Next Level Chef Season 3 episode 12: Zach offers a taste of Hawaii, exclusive clip

After rising from the basement, Zach from Team Blais is ready to prove he is the best professional chef left standing. In Next Level Chef Season 3 episode 12, his Bento Box dish offers a taste of home, but will it leave the judges longing for a trip to Hawaii?

With just a handful of chefs remaining in Next Level Chef Season 3, the pressure is intense. Even though the “alleged curse” plays mental games with the chefs, it is platform that continues to stump the chefs. When they cannot see the available ingredients, the better proteins seem to elude their grasp.

According to FOX, Next Level Chef Season 3 episode 12, “Bingo, Bango, Bento!” features the following:

"The seven remaining chefs work individually to create Japanese-inspired dishes for their bento boxes. From tempura to sushi, the chef who constructs the winning box claims the time token and top-level kitchen for the next challenge. Then, only Gordon will oversee the chefs during the Wagyu beef elimination challenge while Nyesha and Richard blindly taste test their creations in the all-new “Bingo, Bango, Bento!” episode of Next Level Chef airing Thursday, April 11 (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX."

FOX graciously provided this exclusive clip to FoodSided for tonight’s episode. Will Zach’s personal connection help him create a winning dish?

As seen in the clip, Zach chooses to use chicken in this bento box. While there could be a variety of ingredients on the platform, his reasoning is clear. He wants to channel Maui for an authentic, classic offering that is personal for him.

Sometimes those emotional connections can help push a chef to victory and other times they can cause a chef to falter. In the most recent challenge, Zach helped push Nicole and Team Blais to victory. But, Zach has faltered when his dishes are not well-focused or include superfluous ingredients. If he can keep his mental acumen regarding this dish, he could keep his winning streak going.

While chicken three ways might be an approachable choice for some palates, the idea might backfire with the judges. A chicken sushi roll is not common. A piece of grilled chicken wrapped in sushi rice is not a food trend on many menus. Most people would prefer their chicken and rice served in a bowl.

More importantly, the judges might prefer that Zach go for a more ambitious protein, if it is available. A fresh fish or even an elevated beef could showcase his culinary creativity a little more.

Will Zach’s chicken three ways keep him out of the Elimination Round? Be sure to watch a new episode of tonight’s Next Level Chef Season 3 on FOX at 8 p.m. ET/PT. Episodes can be streamed the next day on Hulu.