Just like the platform in mid-round mayhem grab, the team safety has disappeared. As all the chefs head to the top kitchen to earn their spot in the competition, Next Level Chef Season 4 episode 9 had an outcome that no one predicted. Poor platform grabs and chaotic cooking caused favorites to face potential elimination.
As the judges announce the “Thunderdome” cooking chaos moment, the chefs learned that all immunity has been taken away, too. There was no hiding, or space, in this first cook.
With all nine chefs cooking at once, people needed to be strategic. It was more than just seeing, reacting, and grabbing well from the platform. The chefs who had a plan were able to succeed in earning that top spot.
Overall, the first round of dishes showed the chefs' nerves. From overthinking to simple mistakes, the chefs were all over the place. The two dishes that focused on execution earned high praise.
It was clear that Austin was going to be the first chef picked. His wagyu dish could be on an elevated restaurant menu. The perfect execution earned him a spot.
Although some of the competitors were unhappy with the judges’ pick, Beatrix’s dish earned the second spot. The judges warned her about seasoning and balance, but it was a top contender.
The interesting part of these two chefs earning a place in the top kitchen was that they chose to work together. Given the limited space with everyone cooking at once, this pair found a way to harmonize their space. It was a strategic move that paid off.
During the second cook, the chefs seemed to have found their groove. Even though there were a few mistakes, the chefs who focused on smart, well-balanced flavors did not have to plummet to the basement.
Becca had a standout dish. Her carrot romesco with the perfectly crispy skin on the fish was sublime. She clearly earned top billing in the middle kitchen. It was good to see her shine after having several occasions where her confidence was falling.
The other middle dish winners were Bobby and Arnav. Even though Arnav forgot to close the oven door, his mushroom grits earned high praise. Bobby’s fish was both well cooked and had lovely flavor. He understood that beautiful ingredients do not need to be fussy.
Unfortunately, all the other chefs had one more cook in the basement. With Gordon Ramsay guiding them in this final challenge, the pressure was on them to keep their place in the competition.
The basement cook saw some favorite chefs fighting for their lives. Brandon, Ryan, Megan and Natalia had to transform some less than ideal ingredients into a Next Level Chef worthy dish.
Brandon made a smart dish. Taking the canned ham and being able to balance its saltiness earned him the first spot. When he thinks clearly and focuses, he can be a contender.
After several missteps, Ryan found a way to make a simple dish shine. Richard Blais said that the dish reminded him of a comfort food dish that his mom would make. It earned him a spot.
The final spot came down to either Megan or Natalia. Megan’s fish salad needed a touch more salt. But, it was an interesting presentation.
Natalia’s dish needed another texture. While the chicken skin was nice, the dish was a little mushy.
The biggest issue with Natalia’s dish is that it did not resonate with her cooking style. The Italian centric dish did not connect with her point of view. It just felt lacking. Natalia was sent home and Megan earned the last spot.
More twists and turns are coming to Next Level Chef Season 4. How will the Time Token influence the competition?
New episodes of Next Level Chef Season 4 air Thursday nights at 8 p.m. ET/PT on FOX. Episodes can be streamed the next day on Hulu.