Quick Take: Hell's Kitchen, "13 Chefs Compete"
Who let the dogs' old/new tricks out?
Review: Hell's Kitchen, "13 Chefs Compete"
(S0703) After being up on the block, Jason is pissed his team nominated him and throws a minor tantrum in the cooks' quarters, which doesn't bode well for team unity.
The next morning, Ramsay wants to see teamwork, which is lacking on both teams, so he opens up for lunch with simple menu of burgers to be served to the USC Marching Band and cheerleaders. Good to see the kids get some face time on TV since they won't be performing during the College Football Bowl season for a while.
The task is a bit of a struggle. Jason repeatedly fails to respond to Ramsay which pisses him off. Scott gets caught sending up a raw burger. Maria helps Jamie on stove to get burgers out. Down to the final table for each team, the last thing needed is fries and the Red Team wins a close finish.
The prize is a trip to the Malibu Beach Inn along the beach. Fran says she's going to put on a MILF outfit, unaware she's not supposed to self identify herself as that, and I don't know many guys who would. She explains the term to Nilka who had never heard it before, and Nikla's reaction shows she agrees with me. Ramsay and his family play soccer against the ladies on the sand. Holli is concerned about a boob popping out of her top, which the producers likely hope for. The guys' punishment is to clean up litter along the L.A. River with Heal the Bay.
The next day during dinner prep, Fran burns her arm moving a pot of boiling water that was too salty (wonder if Autumn got to it), but she refuses to see the medic. It had to be painful as she tears up in interview talking about it.
Ramsay says service has been slow, so he assigns both Holli and Salvatore to the front of the house to work as assistant maitre'd, but it makes little sense to remove a chef from a kitchen that's not getting food out fast enough. Also, Salvatore reveals he doesn't know how to write English. During the service, he brings back a Beef Wellington cooked wrong because he didn't write it on the ticket. Ramsay gets on him and Salvatore can't take the heat so he too walks towards the exit. J.P. talks him into staying, but he says he's going to finish service and put himself up for elimination if his team loses.
The chefs on both teams struggle. Maria brings up terrible risotto and doesn’t really know what she's doing, but Nilka helps her. Scott gets scallops sent back because the color is bad. Jason struggles on garnish. Scott tries to help but Jason doesn't like it. Jamie burns mashed potatoes, and Siobahn helps outdur, which angers Ramsay. Siobahn sends up raw halibut, which enforces Ramsay's point that everyone should stay on their own station.
Fran gets a steak sent back because it's not cooked right and gets very flustered. She sends another incorrectly cooked steak to the pass and Ramsay catches it. Her arm is in great pain yet she refuses to seek help, not wanting to show weakness. Autumn tells the Sous Chef, and Ramsay finally orders Fran to the medic.
With both services complete, Ramsay gives the win to the Blue Team because of Benjamin's work. He tells Red Team to make two consensus picks. They agree on Fran, and have to figure a second. Jamie is under discussion due to her difficulties, which usually finds her telling people "I got it." In the interview, Maria says the only thing Jaime has got "is an excess amount weight," though she's not really one to talk about bodies.
Ramsay tells Fran he is worried "because he can't teach an old dog new tricks" and rudely seems to emphasize "dog." After calling Fran's name, he sends her back in line because he believes she has fight in her. Jaime is sent packing because she lacks creativity and leadership qualities.
Video: Hell's Kitchen, "13 Chefs Compete"
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Recap: Hell's Kitchen, "13 Chefs Compete"
The chefs feed hungry college students and gamble on ingredients.
Now, in the second hour of the double header...
Quick Take: Hell's Kitchen, "12 Chefs Compete"
After the die is cast, the switch is on.
Review: Hell's Kitchen, "12 Chefs Compete"
(S0704) Ramsay calls Salvatore aside as teams leave and informs the Italian lad that he hasn't given up on him. Sal and Scott get up early for tutoring because Sal wants to improve since he's the least experienced chef.
The challenge tests their creativity. With a roll of the die, each chef picks an item that starts with the letter that comes up.
