Hell’s Kitchen Season 19 episode 6 recap: Is there a jinx in the kitchen?

As Hell’s Kitchen Season 19 episode 6 opens, the chefs are ready to hit all the right notes. While expectations are high, a few chefs were able to smash that opportunity and others needed to be pulled off the big stage. Which team crashed and burned in this Hell’s Kitchen episode?

Fans of food television cooking competitions know that there are a few jinxes. One of those circumstances is the birthday curse. With Josh informing everyone that it is his birthday, the air was let out of the room. Birthdays and cooking competitions can be the kiss of death.

For the first challenge, the chefs went head to head in an Italian food challenge. Even before the chefs smashed their way to revealing the dish, there was a little gamesmanship since the chefs could choose their opponent. Did the chefs really pick who they thought that they could beat?

While the challenge was meant to elevate the dish, the feedback was a little confusing. While Lauren was praised for her bold combinations of several cheeses and lobster, Kori was chided for her dish not quite finding the right melody.

In some ways, all the Hell’s Kitchen Italian food dishes had a few clunker notes. No one had a perfect flavor symphony.

Still, in the end, the Blue Team earned the most points. As the reaped the Italian feast reward, it seemed that the chefs might be coming together as group. Could a family style Italian dinner really have the chefs feeling the love?

The Red Team handled the punishment in stride. While the Blue Team battles over who has the loudest voice, the Red Team is finding the balance. Even though the ladies are not perfect, they are learning to work together as a strong brigade.

Going into dinner service, both teams seemed prepared to step up to the challenge. It seemed that the word of the night was drive. Over and over again, Gordon Ramsay kept asking who’s driving, let’s drive, who’s in the driving seat. Although the Blue Team did just have the race car reward, it was more about steering the kitchen towards a successful service.

In reality, that idea of drive is another word for leader. As Chef Ramsay has said over and over, he needs a leader in the kitchen. Although the voice needs to be loud, it is not just about being vocal. It is about hearing, listening and moving the team forward.

Is there a Hell’s Kitchen jinx?

Looking at the dinner service, Amber had a meltdown. While every chef can have a bad night, the tears were flowing in the walk-in. Although she was able to get it together in the end, the emotional moment was both good and bad.

As it was said earlier this season, there is not crying in the kitchen. Even though the emotions should not be seen as a weakness, it isn’t the best choice.

On the other hand, that emotional reaction shows how much she cares about earning Chef Ramsay’s praise. After Peter chose to leave last week, Amber’s strong reaction to her cooking mistakes shows that she is vested in the cooking competition.

Even though Amber and her fish was the Achilles Heel of the Blue Team, they were able to recover and complete service. Between her mistakes and Josh’s lack of communication on garnish, the Blue Team faced elimination.

Although Marc still has personality issues with the rest of his team, the Blue Team nominated Amber and Josh. The reasoning was based only on that night’s kitchen service.

While Amber’s mistakes were clear, Josh had several issues in the kitchen. In some ways, the garnish station seems to be jinxed. Last week, Peter faltered on that station. This week, Josh seemed lost, too.

The phrase used to describe Josh on the line was scattered brained. While under seasoned potatoes is a rookie mistake, he seemed to lack engagement.

In the end, Gordon Ramsay eliminated Josh. The parting words were clear. Josh had no voice in the kitchen and that caused him to go up in flames. And, that birthday curse on food television continues as Josh blew out his birthday candles alone.

With both team completing a successful dinner service, a line has been drawn. There is no going backwards. The chefs’ feet are to the fire. Have they become accustomed to the heat?

What did you think of this Hell’s Kitchen episode? Do you think that Josh should have been eliminated?