, this is art.

Salmon's nailed beautifully.

Let's get that
absolutely clear, okay?

But what you never do is stick

A cream sauce
alongside that oily fish,

Oily pesto, and fat.

- For me, the fish is cooked
absolutely perfection.

- Yeah, I mean, all the
elements--

Maybe they're a little fatty,
but they are delicious.

- I get it.

The creamy part of it might
have been a little too much.

But life likes to
always test me.

I know that.

And I have a feeling
that life is definitely

About to test me one last time
before I get into the finals.

- Okay, so over here, we have
colorado by way of wisconsin.

And we have
a colorado rack of lamb

With some roasted fingerling
potatoes, corn, tomato,

And green-pepper succotash.

♪ ♪

- Lamb, delicious--let's get
that absolutely clear.

- Everything's really good
about this dish.

I do wish there was just
more flavor

From some
of the other ingredients

That might have been
in that box

To really wake this dish up.

- I think the potatoes
are a little undercooked,

But other than that...

Great job.

- My lamb's cooked
beautifully, but...

I just hope it's enough!

- Shall we move
to the top floor?

We know who is up there.
It's tucker.

First grab was texas.

Second grab
was the californian box.

So we have a bone-in rib eye

Topped with a beautiful fine
basil puree,

Fresh pickled peaches,

And then this little
red-wine reduction.

- The sauce and the
beef looks fantastic.

- That peach is bringing
a beautiful acidity

And brightness.
- I love this dish.

I think the cook on the rib eye
is just second to none.

- Yeah, the steak is cooked
really, really well,

But peaches next to beef--
it is an odd pairing.

♪ ♪

- Right.
Well done, all of you.

These are five
very good dishes.

Every detail is important
for us right now.

Excuse us.

- There's a lot at stake.

There are two spots that go
directly into the finale,

And I want to be one of
those for sure today.

- First of all, tough task.

- I got to give it to that
rib eye with the peach.

It was giving
california all day long.

- Would you put peaches
next to beef usually?

- Fusion.
- Confusion.

- You can't tell me that didn't
work, the flavor profile.

- Together, I didn't like it.

- Sadly, the one that
didn't work for me

Was that bizarre presentation

Of massachusetts cod
into a taco.

The tortilla were delicious.

- If new mexico is your star,

Then where
is the spices, right?

Give me chili.

- Presentation-wise,
some mistakes, sure,

But they're under duress.

To me, it's still tasty.
I like the dish.

- That colorado lamb--

The lamb was
cooked beautifully.

Everything else,
the plate just felt dull.

- Listen. Still one of
the tastiest dishes up there.

- That salmon, though.

- I'm really confused
by that dish,

Because it's like, it's basil,
it's dill,

It's pickled kumquats,
it's creamy mushrooms.

- I agree
that it's an odd choice

To put the cream
and the mushrooms.

But, listen, I'm sorry.
That dish is tasty.

- Dude...

- It's the most
beautiful dish up there.

- I'm really confused
by that, actually.

I mean, I don't think we're
tasting the same dish.

- I would have put that salmon

As the number-one dish
of the night

Had those creamed mushrooms
not be on there.

- You guys are--
this is--

- Oh, my god.
It's the finale up for grabs.

For me, not as tasty
as the mahi-mahi.

- The blood sausage
in the rice, right?

How intelligent to bring
depth of flavor so quickly.

- Presentation could have been
a little bit better there.

- So I know
it's been a tough one.

And we feel for them all--
I get that.

This close, okay?

- True.

- Are we in agreement?

[sighs]
- yes. Yeah.

♪ ♪

- [exhales deeply]

All of you, these decisions
are difficult,

Life-changing, and we want
to make the right decisions.

The first dish headed
directly to the finale is...

♪ ♪

The mahi-mahi.

- [softly]
good job, girl.

- Pulling off a
dish like that--

That is magic.
- Thank you.

- Congratulations.

- [sighs] from the
basement to the finale,

I mean...

[upbeat music]

- The next dish
that earned its way

Directly into the finale is...

[suspenseful music]

♪ ♪

- The next dish
that earned its way

Directly into the finale is...

[suspenseful music]

♪ ♪

The rib eye.

