All language subtitles for Next.Level.Chef.S02E15.720p.WEB.h264-BAE

- 18 chefs faced the world's
toughest culinary gauntlet.

- We on "next level chef,"
baby.

[intense music]

[all shouting]

- But only three cooked
their way to the top.

- I want to be
the next level chef.

I want that thing
with all of my heart.

- I want to show that
this girl is a fighter.

- That title would
mean so much to me.

I want that thing badly.

- Tonight with
a one-year mentorship

And $250,000 on the line--

- I got to cook like
my life depends on it.

- --Only one will earn the
title of next level chef.

[dramatic music]

♪ ♪

[upbeat music]

♪ ♪

- To make it this far, it's
absolutely mind-boggling.

But I am so ready for this.

- Super excited to be
here in the finals.

Winning this mentorship
will change my life.

- I'm definitely going
to bring this home today.

This is the dream.

- How are you all feeling?

- Amazing, chef.
- Ready to rock, chef.

- Ready to finish this off.

- Today's the day
that one of you

Will be crowned our
next level chef.

- [exhales]

- With that title comes
a check for a quarter

Of a million dollars
and that coveted

One-year year mentorship--

12 months of all our
experience dedicated to you.

- You wouldn't have made
it this far if there

Was any doubt in your ability.

But to win the title
of next level chef,

You'll have to impress us by
producing next level dishes

On all three kitchens.

- Only next level cooking
will be good enough.

[together]
yes, chef.

- Now, you'll start
off in the basement,

Where you'll have to cook
a beautiful hot appetizer.

Then you'll move up
into the middle floor

To prepare
an amazing seafood dish.

And finally, into that
top-level kitchen to create

An exquisite meat entrée.

Now, you'll only
have 90 minutes

To cook all three dishes.

You will be in charge
of your own time.

- [exhales]

Today is going to be
one hell of a challenge.

It's like michael jordan,
lebron james, and, you know,

Kobe bryant all on the
frickin' court together.

- Which means time
management is essential.

[together]
yes, chef.

- Today my foot is on the gas.

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

- How much time you want
to use on each level

Is entirely up to you.

Three dishes on three levels
to determine who will

Become the next level chef.

[dramatic music]

Now, before you begin,
richard, nyesha,

And I would like to have one
last chat with each of you.

So I'd like all of you
to head the elevator.

We'll join you shortly.

- Good luck, chefs.

- Come on.

[applause]

- Final three.
Here we go.

Expect a battle.

It's so close I can taste it.

I'm thinking about my family.

I don't want to
let anybody down,

And I especially don't
want to let myself down.

- Ok.
This is it.

How are you feeling?

- Excellent, chef.

- I always pick
a winner from the start.

And that's why
I picked you, ok?

But today it's all
on your shoulders now.

This is your time.

[elevator dings]

[both clapping]

- Congratulations.
- Thank you, chef.

- How you feeling?
- I feel good.

- Good.

- I'm gonna bring it all today.
- 100%.

And you know you
can do it, right?

- Yes, chef.
- Good.

You got this.

- Yes, chef.
- Pit bull p.

- [laughs]

- [clapping]

- Oh.
- How you feeling, man?

Feeling good?
- I feel amazing.

- Not worried about you
when it comes to pace.

It's just making
sure you're not

Doing anything that doesn't
need to be there, right?

- Sure.

I want to bring you one more
piece of inspiration for you.

- Ok.
[elevator dings]

- Our season one winner, pyet.

- Oh.

- Hi.
- Oh, my god. Hello.

- Nice to meet you.
- Hi.

- We're all super proud of
pyet, who won season one.

[cheers and applause]

Watching pyet's
career progress

Over the last year
has been incredible.

- There's a lot of
significance behind this dish.

And it's almost like
you're eating culture,

But you're also eating history.

- I really love your vision,

Because it has
so many different

Facets of it.

Like, you can open up
your mobile restaurant.

You can share your story.

- Yeah.
- And you can do it

While you document it
and then potentially have fun

While you're doing it.
- Yeah.

- We are waiting
for this type of food

That tells a legacy story.

- I can't tell you enough
how proud I am.

You deserve it, girl.

- Thank you.

- All of the things that you
expect the next level chef

Champion to achieve,
pyet is doing that.

- How are you?

- I'm good and ready to go.

The season one victor.

Freaking-- oh my god.

And she is gorgeous,
by the way.

Total crush on pyet.

- It's really about
letting your authenticity

Shine through these dishes.

- I'm sitting there just,
like, take everything in.

Take everything in.
Take everything in.

Take everything in.
Take everything in.

Take everything in.
[laughs]

- Good luck.
- Yeah, thank you so much.

- And also, I think they have
another surprise for you.

[elevator dings]

- Oh, yes!

Oh, yes!

Oh my god, you guys are here.

My parents are here!

Ahh! I love that.

They've seen this
culinary journey with me.

You guys are here.

They've seen all
the blood, sweat,

And tears that went into this.

I just want to make them proud.

- You are a winner
no matter what.

- Yes.

- I know you'll do your best.

- I will.

I love you guys.

