Next Level Chef recap episode 2: Fallen steak to first eliminated

With the three teams ready for the “high steaks” challenge, Next Level Chef episode two proved that one mistake is one too many. Which team has the first person eliminated from the culinary competition?

After the three teams were picked in episode one, many people were wondering if there were any clues about which team could or would have an advantage in the first challenge. Although there are many random factors in this competition, a strong mentor and a touch of luck might help some contestants rise to the top.

While much has been said about the tri-level kitchens, the reality is that the kitchen itself is not as big a factor as many people assume. In some ways, the location tries to influence the mindset of the chefs. Although the basement might not be the pristine location, the reality is that any good cook should be able to create a good meal no matter the circumstances.

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Which Next Level Chef saw their dreams fall quickly?

For the first challenge, the chefs had to create a delicious steak meal. As the teams randomly traveled to their respective levels, Gordon Ramsay top, Nyesha Arrington middle and Richard Blais basement, the interesting factor was not the kitchens, but the chefs’ difficulty in thinking on the fly. As the ingredient shelf descends the levels, it is interesting that the chefs do not have a plan as they race to gather ingredients.

Since the chefs knew that the challenge was steak, it would have made sense that there would have been some brainstorming. Which cuts of meat can’t be prepared within the time frame? How many ingredients should be part of a well-composed dish? What meat should they avoid? Basically, the questions would be as plentiful as the ingredients.

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Given that the chefs only have 30 seconds to grab everything that they need, they need to be decisive. If these chefs do not have an understanding of which flavors go together or how ingredients can be manipulated, they will continue to struggle. Unlike that social media video, there is no take 12.

It will be interesting to see how the chefs and teams learn to better pick their ingredients. Hopefully as the season progresses, the chefs will see the dish more quickly. That quick grab will look less chaotic and more purposeful.

Is the basement kitchen really at a disadvantage on Next Level Chef?

As the ingredients descend the levels, one part of the premise is that the basement gets the leftovers. In some ways, that last group might be given a gift. Since indecision has been plaguing the chefs, the limited ingredients can help the chefs clarify their vision. Maybe some chefs will start to relish being in the basement.

From the first grab to the mid-challenge twist, it seems that the chefs who can adapt in the moment will excel. While that mid-challenge twist was meant to bring the unexpected, the additional ingredient was not that too difficult of a twist. But, the chefs who know how to employ that ingredient wisely can surge to the top.

Although there were many takeaways from the first team challenge, the chef who chose to use the “fallen” steak might have made a bad choice. While it seemed like a gift from above, there probably should have been some rule about not using fallen meat. If there was enough protein for everyone to use, no one should have used floor meat.

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Overall, it is hard to tell if professional chefs will have an advantage in Next Level Chef. As anyone who has watched a Gordon Ramsay culinary competition, chefs can have good and bad days. Unfortunately, a bad cook can be a chef’s ultimate demise.

Since it is only Next Level Chef episode two, the majority of dishes were brushed over. Even during the judging portion, many of the dishes were given just a glimpse. Granted, the top and bottom dishes were the focus. Still, there is a presumption that growth will be a factor in this competition. Maybe watching the episode again would offer some more insight.

The two top dishes proves that a great chef makes a well-composed dish. Whether it was the basement kitchen who shined with limitations to the top kitchen who pushed the intricacies of a dish, the reality the teams better have paid attention.

Still, Team Ramsay score the first win and save that team from the elimination round. It was a blessing for one chef, who forget an ingredient on his plate.

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With Team Blais and Team Arrington putting a chef up for a head to head elimination battle, no one wanted to be the first chef eliminated. Still, there might have been some strategy in the chef mentors choosing the competitors. Again, as the first challenge, it will be interesting to see how these head to head battles play out. Could a mentor chef use it to cut the fat from their team?

The biggest takeaway from the head-to-head battle was the nerves. As the two chefs cooked in front of Gordon Ramsay in the penthouse kitchen, Team Blais chef Gary seemed totally frazzled. While he had done well in the basement, he was overwhelmed within the moment. From burning his sauce to running around, it was clear that his dish was going to be scattered.

While the blind judging of the two dishes produced a unanimous decision, it will be interesting to see if the judges can tell the dishes of the chefs in the future. After the judges see these chefs cook more and more, it seems likely that judges will get to know a chef’s style. Will that judging really be blind?

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In the end, the first chef eliminated from Next Level Chef was Gary. His pork dish wasn’t cohesive. While he did well in the first episode, the gravity of the moment seemed to take over.

Looking ahead, it seems that some people might benefit from being on a strong team. A bottom chef could skate along with the help of others. As long as the best chef becomes the ultimate winner, everyone will be happy.

What did you think of the first team competition on Next Level Chef episode 2? Can you predict which team could rise to more victories?