For the Blue Team:
H: Halibut
E: Endive
S: Salsify
C: Crab
P: Peas
B: Bacon
Ramsay thinks every item is a good choice. The Red Team makes some "interesting choices." Fran rolls a 'B' and is stymied. As Ramsay counts down, she starts to panic and spits out "Beets." 'S' is shallots, and Ramsay sounds nervous already. Autumn says "Mango" for 'M,' causing the Blue Team to celebrate and Ramsay claims to be stunned. When "Turnips" are suggested, Ramsay laughs.
For the Red Team:
B: Beets
S: Shallots
M: Mango
H: Ham
T: Turnips
D: Duck
They have 30 minutes to create a dish. Autumn gives orders but no one wants to listen. Sal is looking to help, but is ignored until Scott gives him something to do.
Ramsay likes the Blue Team's dish but the salisfy isn’t cooked well. Ramsay also likes the Red Team's, especially the idea of putting the duck fat in the turnip, which was Autumn's decision. Blue wins because Nilka didn't cook the duck right, or Red would have won. In interview, Autumn says she knew it wasn't right.
Their punishment is cleaning the entryway and prepping both kitchens. The men are to be rewarded with skydiving. Jason isn't thrilled, but it turns out it's not out of plane but in a wind tunnel. J.P. checks the Red Team's cleaning with a white glove and they missed a lot.
Three hours before opening, Maria has a breakdown during prep because they aren't close to being ready and she doesn't want to let Ramsay down. She overreacts again when Ramsay told her to get her pretty face over to him. Her emotions will be her downfall.
Chef's tables were placed in the kitchen. The Red Team got Kevin Frazier from Entertainment Tonight; the Blue got actress Debi Mazur of Entourage fame. Plus, lots of minor celebrities appeared in the dining room.
As the dinner service progresses, each team has highs and lows. Scott shows he isn't as helpful as he thinks, and is rather full of himself. He brings up a rare piece of meat that should have been a medium and says it feels medium rare to him, which still wouldn't be right. He also screws up a Wellington, serving it raw instead of rare. Ed has trouble with potatoes, which come out rock hard.
Siobahn puts lobster instead of crab in the capellini twice. Says the sign said it was crab, so she obviously can't see the difference. Autumn mishandles the fish and it falls apart. Salvatore meanwhile has a little trouble with a red snapper appetizer but rights himself and does really well the rest of night on the fish station. Nilka does really well on meat station.
Both teams complete service, and upon reflection they might be completing better at this stage than previous seasons. Ramsay said he was amazed at how good they were. Pumps up Sal and Nikla, saying they are much better than their resumes. They are tasked with each picking one person to potentially go home.
Nilka chooses Autumn, saying she has book knowledge but didn’t show it in action today. Salvatore picks Scott, his pal and tutor, who had a very bad night. It's an impressive call that should serve him well because he shows he won't let relationships compromise his judgment.
Ramsay says Autumn is the team's appendix and calls her soulless. Scott calls himself shit on a shovel, but suggests he's the best leader. Ramsay says he talks like a politician and he's not as good as he thinks he is.
I thought Ramsay was going to send them both back, but he calls them both up, surprisingly, and has them switch teams, making up for Andrew walking out, which was expected at some point. It also helped that both teams had a good service.
Video: Hell's Kitchen, "12 Chefs Compete"
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Eric, true that Sal likely made an enemy, but Ramsay will absolutely respect the decision, and from what we were shown Scott did have the worst performance. Also, I didn't mention it but Sal was classy to let Scott know beforehand what he was thinking and didn't blindside him.
It's more important to get Ramsay's respect for your talents in the kithcen and your judgment as not-nominated Mikey found out when he headed out the door.
just watched tonights episode when ramsey left lex luthor in charge,and when ben was trying to help and call out orders he got his ass chewed out .for being at the mans station.what a prick!! personally there is only one ramsey and lex luthor will never be him... the way he screamed at the man reminded me of watching those pro wrestling shows....sucks that jason went home,but if he were to get talked to like ben had and had the bald asshole get in his face i truly believe mr. luthor would have been on the floor looking up..considering jasons anger issues..and would have went home anyway.