- 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]