- Love you.
- Love you.

- Now, I've got a surprise,

Someone that can give you

Those final words
of inspiration,

And she's here now.

Please welcome our first-ever
"next level chef" winner, pyet.

- Whoa!

What up, chef?

I would so love
to be the next pyet.

- Don't get caught up
on something

That's not working out.
- Adapt and recover.

Got it.
- Yeah.

- I'm definitely going to
keep that advice close

When I'm running around
making all

These dishes in 90 minutes.

- I think they have
one more surprise.

- Oh, okay.
- Pyet.

- Hi.
- Oh, honey.

Let's go over-- talk, yeah.

[laughter]

- Having my parents
here is definitely that,

Like, emotional pick-me-up.

They've always been my biggest
support and cheerleaders.

- You're going to be
your badass gangster

Culinary self, right?

- Mm-hmm.

I learned my love
of cooking from my family.

Food is love for us.

I've taken all
that I've learned.

I'm ready to go
ahead and just shine.

- So I have one more person
that I think

You should speak to.
- Oh my god.

- This is our first
season winner.

- Hello.
- Pyet.

- Nice to meet you.
- Nice to meet you, too.

- I know you have a daughter,
so you're here representing

More than just yourself.

I don't have a daughter,
but I have

Lots of nieces and nephews.

Being able to show up for them,
being able to show who I am

And who native american latinas
are

And letting them know
that we have some spice

And we have a lot
of fight in us, you know?

- Yeah.

It's an inspiration.

Today I'm going
to step in her shoes.

- Good luck to you.
- Thank you.

- And I think they
have one more surprise.

- Ok.
[elevator dings]

- [sobbing]

- Oh, crying.

It's ok.
It's ok.

It's ok.

It's going to be ok.

- My older brother karl and
my mom are here to support me.

To have them here with
me, it really means a lot.

So that all my
sacrifices were worth it.

- You deserve this
more than anybody.

- It's time to bring it home.

- Love you, sis.

- You too.
- All right.

[dramatic music]

[elevator dings]

- Let's go.

This is it.

♪ ♪

Three dishes, three amazing
levels, and 90 minutes

To become the next level chef.

♪ ♪

Take a look.

That platform is coming.

When that turns green, head in
there and cook your heart out.

- A three-course
meal in 90 minutes.

This one is going to be
a showdown for the books.

- 30 seconds to grab
your ingredients

And create
a stunning appetizer.

This is it.

Very best of luck.

♪ ♪

Your 90 minutes
start right now.

- Let's go.

Next level appetizers.

Ok.

Think about a stunning
hot appetizer.

- I'm looking for squid.

I don't see any, so I grab
duck breasts, soy sauce.

And at that point my mind
is like,

All right, we're going asian.
- 10 seconds left.

- Where's my--

I see soft-shell crab.

My strategy is to bang
that appetizer out

As fast as possible.

- I'm pretty stoked to see
mussels on that platform.

They cook in a short
amount of time,

And I can balance my
french-italian fusion

Flavor profile into it.
- Five seconds.

Grab that flavor.

- I'm hoping I can
cook them quickly.

But if it doesn't taste
bomb, then it doesn't matter

That you finished super quick.

- If you can grab it,
you can get it.

Ok, get it, get it.
Back to your stations.

Let's go.

Remember, you want to try and
bank time in this 90 minutes.

Pilar, what are we doing?
What did you grab?

What are you making?

- I'm doing a soft-shell
crab bao bun with

A pickled vegetable, chef.
- Ok.

- Pickled cucumbers,
pickled carrot, chef.

And a cajun aioli.

I feel good about my grab.

I'm making an asian fusion dish
that's my take on a po' boy.

Po' bao.

[chuckles]

- The smallest bowl
in the world.

Is that going to be ok?

Is that for your aioli?

Remember, you just need enough
for however many bao buns

That you're making.

Right, guys?

- We're definitely moving
at lightning speed today.

I just don't want to
be in trouble later on.

- All right, tucker.

What did you grab,
and what are you making?

- I grabbed mussels, chef.

- Ok.

- A little charred corn with
some crispy potato on top.

- Fried like chips?
- Yes.

- All right.
I like that.

I love that take on it.

- Making it italianized, chef.

- Should cook relatively quick.

You trying to buy
yourself some time?

- Yes, chef.

- All right, chris.

What are you going to make?

- Sichuan peppercorn duck
with togarashi potatoes

And a pickled herb salad.

- Seared duck.
Is that what you wanted?

- It wasn't what I wanted,
but it's fine.

- Don't wait too long
to cook that protein.

You have a big protein to cook.

- Damn right, chef.

- Five minutes down.

You've got to be done
before the 30 minutes,

Or else you're really setting
yourself up for a rough middle

And top floor.

Chris grabbed duck breast.

And it could be a really,
really risky protein.

That duck is going
to have to cook.

I'm worried that he might be
the last one to the buzzer.

- It's a challenge
to do duck breasts

In less than a half hour.

It's a big risk.

I can't have any mistakes,
especially

On a day like today.
You can't.

Not with what's on the line.

[bleep].

- Ooh, that did not feel good.

