Next Level Chef Season 4 episode 6: Ready, set, ramen

In Next Level Chef Season 4 episode 6, everyone was ready to slurp. While the platform never stopped, the cooks needed to think as they grabbed ingredients for that next level ramen. Inefficient ingredient choices proved to be a stumbling block that could not be overcome.

Ramen is a great test for these chefs because the dish can be transformed in many ways. Some dishes can be elevated, sophisticated, or even elegant. Others can be a bowl of scrumptious street food that has bold flavor. In both cases, the chefs need to pick a direction and stand behind it.

Additionally, ramen is a good challenge for people to watch and learn. Anyone can open a pre-made ramen and slurp to their hearts content. But, it can easily be “chef-ed up.” A simple egg, extra vegetables, or a protein can make it taste even better.

Since the platform was continuously moving in this challenge, the chefs needed to be thoughtful with each grab. Similar to previous challenges, there are too many mistakes. From dropping ground pork to having to make noodles from scratch, the cooks need to see and grab more efficiently.

Looking at the ramen dishes, it was clear that some chefs got the challenge, and others were just hoping for a free pass to the next round. Anyone who has watched previous seasons knows that it is better to control your own destiny.

Even before the top team was announced, there seemed to be a presumption that Team Ramsay would be safe. With only three chefs remaining, with a chef dropping out due to a medical issue, Beatrice earned the win, again. Her pork dish captured what a great ramen should be. It might not have been uber creative, but it was well done.

With Team Blais and Team Arrington going into battle, one chef was clearly going into the showdown. Maryam struggled in the main challenge. Her broth ratio was off and her ramen was clearly in the bottom. It just seemed she did not understand how to properly execute the dish.

Nyesha Arrington took a cue from Richard Blais and nominated Iman, one of her top chefs, into the elimination round. In the ramen challenge, Iman had a top dish. The choice was a risk, but one that Team Arrington was willing to take.

The elimination challenge had both chefs make a Japanese fusion dish. The concept was wide open. How the two chefs blended cuisine styles and executed that concept was key to surviving.

Maryam decided to bring together Japanese and French. This idea is not common. While the steak and potatoes dish had stunning potatoes, there was an underlying bitter note. That flavor was off putting.

Iman blended Japanese and Latin. This fusion is a stronger choice. Peruvian food is a great example of that blend. Her ponzu taco was smart. That citrus punch was creative and well-executed.

With too many missteps on the plate, Maryam was sent home. Team Blais will be back in the basement in the next episode.

Will Team Ramsay keep its team of three strong or will the Team Blais rise from the basement? New episodes of Next Level Chef air Thursday nights at 8 p.m. ET/PT on FOX. Episodes can be streamed the next day on Hulu.