Tucker.

[upbeat music]

Congratulations.
How you feeling?

- I'm just really proud
of myself.

- I'm proud of you, too.

- I mean, I cooked my way out
of that basement to the middle

To the top to the finale.

Next spot, mentorship.

- Unfortunately,
chris, nuri, and omi,

You're headed to
the last elimination cook-off.

Tonight's elimination cook-off

Is about how far you've come

In this competition.

In your very first challenge,

We asked all of you
to create a next level dish.

Tonight we're going
back to the beginning.

We want all three of you to
take everything you've learned

And create
a showstopping dish...

Your final chance...

To show us
why you deserve that place

In the grand finale.
All: Yes, chef.

- Tucker, pilar,
head to the elevator.

I'll see you upstairs shortly.

[indistinct whispering]

[dramatic music]

♪ ♪

- All of you, forget
the pity party.

Heads up, dust yourselves down,

And give everything you've got
across these next 30 minutes.

- You know what to do up there.

All that hard work
that you've put into this,

Bring that upstairs.

- Head to the elevator, please.

- Good luck, chefs.
Let's go, chris.

- Winning dishes only.

- I did three
eliminations straight.

I don't know about four.

I need to put the best,
most amazing

Showstopping dish on a plate.

I will do everything I can do
to get into that finale.

- Believe in yourself.

- Yes, chef.

Getting a spot in that final--

This is what I'm here for.

This is what I want.

[elevator bell dings]

- Come on, guys!
Whoo!

- I still do have, like,
this whimsical confidence

Walking into this.

But I know that I have
to deep-fry myself in stress,

Adversity, and pressure.

And to be honest, that's
why I'm looking forward

To this elimination challenge.

[elevator bell dings]

- Right.
[applause]

You good?
- Yes, chef.

- You good?
- Yep.

- You ready?
- Yes, sir.

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

Understand?
All: Yes, chef.

- Right. All three of you,
good luck. Line up.

- Come on, guys.
- Yes.

It's moving, guys.
Here we go. Stand by.

When that turns green, we go.

Rapidly.

And go!

30 minutes starts now.

Something new.

- I grab
the black cod first,

And I literally
put it back down.

Like, no, new york strip,
let's go.

Challenge yourself, baby.

- Okay.

- The platform is here.

First thing I go for is a nice,
gorgeous veal chop.

I am surprised none of these
guys decided to take that,

Because that is a winning dish
for anyone.

- I see the chicken oysters,
but I bypass them

Because I see the ocean trout.

I'm going to make a seared
ocean trout

With a vinaigrette
in an arepa.

- Next up, we have the arepa.

- Great choice of ingredients.

I want that on the top floor.

- I really want to elevate
this dish.

I want them to see my growth.

- One stunning protein.

Return the ingredients
to your bench.

Get going.

The platform is staying.
- Yes.

- Evolve, evolve, evolve. Yes?
- Color, color.

- Nuri, why new york strip?
Tell me.

- Because I have not cooked a
steak in this entire challenge

And I want to showcase cooking
the steak.

- That's what I love about you,
22 years of age, and no fear.

- Yes, chef.
Not in my blood, chef.

- What's going through
your mind at times like this?

I know you've been pushed
by nyesha,

And you have an amazing mentor.
- Yes, chef.

Right now what's going through
my mind is just fighting, chef.

That's the story of my life.
- Good luck.

- It's 30 minutes,
and it's 30 minutes

To save my life
in this competition,

So I got to get going.

- Beautiful.

♪ ♪

- Right. How we feeling?
- Feeling good, chef.

- Tell me about the dish.
So you're going to sear that?

- So we're going to be making
an arepa.

- Right.

- I'm going to be plating my
fish, chef, with a fresh salsa.

- You've got the flavor.
- Yes.

- I know damn well
you've got that flavor.

- I really want to elevate my
arepa from the first challenge,

Bringing it into
this challenge

And not pairing it

With something
that would be too heavy.

- 19 minutes to go.
- You got it, chef.

- Yes. Let's go.
- Thank you, chef.

- Right. What'd you grab?
- I got veal chop...

- Okay.
- Maitakes and chanterelles.

- Good.

