After a dismissal dinner service for the Red Team, the head chefs are hoping to find some cooking harmony in Hell’s Kitchen Season 23 episode 7. From the head-to-head beef battle to another lively dinner service, hitting the right notes is never easy in Hell’s Kitchen.
To kick off the episode, the head chefs were treated to a performance from Yale’s Winffenpoofs. While that musical interlude was nice, no one would have expected that their second number could hold the chefs’ fate in limbo.
For the challenge, the chefs had to create the best possible beef dish with particular ingredients. As they sprinted between the kitchen and the platform, the melodic singing of ingredients did not necessarily sweeten the experience.
Still, as most challenges have shown, the head chefs perform better in challenges versus dinner service. When they are allowed to showcase their culinary creativity, they impress Gordon Ramsay.
Overall, all the dishes were good. No one had any huge mistakes. Steaks were cooked beautifully and sides were well executed.
The biggest mis-step came from Hannah. She had never cooked a rib cap before. By choosing to do a roulade, it did not highlight the superb cut of meat. The flavors might have been exciting, but the meat was unevenly cooked.
At the end of the challenge, the teams were tied. The winner would be determined by the best dish of the night.
Earning the win was the Blue Team, thanks to Egypt. His rib cap with blue cheese and gruyere mac and cheese was a quintessential steak house dish. It was perfectly cooked and epitomized the challenge.
Going into dinner service, Hannah had an emotional moment. Although she chose to continue in the competition, her confidence was shaky. It showed on the appetizer station. Mistakes with risotto were many.
Eventually, the Red Team righted the course and pushed out dishes. They found their groove, but Megan seems to want to have her in everything. Instead of focusing on making her fish station the best, the constant interference with others was not necessarily helpful.
In contrast, the Blue Team finally found its groove. Communication was clear. Everyone worked together. They even included Egypt in the mix. It was like a team who had been working together for a long time.
To determine the winning team, the first group who finished service would win. Neck and neck to the last table, the Red Team brought a raw veal chop to the pass. They lost and had to send two chefs up for elimination.
Although the discussion did not get heated, some chefs dug in their heels about their mistakes. Amanda’s raw veal might have sealed their fate, but she felt exempt from the critiques. It might have been one mistake, but it was a costly one.
Ann Marie had issues on garnish. Megan had issues with an undercooked salmon as well as interfering with garnish.
Both Ann Marie and Megan were nominated. Although many people wanted Ann Marie to go home, Gordon Ramsay sent Megan home. It was less about the mistakes. Instead, it was that her team did not believe in her. Two weeks in a row saw her up for elimination. If the team would not stand by her, why should Chef Ramsay?
The top 10 milestone is around the corner. Which chef will rise to the occasion and who will see their culinary dreams get smashed to bits?
New episodes of Hell’s Kitchen Season 23 air on Thursday nights at 8 p.m. on FOX. Episodes can be streamed the next day on Hulu.