After the judges draft the teams, the professional chefs, social media chefs, and home cooks are ready to prove that they earned their spot in the competition. For the Next Level Chef Season 4 episode 4 challenge, the chefs did not have to go too far outside of their comfort zone. America’s most popular cuisine was on the platform. Ready for an Italian food challenge?
The first challenge of any food television competition is telling. Some chefs want to make a big statement right away. Others want to play middle of the road. A few fail miserably. All three scenarios were clear in this first challenge.
While many chefs prepare for the pressure of Next Level Chef, no one can full appreciate the setting, the platform, and the pressure. Still, this scenario can be a little less daunting for professional chefs. They know how to work a dinner rush or deal with a variety of ingredients. Experience often pays off in a challenge.
For the first challenge of the season, Italian cuisine was approachable. While some ingredients fell to the basement, like the cod, others seemed to be out of left field.
The mid-round mayhem drop was definitely a gift. The chefs had to pick either a cheese or a cured meat. Both items are standard in Italian cuisine. These ingredients did not cause too much chaos for the first dish.
The most telling aspect to this first Next Level Chef Season 4 challenge was dishes were either spectacular or sub-par. Additionally, it was clear that some chefs allowed the panic to set in and others ran with the chaos. The ones who were overwhelmed and scattered may not be long for the competition. There are only so many challenges where a poor dish can be saved by a teammate.
The most disappointing team was Team Ramsay. Misty’s dish did not make the platform. While everyone appreciated the desire to avoid overcooked pasta, there is no excuse for missing the platform. It is a rookie mistake.
Similar to previous seasons, the top dish from each team earned the immunity pin for the season. While the first top dish is remarkable, these cooks need to continue that greatness. No one wants to hit a high only to fall off a cliff.
Instead of wallowing in the mistakes, the top dishes deserve a moment to shine. Although Team Blais was back in the basement, Jeff’s fried cod dish was impeccable. The combination of textures and flavor impressed the judges. Jeff earned the immunity pin.
On Team Arrington the top dish was clearly Bobby’s Parisian gnocchi. Making that element and ricotta from scratch was clearly an achievement. Not only did his dish earn Team Arrington safety but it also earned him the immunity pin.
For Team Ramsay, the top dish was Ryan’s ravioli. The combination of handmade pasta and a flavorful filling proved that he has tremendous talent. It was a dish to get him noticed.
Team Ramsay had another member who was noticed, but not for a good reason. Misty did not get her plate on the platform. The indecisive pasta cooking caused issues. It was a miss all around.
While Team Ramsay was in the top kitchen and had some big issues, Next Level Chef fans will start to wonder if the curse is back. As many people remember, the top level kitchen caused many teams to fall directly to the basement in previous seasons. Could the trend continue?
Since Team Ramsay had to nominate a chef for the Elimination Round, it was clear that Misty would have to cook. To redeem her mistake, she needed to focus.
In a twist that no one could have imagined, Richard Blais decided to put his best chef, Austin, into the Elimination Round. It was a ballsy move. Blais is clearly playing the game this season.
For the Elimination Round, the chefs had to create a piccata. The key with this dish is to bring the brightness of the lemon, the brininess of the capers, and a well cooked protein together in a well balanced bite.
Austin picked the veal. It was a smart choice for the professional chef. His veal was the star of the plate. While the creamy, buttery sauce and the cauliflower puree were a little heavy, his protein shined brightly.
Misty had pork. While she pounded the loin, it was still a little too thick. Additionally, her dish lacked enough capers to balance the other flavors.
The eliminated chef was Misty and Team Ramsay lost its first member. While Gordon Ramsay picked his members for their youthful exuberance, he might be rethinking that choice. Will be be able to recover from the first loss?
Could Next Level Chef Season 4 finally bring Team Blais a win? Be sure to watch new episodes every Thursday night at 8 p.m. ET/PT on FOX. Episodes can be streamed the next day on Hulu.