The goal is to get
this duck breast going

And get it done
as quickly as possible.

- Ok.
You have the duck--

- It is in the oven right now.
- It's in the oven.

Ok.
Don't waste any time, right?

- I won't.

- You know,
tucker's almost done.

She's going to steam mussels.

She's going to be
done in a second.

- Heard.
- Right?

You ok pace-wise, tucker?
- Yes, chef.

- Ok.

This should be a
quick cook, right?

- Oui, chef.

- You want to
develop that flavor

In whatever this broth is.

- I'm kind of trying
to balance bomb

Flavors with saving time here.

- Tucker's doing a really,
really simple dish--

Just some steamed mussels
with some vegetables.

Is it enough for a
"next level chef" finale?

Steamed mussels?

I don't know.

Is this a dish that you'd
put on that restaurant menu,

Your dream restaurant
that maybe we're going

To open if you win this thing?

You want to be the
first to that buzzer.

You really do.

And you definitely don't want
to be the last to that buzzer.

15 minutes down.

- 15 minutes down, heard.

- Ok.

There's only 75 minutes left in
the whole entire competition.

75 minutes left between you
and a potential $250,000,

A one-year mentorship.

Ok, pilar.
Crab is cooked?

- Yes, chef.

- It cooked in, like,
an instant, right?

- Yes, chef.

- Make sure it's cooked
all the way through.

- I got it, chef.

[tense music]

- So usually when the butter
goes in the pan, that's--

That's wrapping it up, right?

Gotcha.
- Yes, chef.

- All right.

Pilar is done with her aioli.
She's already made

Her crabs crispy.
She's almost done.

Ok.

- Oh, [bleep].

One thing that's just pissing
me off is my duck breast.

It's not really cooking
through fast enough.

And at this point,
I really can't

Wait for this any longer.

I am a chef, not a magician.

- You're not going to have a
lot of time for it to rest.

- It's fine.

- Ok.

- I'll make it work.

- Pilar, are you going to be
the first one to the buzzer?

- Yes, chef.
- All right.

Looks like pilar is
heading to the buzzer.

Right, plate goes there.
Hit the buzzer.

[buzzer chimes]
ok.

Pilar's in.

21:51, pilar.

- Definitely feels good having
a leg up on chris and tucker.

It was very important for
me to give myself an edge

On the top floor today.

- 22 minutes gone.

Don't overthink it.
- I just like to let it

Speak for itself, chef.
- Yeah.

And that's what--
that's what's great.

- Tucker's plating as well.

Chris, you got to go.

- Heard.
- Tucker's plating.

- As I'm slicing this
duck breast,

As soon as I get
to the middle of it--

Oh, no.

I have one piece on this
thing that's unfortunately...

A little undercooked.

I'm clenching
and starting to work up

A bit of a nervous sweat.

But tucker and pilar are done.

- Ok.
Here comes tucker.

[buzzer chimes]
all right, tucker's in.

Well done.

You're the back of the pack.

- It's all on me.

There's a lot riding
on this, because I'm

Trying to obviously cut
time down for my final cook.

So I decided to go with it.

- Ok.
Chris is walking.

Chris is walking.

[buzzer chimes]

There it is, everyone.

Way to wrap it up
in the basement.

Well done, chefs.

Fantastic work.

- I don't mind that I
finished last in this.

There is a part of me that's,
like, a little nervous

And stressed.

We'll see what the judges say.

[exhales]

♪ ♪

- Wow.

Ok.

Shall we start?

- Ok.

Starting here, we have steamed
mussels with an italian broth

With corn, tomatoes,
crispy spiced potato chips

Cooked by tucker.

- I love the presentation.

I don't think it's a very
difficult cook, technically,

But it's all in the broth.

♪ ♪

That broth is magical.

You crisped up those potatoes,
and those mussels are

Sweet and cooked beautifully.

- The broth is definitely
my favorite part.

Really great execution.

- It might be a safe play,
bank some time, but delicious.

♪ ♪

- I'm really glad that my
flavor profile stood out.

I italianized it,
got it a little spicy.

So hopefully we'll just
keep that ball rolling.

- Next up, a crispy soft-shell
crab bao with cajun spices,

Pickles, and a homemade aioli.

This one obviously
cooked by pilar.

- I love the idea of something
that is texturally appealing.

♪ ♪

Mmm.

♪ ♪

- Texture contrast
is really, really great.

Because the bun and the
crab itself is pretty big,

You want more pickles and
a little bit more sauce.

- I love the textural contrast.

This is incredible.

- Soft-shell crab
cooked beautifully.

It's crunchy, it's sweet.

I love the sauce.

There's a cajun spice.

They're bloody delicious.

Great start.

- To start with those type of
comments is great validation.

[exhales]

- Next up, we have
a spiced, pan-roasted

Duck breast
with togarashi potatoes

And a soy ginger glaze.

This was cooked by chris.

- Hats off to the
level of courageousness

To get a duck breast
cooked in a grand finale.

I'll deal with the
elephant in the room.

♪ ♪

This bit here,
it looks a bit pink.

