Next Level Chef: Important takeaways from the season premiere

As Next Level Chef debuted on FOX, the Gordon Ramsay, Richard Blais and Nyesha Arrington led culinary competition did more than set itself apart through its innovative format. During the fast-paced hour-long show, viewers had a treasure trove of delicious finds to discover.

With a season premiere, the tone for Next Level Chef had to be set. Although there was a little tough love, the fiery comments were minimal. Still, it was clear that each team leader, Gordon, Blais and Nyesha will have their own style. Truthfully, it seems that Nyesha might be as demanding as Gordon Ramsay.

But, since those chefs were picking their teams, the competitors really didn’t get a say in whether or not their leader would be a good fit for the culinary style. It will be interesting to see if the competitors excel in their respective teams or if they will wish for a different leader.

With three different kitchens, the biggest takeaway from the premise is that a great cook can create an amazing meal no matter the circumstances. While the best pans and kitchen gadgets can be helpful, it isn’t a requirement. Looking at some of the best dishes of the night, they came from the basement kitchen.

Even though equipment might not have as big as influence as people thought, the ingredients and quick grab was a huge factor. With only 30 seconds to grab all the ingredients, it was more than scurrying through a pantry. The ability to visualize a dish in a hurry was key.

As the ingredients descend through the levels, it was interesting that some items were over looked. How a lamb loin made it to the basement baffled everyone. At the same time, one chef’s forgetting to grab a protein might have been his downfall.

Looking ahead, it seems that the ingredients will be a bigger factor than the kitchen location. Any great cook can use any kitchen tools to produce a tasty meal. No one needs gadgets and gizmos to bring out flavor in a dish.

But, less than stellar ingredients need nuance and creativity. As seen in the Next Level Chef premiere, no one wanted to cook with potted meat. But, a creative solution to the less than stellar ingredient earned rave reviews from the mentors.

Although it is unclear if the chefs were picking teams based on strategy or something else, the school yard style picking created balanced teams. At the same time, the first challenge might not be a true reflection of a cook’s ability.

Looking at the various contestants, it wasn’t their title, home cook, social media cook or professional cook, that proved their culinary ability. As has been seen on many culinary competitions, titles do not matter. Creativity and execution on a plate earn praises from the panel.

From big egos to lack of confidence, Next Level Chef seems to want to see a cook’s journey. Similar to both Hell’s Kitchen and MasterChef, it isn’t where the cook starts; it is where they finish. The evolution will be key to earning the ultimate title.

Since the Next Level Chef premiers seems to have everyone talking, the good news is that another new episode airs on Wednesday, June 5. With the teams getting into the heart of the competition, it will be interesting to see how the mentors push their team. Will Gordon Ramsay drive one of his cooks to the ultimate victory or could team Blais or team Nyesha snatch away the first Next Level Chef title?

Next Level Chef airs on FOX on Wednesday nights at 8 p.m. EST.

Do you have a prediction for which mentor will guide a cook to victory? Do you think that each kitchen has a different standard for excellence?