- I'm going to do a pan-seared
veal chop with a veal jus

With parisian-style gnocchi.
- Okay.

Have you got time, really,
to make gnocchi now?

- Yes, I do.
- [bleep].

You are not playing it safe.

- 30 minutes to do gnocchi--

Is it a tall order?

Absolutely.

But I'm here to make people
really impressed.

- Right behind you, omi.

- Rápida, rápida.

- New york strip, beautiful.
- I like that.

I think this side's probably
better for presentation.

- Yeah, absolutely, yeah.
- I'll remove that fat part.

Yes, chef.
- Yeah.

It's still nice and rare.
Good.

We are halfway, guys.
15 minutes.

15 minutes remaining.
- Push, push, push.

- Give me a fork, give me fuel,
give me fire,

Give me that which I desire.

The veal chop is still
sitting there on the plank,

Glaring at me.

And not only the
veal chop glaring at me,

It's chef ramsay, too.

- I like the danger
tightrope that you walk on.

But, hey, look at me.
- Yes, chef.

- We're not in the finale yet.
- Heard that.

- Okay? Edit.
Get your [bleep] together.

Let's go.
- Yes, chef.

- Season that thing
beautifully.

- Yes.
- And it needs to rest.

- Behind.

- He makes me so nervous.
- Behind, behind!

♪ ♪

- Gnocchi in an elimination--
what is wrong with him?

- He's crazy.
- [groans]

Any one aspect gets
screwed up, I'm gone.

I'm going home.
Not gonna go to the finals.

[exhales deeply]

- That veal needs to go
in the pan.

- Going in right now.

There we go.

- That needs to rest,
doesn't it?

- I mean, yeah.

- Eight minutes!

[dramatic music]

- Get it, girl.

Come on, mami.

- Omi, just be careful.

You happy with it?
- No, no.

The shape is not what
I'm looking for, chef.

- It doesn't look like it.

- The moment the arepa comes
out in the wrong shape,

I need to focus on rolling
it out nice and thin,

And really making sure that
it stretches to the size

That I need it.

- Chef stretch,
what do you need, man?

- I'm working on heating up
some butter and the cream,

Add a little ginger to the
sweet potatoes, just a touch.

A little butter and
a touch of cream.

- You're down to
the wire, young man.

- Push through, nuri.
Push through.

- We're coming up to
five minutes to go.

- Heard, five.

- They good?
Let's go. Get them in.

Right. Color.
Don't blow on the fire.

No, put it down.

Don't add oxygen to a fire.

- Heard, chef.

- I don't even know
what's going on over there.

- Stop spinning around.
Okay? Hey.

Now, oof, big deep breath.
- Yeah, yeah.

- Composure.

We good? Good.
- All I need is--

- It's getting there.
- It's getting there.

- Let's go, then.

- It's taking too long,
but it's getting there.

- It's fine.
90 seconds now.

Here we go.
90 seconds, yes?

- Come on, make it tight.

- One of you are 90 seconds
away from the final spot

In the finale.

Less is more. Less is more.
- Yes, chef.

- There you go. There you go.
Good man.

60 seconds to go.

- 60 seconds, heard.

- How's that?
- I like it, chef.

- We good?
- I like it.

- Yeah, good.
Good, good, good.

Get that sauce on there, yes?

♪ ♪

15.

Make sure it makes sense.

It's got to make sense.

- Yes, chef.

- Five, four, three, two, one,

And stop.

Hands in the air.
[cheers and applause]

This is going to be difficult.

♪ ♪

[elevator bell dings]

Nyesha, richard, welcome back.

Three extraordinary chefs

Cooking at the top
of their game.

Here we have an ocean trout.

In the center,
we have a new york strip.

And over here, we
have a veal chop.

Nyesha, richard, start
with the ocean trout first.

♪ ♪

- The ocean trout is
cooked really, really well.

Fresh bread--like, absolutely
insane that you're doing that.

I love it.
Really, really well made.

- I'd love to see a sauce
sort of bring this together.

I appreciate the freshness
and the vitality

That I'm seeing from this dish.

Really beautiful plate.

- I know that I deserve
a spot in the final.

But at this stage
in the competition,

It's anybody's game.