- The one piece of
duck that I had that

Was a little bit under,
that might be a problem.

- Don't put it on,
because I've got to judge

You what you put on the plate.

- I will be damned if I
leave this competition

Disappointed with myself.

- [exhales]

[suspenseful music]

- Uh, young man--

[exhales]
to the naked eye,

Looks like it's undercooked.

But you've executed the duck
beautifully.

Potatoes, crispy.

Good start.

- I really appreciate the
texture that I'm getting

Off of the fried shallots.

Really brings
a nice crunch element

That's getting me ready
to enjoy a second course.

- I love those flavors.

It's an impactful
start for sure.

A tasty dish.

- It's a bold, courageous
move, and it does taste good.

- To have chef ramsay even tell
me that I was ballsy for going

For a duck,
I think I'm definitely

Earning my way into the good
graces of the judges so far.

- Three brilliant appetizers.

But of course,
all three of you have

A mountain to climb still.

Now on to the fish course.

Before we head to middle level,
pilar, just under 22 minutes,

Which leaves you 68 minutes
remaining in this competition.

Tucker, you used just over
23 minutes,

Which leaves you
with 67 minutes left.

And, chris,
just under 24 minutes.

That leaves you 66
minutes left, young man.

Ok.

All three of you
head to the elevator.

Nyesha will meet you upstairs.
- Thank you, chef.

[applause]

♪ ♪

Wow, what a start.

What a start.

- Still steely focused,
ready to get back in there

And crush this next one.

Fish doesn't take
that long to cook.

I have to make sure
that I finish super quick.

That's the goal.

[elevator dings]

- Hey, let's go!

[cheers and applause]

- Course two.

Really not a lot
of room for error.

Line up.

[clapping]

Get ready.

♪ ♪

Go!

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

- I'm really confident
cooking fish.

One thing that
sticks out to me is

This nice fillet of halibut.

My mind was like,
let's take another chance.

So I grab the halibut.

It's mine.

- I grab this
beautiful sea bass.

I want to take us
to asia today.

- 20 seconds, guys.

Think about the
storyline in your dish.

- I'm showing the story
that I want to tell today,

Which is cajun-asian fusion.

So when I see salmon,
I want to do a

Nice, um, blackened seasoning.

I'm feeling confident.

- 5, 4, 3, 2, 1.

Platform's still here.

Grab it if you need it.

Good job.

Let's go.
Let's go.

Sauté a little bit of
the garlic, puree it up.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

- What's the plan
with the fish?

- I'm gonna poach the
halibut with white wine,

Thai basil, ginger, garlic

And do, like,
a calabrian chili--

Kind of a sautéed
ghee shallot butter.

- Nice.

- Something to give it
a little bit of, uh--

- Chutzpah.
- Yeah.

Exactly.
Exactly.

- [laughs]

Tucker, is sea bass something
that you cook with often?

- I'm not a big
fan of cooked fish.

I like my fish raw.

I haven't cooked much
fish in this competition.

So I really need
to make sure this

Is bomb,
because I know that they know

That I can cook some meat.

- How are you
cooking the beets?

- I'm going to be
doing a little roast

And some fresh shaved.
- Raw beets? Nice.

- Just a little.

- Got to make sure those
are paper thin, ok?

They have a lot of density
and fiberness to them, right?

- And then plate
is going to get sauce.

There's going to
be a blood orange

And regular orange sauce.

- Sounds delicious.

Let's go.

Chef pilar.
- Hello, chef.

- What's the plan here?

- So I'm going to do, like,
a blackened

Salmon, miso butter sauce with
some broccolini with citrus.

I have the most
time left so far,

But I do have the
thickest protein,

So I definitely need
to make sure I just

Cook this protein perfectly.

- How are we cooking the fish?

- Skin side down.

Get it crispy, and then
flip it over and grill it.

- Are you going in the oven?
- Uh, no.

- Or are you cooking
straight on the stovetop?

- Straight on the stovetop.
- You gotta be careful.

You don't want to
burn the spices, ok?

- Yes, chef.

♪ ♪

- What's the plan
with the peppers?

- These guys are
going to be charred.

And then the broccolini
I will grill as well.

- How's that poaching
liquid looking?

Fish is down?
Not yet.

- Fish is about to go in.

- It's really
still anyone's game

In this kitchen right now.

The one I'm concerned
about is chris.

Halibut is truly unforgiving,
and it's a very lean fish.

It's going to be interesting
to see if the risk pays off.

When I think about fish,
I think about finesse.

This is the type
of ingredient that

Could go wrong in a heartbeat.

Remember what's at
stake here, right?

One-year mentorship.

That's life-changing.

Not to mention
a cool $250,000, right,

To fuel your dreams.

This is not the
time for mistakes.

Guys, 15 minutes down.

♪ ♪

- Oh my god.

At this point,
the salmon's still underdone.

Time is getting the best of me.

- You have ovens too, chef.

You don't always have to cook
everything stovetop, you know?

- Yes, chef.

I don't want to present
anything to the judges

That I'm questioning.

- I'm not telling you
how to do your dish,

But use the tools around you.

