Hell’s Kitchen Head Chefs Only: Who earned Black Jackets?

All the chefs long to make this milestone in Season 23. With five Black Jackets on the line, who earned the coveted new wardrobe in Hell’s Kitchen Head Chefs Only?

After Charity Night and the season’s first double elimination, the chefs are ready to finish strong. There are only a few more challenges between them and the title.

As Gordon Ramsay introduces the Black Jacket challenges, he references the significance of the number 23. While famous players have worn that number, the winning chef will earn a spot in FOX food television history. There are only a handful of chefs who have earned a spot in the Ramsay empire.

For the first challenge, all the chefs had to cook with the same seven ingredients. With 45 minutes on the clock, it was vital for the chefs to stand out. Too many celery root purees were on the plate. While the best execution won out, creativity went a long way.

The first chef to earn a Black Jacket was Hannah. In addition to her perfectly cooked veal, it was the use of cumin that set her dish apart. The subtly of the herb that added nuance to the whole dish ensured her dish was unlike any other.

The second chef to earn a Black Jacket was Brandon. He chose to smoke the celery root puree. That depth of flavor united all the ingredients. It showed a lot of flare.

Unfortunately, Whit was crushed that she did not earn one of the first Black Jackets. Going into the next challenge, her disappointment was clear. But, it is not how a chef reacts, but how they recover, which makes them a winner in Hell’s Kitchen.

For the second challenge, the chefs had a mere 23 minutes to cook a dish. While they could cook anything that they wanted, the minimal time required them to show restraint and thoughtfulness. Unlike other food television shows, there was no raw preparation allowed on these plates. The majority of elements needed to be cooked.

Even though she struggled at first, Whit rebounded amazingly well. Sticking to the flavors she does best, her Chinese five spice pork was delicious. It felt like her and showed her resolve. She easily earned a Black Jacket.

In a surprise, Kyle showed the restraint that has been needed all season long. His duck dish with dashi was refined. The smart choice of using both cooked and raw vegetables proved very successful. He earned the fourth Black Jacket.

With only one Black Jacket remaining, it was a battle between Amanda and Egypt. The theme for the final challenge was to cook a dish inspired by their mentor. The two dishes could not be more different.

Amanda chose a miso glazed cod with a crispy rice cake. Cooked in the pizza oven, it hit the balance of sweet and sour. While it was well-executed, it also had heart. As seen throughout her cook, it was an emotional dish.

Egypt went completely outside of the box. Topping his filet was a tortilla ravioli, a concept that no one has tried or would think could go together. Rarely does pasta and steak pair on a plate and using a tortilla as a ravioli wrapper is unusual.

But, Egypt took a huge risk and it paid off. The use of the brown butter to add crisp, nuttiness to the ravioli was a winner. He earned the final Black Jacket.

Amanda was sent home, but she did not have to give up her chef coat. Her culinary career has promise and there should be more to come from her.

With the final five chefs remaining in Hell’s Kitchen Head Chefs Only, who has a chance to earn the title? Right now, it is up for grabs. A great day or a bad day in the kitchen could cause a change in fate.

Be sure to watch new episodes of Hell’s Kitchen Season 23 Thursday nights at 8 p.m. ET/PT on FOX. Episodes can be streamed the next day on Hulu.