With 21 more challenges between these chefs and the Food Network title, 24 in 24 Last Chef Standing tested a concept that is more difficult than it seems. Simplicity is more than just limited ingredients. For these chefs, 24 in 24 Last Chef Standing Season 2 episode 2 showcased their ability to create flavor with a clear focus.
Although this Food Network challenge is grueling with the non-stop cooking, Season 2 has more twists and turns to keep the chefs on their toes. In the first episode Stephanie Izard and LT chose safety by coming in second and third in the mise en place challenge. Unfortunately, choosing rest came with a negative.
For choosing to get a pass in the early challenge, both Stephanie and LT had to face a head to head battle. They had to transform a peanut butter and jelly sandwich into an fancy lunch. In addition to those three classic ingredients, the chefs could include three additional ingredients.
The idea was to keep the concept of a peanut butter and jelly sandwich yet offer a creative, innovative lunch dish without complicating the simplicity of the original sandwich. With a total of six ingredients, simplicity does not mean bland or boring.
Both Stephanie’s and JT’s dishes were quite different. JT skipped the sandwich all together and opted for a riff on a Caesar salad. Combining peanut butter and miso for a dressing and jelly transformed into a coulis, the resulting dish was quite unique.
Stephnie stayed with the sandwich concept. Her soup and salad combo captured the nostalgia of the classic peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Although the dish could have used some herbal note or other brightness, it felt like a creative take on a sandwich.
According to judge Graham Elliot, he picked Stepanie’s soup and sandwich combo. JT was sent home and Stepanie received the Golden Knife. Since Kevin Lee choose not to compete in the sudden death cook-off, he lost the Golden Knife and the advantages associated with the perk.
For the next simplicity challenge, the chefs had to taste a pasta dish blind. Taking away sight confuses the palate. Some chefs only got two ingredients right. No one would think that a top chef would miss some key flavors in a pasta dish.
As the Golden Knife holder, Stephanie was able to add an ingredient to her dish. Given that she only had two ingredients, a third was very helpful. Additionally, she could take an ingredient away from a chef. She picked to remove one ingredient from Kevin Lee.
For the pasta dish, the chefs could use a dried pasta or create their own fresh pasta. Any ingredients used in making fresh pasta would not count towards their limited ingredients. In addition, a handful of other ingredients, like salt and olive oil, did not count towards the limited ingredients’ list.
Overall, the dishes were good. Pasta dishes do not need a kitchen sink full of food items to make them taste delicious. Restraint, or simplicity, is vital to a great pasta dish. It is about finding a way to make the pasta shine while still delivering delicious flavor.
A few dishes captured that concept. Jonathan Sawyer’s dish was quite smart. He used all his ingredients in many ways throughout the ricotta gnocchi. There might have only been a handful of items, but it felt as if he had prepped this dish for hours. He won the simplicity round and the golden knife.
The other successful dishes were the ones that played the game smartly. Limited ingredients did not hinder the dish. In some ways, it enhanced it.
The chefs who decided to make their own fresh pasta embraced the loophole in the challenge. The items used in making fresh pasta were in addition to the other limited ingredients.
For example, Gabe played that hand well. His gnocchi was bursting with flavor. No one would be able to tell that he only had two other ingredients that he could use.
Unfortunately, Lawerence made a big misstep with his dish. While he wanted to do a riff on a simple ramen dish, the pre-made, packaged noodles were a poor choice. There shrimp and roe would not make up for the lack of flavor.
In this case, the bowl of noodles lacked a smart approach to the challenge. Simplicity does not mean that the dish should be bland or boring. Lawrence was sent packing.
The chefs immediately moved into the fourth shift, resourcefulness. To make it to the last chef standing, there would be 18 more challenges to complete.
To test resourcefulness, the chefs had to complete a three course, black tie dinner. Over the 60 minutes, each course had to be presented at a particular time, 20 minutes for the appetizer, 40 minutes for the entrée, and 60 minutes for the dessert. Additionally, there were a total of 10 ingredients that had to be used throughout the three plates.
What the chefs did not know until the appetizer was judged by Jet Tila was that four chefs from each round would be safe and would get a break. At this point in the competition, every few minutes away from their station is the recharge to help them move farther in the Food Network competition.
As the holder of the Golden Knife, Sawyer was able to pick the ingredients for the challenge. While some people might not have appreciated the ghost pepper and pimento cheese, he was equally as giving with the pistachios and strawberry milk for the dessert course.
The biggest takeaway from the appetizer round was that the chefs were rushing to get the plates to the judges’ table in time. Most chefs arrived with just seconds to spare.
Overall, this 24 in 24 Last Chef Standing challenge put the focus on techniques and execution. Not only did the dish need to taste good, it needed to fit the theme. There needed to be refinement that conveyed the elegant affair.
In the appetizer round, the top dishes were quite clear. The chefs who found ways to elevate the ingredients instantly earned the win. The first four chefs that were safe were Kathleen, Sawyer, Gabe and Nini.
The entrée round found more chefs being successful. For example, Bryan Voltaggio presented a stunning entrée. Although he often falls just short of winning a food competition title, he seems to be doing well in 24 in 24 Last Chef Standing. It might finally be his time to earn a win.
The next four chefs earning a spot in the next round were Bryan, Stephanie, Kelsey, and Elia. After forgetting to plate two dishes in the appetizer round, it was good to see Kelsey make a comeback.
Fighting for their lives in the dessert round were Damarius, Kevin, and Brittany. After earning the Golden Knife in the first challenge, Kevin faltered. Maybe the Golden Knife is more of a curse than a benefit.
It was clear that the chefs would focus on berries given the strawberry milk. The key to this dessert was to have a sophisticated element. Although Damarius’ scones were more homey, they delivered great flavor.
Unfortunately, Brittany missed the mark with her dessert. She faltered all day in the kitchen. It seemed that the pressure and the timing proved to be too much for her to succeed.
Lastly, Elia had the top dish of the day. Her beautiful fish dish was sophisticated and creative. It earned her the Golden Knife in the next shift. Will it bring her luck or will it have the opposite effect?
Be sure to watch new episodes of 24 in 24 Next Level Chef Sunday nights at 8 p.m. ET/PT on Food Network. Episodes can be streamed the next day on MAX.