- Second dish is
the new york strip.

♪ ♪

Richard first, please.

- The steak is
cooked perfectly.

And look at the attention
to detail on the mushroom.

- For me, I really love
the sweet potato.

I kind of like that granular
texture that I'm getting.

I think the steak
is really spot-on--it's nailed.

However, I would have loved
to see just a little bit more

Finishing salt or something
to really bring that to life.

- To be able to put that
together on the plate,

It made me feel good, but...

[softly]
I hope it's enough.

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

[breathes deeply]

- And, finally, the veal chop.

♪ ♪

- The veal chop is cooked
really, really well.

I love that this is
on the bone, too.

And then you have the gnocchi.
Delicious.

- Mm.

For me, the gnocchi
itself is a showcasing

Of talent and technique.

And, yeah,
veal cooked perfectly.

Incredible.

- I just want to say
that on this cook,

All three of you deserve a spot
in that finale,

Let me tell you,

'cause these dishes are
definitely the next level.

Which dish has earned
their right

To move on
into the grand finale?

Please, nyesha.

- The dish that I am
moving into the finale...

♪ ♪

It's the veal chop.

♪ ♪

- Richard, which dish

Are you putting
into the finale?

- Really, really,
three great dishes.

Making our job tough.

The dish I'm moving
into the finale is...

♪ ♪

The veal chop.

[somber music]

♪ ♪

- Chris, congratulations.

- Holy [bleep].

- The final spot
in the grand finale...

- [sighs]
- absolutely amazing.

- Thank you, chefs.

I can't believe I made
it out of that alive.

I dug ten toes in and did it,

But I was not sure

If that leap off
the metaphorical cliff

Was going to be
a strong-enough leap.

- Nuri, I think you've
just cooked your best dish.

- There's no doubt.

- And I never, ever want you
to feel that you've failed,

Because at 22 years of age,
young man,

Your career has just started.

- I gave it my all.

I was so close, so close.

Just learning from you,

Three of the most
amazing chefs in the world--

It's just, like, beyond
my wildest dreams.

- Never lose that curiosity.

- Never. I never will, chef.
- Right?

It's really beautiful.
- Thank you, chef.

You going home, kid.

But you did good.

- Omi, young lady, you've been
a stellar performer.

And not just going
toe to toe,

But just your attitude,
your composure,

And the way
you light this room up.

- Thank you so much to each
and every single one of you.

To you, chef arrington,
from day one...

[crying] you were just
someone who grounded me.

I started off as a mom
who liked to cook.

To be able to see somebody
like me

Make it this far
in a competition such as this,

I'm honored, and...

[chuckles]
they're going to love this.

Thank you so, so much.

- The heart that you
bring to every plate

Has hugged my soul in ways
that I have never felt before.

I'll never forget that.

Both: Thank you.
- Thank you, chefs.

- I might not have
broken the ceiling,

But I know I opened the door.

And I'm not the only one.

This will not be
the last puerto rican you see

Up in here, up in here, okay?
[laughs]

- Good job, guys.
Give it your all, all right?

Good job.
[applause]

- Take care, guys.

♪ ♪

- [crying]

- Be proud of yourself.

- All three of you have earned
your way

To the grand finale.

Only one cook
stands between you

And a quarter million dollars,

A mentorship
from all three of us,

And the title
of the next level chef.

But in order to get there,
you'll all be competing

In the most difficult
final challenge ever created--

Cooking one dish...

From each level.

I guarantee...

This will be the most exciting
and memorable cook

Of your entire young lives.

Congratulations,
and good night.

- Thank you, chefs.
- Thank you.

- Thanks, chefs.

- Let's go, chris.
- Whoo!

- Mah. Wow.
- Wow.

- [screaming]

- The final three.

- To the finals!

[dramatic music]

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

- Go! Let's go.

Today's the day that one
of you will be crowned.

- But to win the title
of next level chef,

You'll have to impress us.

- Three dishes on three levels

To determine who will become
the next level chef.

- Today is going to be
one hell of a challenge.

- I want that thing
with all my heart.

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

- This is it.

90 minutes to change
your lives--come on.

And it starts right now.

Our next level chef is...

[cheers and applause]