♪ ♪

Come on, chris.

- There's less elements on this
plate than usual, saving time.

That's what this is about.

- Pilar, you've used
just under 47 minutes.

- Seafood and fish
is my specialty.

I know the flavor is there.

I just need the cook
to be perfect.

- It's got to be perfect.

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

- I wasn't happy
with the fish.

I didn't like how the oil was
running all around the plate.

That's not plating
like an angel.

- It's in your control, chefs.

- I really need my sauce to
bring it together for me.

This is where the train
comes off the rails over here.

My sauce is awful.

Come on. What are you doing
over there, bud?

Oh, now you thicken.
[bleep].

♪ ♪

My agar is not setting.

♪ ♪

- What's the plan here, chef?

- So we have to throw it away.

Scrap.
- Ok.

What's the next step?
- Um, that's going to be

Sort of a gochujang soy
concoction.

- Push.
- Yes, chef.

I can't believe I have
to make my second sauce.

Please don't let
this be the day

That we screw up this fish.

- Tucker, 37 minutes left.
Let's go.

- Yes, chef.
- 37 minutes.

Let's do this.

- I have to make second sauce.

[exhales]
it is stressful.

- Oh, this is gonna be good.

- Come on, guys.

Think about how you're spending
the time in the entire menu

Execution, right?

- If I have to take an
extra couple of minutes

To re-plate it, then that's

What I'm gonna have
to do today.

♪ ♪

- Chris heading to the buzzer.

[buzzer chimes]
- [clapping]

Good job, chris.

- Thank you, chef.

Saved myself a bunch
of time on this.

Now I have an edge going
into the main event.

- Pilar's heading
to the buzzer.

[buzzer chimes]
good job, pilar.

$250,000 to win.

Let's go.

Tucker, you have 34
minutes left, ok?

- Yes, chef.

Chris and pilar
have already dropped

Their plates off
at the platform,

Pushed the button.

I know that lingering here
in my fish course

Is going to impact
my meat course later,

But I need this sea bass
to absolutely slap.

♪ ♪

- Tucker going to the button.

You got this, girl.

[buzzer chimes]
good job, tucker.

- [clapping]

Great job, guys.

Impressive fish cook.

♪ ♪

[elevator dings]

- Every time we walk into
judging it is just the most

Nerve-racking experience.

But today it hits
a little harder,

Because this is the judgment.

- First of all,
all three dishes

Visually look beautiful.

Definitely next level.

Nyesha?

- Here we have
a white wine poached

Halibut with a calabrian chili
butter and grilled broccolini.

And this was cooked by chris.

Beautiful approach
poaching halibut.

Really smart to retain
the moisture in a fish

That tends to be unforgiving.

- I watch chef ramsay dig
his knife into the halibut.

♪ ♪

Oh, it's juicy.

It's good.

- Fish is cooked beautifully.

That thing just falls apart.

But it's not dry.

- I would have liked
a little bit more butter,

Just to sort of
bring it together,

Because the fish is so lean.

But it's cooked so well.

- There's something quite
courageous about the risks

You take.

Again, it's a great cook.

- To take a bold move
and choose halibut

As my fish shows
that I have a serious

Set of you-know-whats on me.

- Next up, we have
a seared sea bass

Served with kumquats and beets
in a soy gochujang sauce.

This was cooked by tucker.

- You can just
see the fish here,

Very crispy and beautiful.

- Main thing I'm
concerned about is fish--

You either cooked it
or you didn't cook it.

I'm like,
please let this be nailed.

- The dish is exceptional.

I love the fragrance
of the sauce.

- I love the salty,
sweet, umami-laden flavor

That's in this dish here.

- Amazing celebration
of a sea bass,

Really elegant and lovely.

- Just be careful
of those beetroots.

They've got that raw,
muddy flavor.

That's the only
bit that sort of

Pulls this down a note for me.

- Beets has left the chat.

- Lastly, from pilar,
we have a blackened salmon

Served over shiitake
mushroom and broccolini

With a citrus salsa.

- Visually,
a lot to admire here.

I love blackening spice and
a blackened piece of seafood.

- Cajun spices
are feisty and hot,

And I can't wait to get in.

Wow.

Oh, boy.

That flavor is just--
yeah, beautiful.

You've nailed the cook.

- Not as spicy
as I was expecting.

But the fish is
cooked excellently.

- I think there's a
little more opportunity

To impart some more
flavor on the vegetables,

But really spot-on
with the fish.

- The fish is just
utter perfection.

- Absolute perfection
from gordon ramsay--

What more can I ask?

- Two courses in
and six great dishes.

Right now,
this is anyone's game.

Third and final course.

Chris, you've got 35
minutes and 40 seconds.

Eight seconds later, pilar,

You'll have 35 minutes,
32 seconds.

And, tucker, you'll have
30 minutes and 43 seconds.

Which means, tucker, you'll
have to wait five minutes

Before you get cooking.

The very best of luck
to all three of you.

I'll see you upstairs shortly.

Head to the elevator, please.
Let's go.

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

- Time is not on my side.

I have to cook my ass off and
become that next level chef.

♪ ♪

- Wow, it's tight.

- I was expecting
heading to the top floor

That someone's chances
would be diminished.

I think it's anyone's game
going to the top.

- I agree.
- Hmm.

- This is the final showdown.

Pilar and tucker
are going to be fierce,

But you can't
out-godzilla godzilla.

[elevator dings]

- Ok.

Let's go.
How are you feeling?

- Amazing.

- One final cook
stands between you

And a one-year mentorship
that comes with a quarter

Of a million dollars.

It's anyone's race.

The good news is,
the platform stays with us,

So there are no excuses.

Clearly, the most important
grab is a protein.

[together]
yes, chef.

- I've got one cook
left between me

And this mentorship.

This is a quarter
of a million dollar dish

That I'm about to cook,
so it'd better be banging.

- Chris, you're
going to start first.

And then I'll give you
an eight-second countdown,

Pilar, right?

- Pressure is on.

I'm doing this for my
family, my baby girl callie.

I'm here to win.

- The platform is coming.

Ok, chris.

Go!
Let's go!

- As I'm running
towards the platform,

I notice a lighthouse
of a protein--

[dramatic music]

It's a giant-ass tomahawk.

That is mine.

- 3, 2, 1.

Go, girl.

Go.

Off you go.

Let's go.

Grab, grab, grab.

- Of course
I'm doing filet mignon.

If it's left there for me,
then I'm definitely

Going for that filet.

- Ok, tucker.

We've got
4 and 1/2 minutes to go.

- Of course pilar
took the filet.

It's a filet.

I'm like, oh my god,
is there even going

To be anything left right now?

- Pilar, go on.
Get cooking, girl.

All right, chris.

What did you grab?

- This giant-ass tomahawk.
- Wow, the tomahawk.

Oh my lord.

You do not play
it safe, do you?

- No, I don't, chef.

- Tomahawk is every
grill chef's nightmare.

- And forcing me
into a corner is

The best way for me to grill.

For me, it's another
day at the office.

♪ ♪

- I can't believe chris
went for that tomahawk.

Any professional chef
in the u.S. Tonight

Needs an hour
to cook that thing.

What a message to
send across this cook.

You got to get that thing
seared, marinated, seasoned.

- It's going right in.
- Beautifully done, yes?

Got to get that in.

- Yes, chef.

- Two minutes, tucker.

Two minutes.

What'd you grab, protein-wise?
- Filet, chef.

- The filet.
Wow.

Ok.

Hey, the rolls-royce cut.
You happy?

- Yes, chef.
- Do it justice, now.

- Yes, chef.

- Do it justice.

- I can't waste time.

This is the last course,
and I just

Want to bring it all home.

- 15 seconds, tucker.

- This is the longest
five minutes of my life.

It feels like an entire
year has gone by.

I have aged.

- 3, 2, 1.

Let's go.

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

- I'm looking at that pork
chop thinking that's the one.

- Smart.

- I see a little
truffle peeking out.

I'm like, that's mine.

- Ok, young lady.
What did you grab?

- Pork chop, chef.
- Why pick that?

- It's got that bone in.

Going to render
that fat off a little bit,

And I have some asparagus.

It's going to be beautiful.
- Uh-huh.

What's the garnish?

- It's going to be
a truffle aioli, chef.

- They're four or five
minutes in front of you.

Get that pork in, please.

♪ ♪

- It's got to get
off the bone.

I'm cutting you off the bone.

- So the chop didn't
fit in the pan, did it?

Listen, young man,
it's got to be cooked, ok?

The [bleep] thing needs
to be nailed in terms

Of that temperature, ok?
So-- ok?

- Yes, chef.

- We're down to the
final 20 minutes, ok?

And for one of you,
20 minutes away

From becoming the
next level chef

With a 12-month mentorship.

Pilar, you're one of
the first to start,

But you haven't got
the protein yet.

Is that the smartest move?

- That wasn't intentional.

That makes it scary.

- Don't underestimate
the resting time--

- I'm about to season
it right now, chef.

- Filet in?
- Yes, chef.

- Nice.

- Just want to get the
most important stuff done,

And then I'll start
editing after that, chef.

- Ok, tucker.

Presentation-wise,
where are we going?

- I'm going to do
some thin slices

Of that pork chop, chef.
- Good.

Don't go too thin,
because it's unforgiving.

If it hasn't rested properly,
it's going to go dry.

- Yes, chef.

- Tucker-- she went for
that beautiful pork chop.

But right now she's
feeling those five minutes,

Because she is up against it.

I know that that pork was
not her first choice.

That's a tough
one to get right.

I'm not too sure if she's
got enough time to nail it.

We are 12 minutes to go.

- Oui, chef.

I really need to pull this off.

That mentorship means
the world to me.

I'm this close.

I want it so bad.

I'm gonna go down fighting.

♪ ♪

[sizzling]

- Oh yeah, tucker.

- One of you are seven
minutes away from becoming

The next level chef.

- This final challenge,
the pressure

Is definitely intense.

- Be decisive. Come on.
- Yes, chef.

Own that confidence now, ok?

- Yes, chef.

I'm just hoping that this
thing is cooked perfectly.

If not, it's the end of
the competition for me.

- Young man,
there's a difference

Between rare and raw.

- You can't be
disrespectful to a tomahawk.

They have a special place
in hell for those people.

- Nice.

Now you've got that weight
off your shoulders.

Focus on the rest
of the dish now.

- I definitely had a good
cook on that filet mignon.

I've got to
put it all on the plate

And bring it together.

I have a lot on the line.

- 90 seconds to go.

- $250k and the
year-long mentorship--

I want this badly, but the
real goal is the validation.

All those people that
told me I couldn't do it.

It's been a long road.

♪ ♪

- Stay organized.

This is it.

Start plating.
Ok, tucker.

Let's go.
Now we push.

Now we go up a gear.

- Every single little
detail matters.

It's the last chance to
take home that mentorship,

And I want that thing
with all my heart.

I always visualized
myself in the finale,

And I visualized
myself winning.

I'm just ready to soar
all the way to the top.

- 45 seconds
to change your lives.

Come on.

- I feel like it's been
a really tight flight

Between all three of us.

But when you're from
detroit, you're born

With tenacity in your blood.

And I want to win
this thing so badly.

- Pilar, beautiful.

20 seconds to go.

Tucker, let's go.

Final touches.

9, 8, 7, 6-- quick, chris!

5, 4, 3-- quick!

2, 1.

And stop.

Well done. Wow.

- [bleep].
- Well done.

♪ ♪

[elevator dings]

[applause]

- Final judging.

This is the judgment.

- Come and line up.

- I've been taking
risks this entire day.

Me cooking a tomahawk
is absolutely

The final impression that
I really wanted to leave.

- Now that was a cook.

All three of you, well done.
What a performance.

Absolutely tremendous.

Shall we?
- Let's do it.

- Um.

So this tomahawk
was selected by chris.

The potatoes look roasted.

With some beautiful
roasted tomatoes

And mushrooms as well.

- Absolutely huge
accomplishment

To cook such a formidable
piece of a protein in such

A short amount of time.

- Let's see how it tastes.

- [exhales]

♪ ♪

- The steak is cooked
to absolute perfection.

It's just really
pleasurable to eat.

- Perfectly cooked.

The fat is melting.

It's rustic,
but it's delicious.

- It's seared beautifully.
It's cooked with such finesse.

I knew that was a big risk,
but it paid off.

I just want more green
on there.

That's the only bit.

And I am taking you to task.

Good job.

- This is it.

This is what it all came
down to-- all the experiences

The last 10 years, my ups,
my downs, my lefts, my rights.

I am feeling very
proud of myself.

- Next, tucker's dish.

This is a pork chop, and
it's cooked on the bone.

Beautiful sautéed mushrooms
and a truffle sauce.

- A really beautiful
and amazing gloss

On the-- on the sauce here.

- It's eye-catching, because
that fat is caramelized.

Dive in, please.

- I'm really just crossing
every spare finger and toe.

My entire future is now
riding on this one bite.

- That asparagus with
the aioli and the pork,

A lovely richness
that the aioli brings.

Overall, really cohesive
and well-balanced.

- Flavor, everything works.

Pork is cooked perfectly.

Tasty dish.

- The cook on the
pork is beautiful.

I love the truffle and
the acidity in that aioli.

It doesn't really need these
little dices of potato,

Because you sort of lose
the crispiness of them.

But it's a good dish.
Really good dish.

- I am just really happy
that they loved it.

- Third dish.

This was cooked by pilar.

It's a filet mignon, uh,
rubbed in a beautiful spice.

That's set on a bed of a really
nice, rich mashed potato.

It's finished with
a port wine sauce.

- It looks so classic.

So iconic, if you will.

♪ ♪

- $250,000 on the line.

This would be life-changing
for me and my daughter,

And I left it all out there
on that plate.

- I'm wanting more of that
spice, that cajun essence

That I've been seeing
throughout the progression

Of your menu.

Um, but other
than that, I mean,

Impeccable cook on the filet.

- I mean, what's not to
love about this dish?

The potatoes are velvety
and smooth and silky.

- Cooked with utter finesse.

Beautifully done.

- [exhales]
it feels good.

I just hope I did enough
today to be next level chef.

- Chris, tucker, pilar.

Irregardless of what the
outcome is, all three of you

Should be incredibly proud,
because the performance

Has been nothing
short of perfection.

♪ ♪

Now, I would like
all three of you

To head back
to the chef's lounge,

Because the three of us need
to combine the appetizer, fish,

And the meat together
to understand who will

Become the next level chef.

Well done.
Off you go.

- Thank you, chefs.
- Good job, chefs. Great job.

- Great job.
- Be proud.

- Wow.

This is going to be a tough
one, because each of us

Have got our own
mentee in this finale.

But at the end of the day,
it's going to come

Down to the technical ability.

Which chef delivered
absolute perfection?

It's going to be tight.

- [exhales]

- That's it, guys.

- Just like that.
- That's it.

- Oh, just like that.

- This is not a
one-horse race here.

We need to go back to the
beginning, the appetizer.

- Ok.

- Let's start with, um, pilar.

Let's go back to
the soft-shell crab.

- I do think that
was one of the more

Flavorful dishes of the day.

- And then her fish course
with that blackened salmon.

Do you put spice on wild fish
like that to enhance it?

- Yeah.

I'm ok with the spice, but
I really don't think there

Was enough spice on there.

- For me, listen-- the salmon
was cooked beautifully.

I think the last two courses
from pilar were amazing.

- I think she was trying
to weave in these asian

And cajun flavors--
- mm-hmm.

- --But it sort of hit some
notes and not other notes.

- But overall,
I think it was a great song.

- Yeah.

- Chris, he came out
the gate and started

With that duck breast.

- That sauce was incredible.

That's a dish
I want to revisit.

- Guys, chris made
the biggest mistake.

One piece of duck was
undercooked, as you saw.

And then from there, he went
on to that poached halibut.

- It's a really
smart way to cook

The halibut
in a lean way but then add

The fat in that chili butter.
- It was awesome.

The tomahawk-- did you ever
think he was going to do that?

- He's fearless and brave
and maybe a little

Insane sometimes.
- Extravagant.

- But he got it done
in just over 30 minutes,

So-- what a risk.

- Mm-hmm.

Uh, tucker.

She started with those
mussels, that beautiful broth.

- The broth had so much depth.

- But it's the safest dish
of the night for sure.

But to me, maybe the
most elegant,

Tasty dish of the whole day.

- The flavors in that sea
bass were off the charts.

- She could have done
more with the beets.

Absolutely, right?

Fibrous, really a
little dense and earthy.

- Where are we with the pork
chop at the end for tucker?

It's a simple dish,
but it definitely

Doesn't taste simple.

- The dish looks like
she's had the most time,

And she had the least time.

- I think all three finalists
cooked three courses

That are worthy of winning
each round,

Which therefore makes
this decision really tough.

Anyone could win this.

- [sighs]
best of luck, all three.

[dramatic music]

[elevator dings]

[cheers and applause]

- Let's go!

- I was not expecting
all of that.

[exhales] it's emotional,
because it's been a journey.

Hasn't been easy,
but it was all worth it.

[cheers and applause]

- Really awesome to see
people, like, celebrating us.

I think we're all just really,
like,

Proud of ourselves right now.

- So many people.
I love it. I love it.

- Wow.

[cheers and applause]

Thank you,
ladies and gentlemen.

What a reception.

- Chris, you should be
incredibly proud of yourself.

And I am incredibly
honored to have

Been your mentor this season.

- Thank you very much, chef.

- Tucker,
your tenacity and drive has

Been apparent from day one.

- Pilar, it's been such an
honor to watch your growth

In this competition.

So I'm very proud of you.

- Thank you, chef.

- You three really are
the very best of the best.

[tense music]

But only one of you will be
crowned our next level chef.

With that title comes
a check for a quarter

Of a million dollars and that
coveted one-year mentorship.

♪ ♪

The person...

Who will be
our next level chef is...

♪ ♪

- I want that thing badly.

It would mean so much to me.

- I have never been
this stressed in my life.

I'm just hoping
with every cell in my body

That I have done enough to
make this happen for myself.

- I really want this.

It's for my baby girl.

♪ ♪

- Congratulations goes to...

♪ ♪

Tucker!

[cheers and applause]

- Yeah, baby.

Yeah!

- Oh my god!

- Yeah!

- Congratulations.
That's my chef.

- Well, tucker.

What does it mean to you?

- This means everything to me.

I'm not going
to disappoint you guys.

Going to keep making you proud.

I can't wait to work
with all three of you

And just skyrocket
my career to the next level.

I won.
[laughs]

I wanted to come in here,
because representation

Matters,
and I hope I let girls know

That you can
throw it out in the kitchen.

You can be a badass.

Believe in yourself,
work hard,

And you can do anything
you want to do.

Glass ceiling.

- Ladies and gentlemen, please
give it up for our runners-up,

Chris and pilar.

Amazing.

[cheers and applause]

Go spend some time
with your families.

- I came, I saw, I kicked ass,
I conquered,

And I became
a better version of myself.

This will definitely remain
with me until the end of time.

- I knew I was a fighter,
but this

Showed a whole nother level.

I'm not done, and I'm going
to keep rising to the top.

- Come here, you.

[cheers and applause]

- Aw!

- Amazing.

- I did it.

[cheers and applause]

- I'm so proud of you, honey.

So proud of you.

- Our next level chef,
ladies and gentlemen, tucker.

Come on.
Give it up for tucker,

Our next level chef!

Well done, tucker!

Being the one that
discovered tucker

And now as her winning mentor
of this competition,

I couldn't be any happier.

This is just the beginning
of that young girl's career.

- Hey, chef.
Thank you.

- Welcome to the
next level club.

- It's an honor to follow you.
[laughs]

[glasses clinking]

- Wow. What a night.

Now, if you think you have
what it takes

To become our next level chef,

Then please go to
nextlevelchefcasting.Com,

And good luck.

Well done.