All language subtitles for Next.Level.Chef.S02E03.720p.WEB.h264-BAE.[eng]

- Previously
on "next level chef"...

- We have gone up a level,

But one dish stood out--
the tongue.

- [squeals]
- oh!

- It's go time.
- Cassie, alex.

You're headed
to the elimination cookoff,

Where only one of you
will survive.

- I'm going to eliminate
the succotash.

- The pork chop
with the succotash.

- Alex, you will not be
our next level chef.

- All I know is, can't keep
a bad bitch down too long.

[laughs]

[dramatic music]

- Hello, beautiful!

- Today you'll all be creating
a next-level sandwich.

- What is
a next-level sandwich?

I don't know.

- I've just screwed
this all up.

- Come on, platform is here.

- Ah!

Ah, ah!

♪ ♪

[tense music]

♪ ♪

- Welcome,
and good to see you all.

- Good to see you, chef.
- Good to see you, chef.

♪ ♪

- Cassie.
- Yes, chef?

- Well done in that
elimination cookoff.

- Thank you so much, chef.

I'm traumatized
from elimination.

Nobody wants to be
in that situation,

And I don't want
to feel that again.

- Listen, all of you.

In this challenge, we want you
all to take something humble

And elevate it
into something amazing.

Today you'll all be creating

An upscale,
next-level sandwich.

- Yeah, yeah.
[applause]

- What is
a next-level sandwich?

What's going
to really elevate a sandwich

To the point that we could
categorize it as next level?

I don't know.

- Do not underestimate
the word sandwich.

We serve upscale gourmet
burgers in all our properties.

Today we expect you
to do the same thing

For that humble sandwich.

Elevate it to the next level.

- Listen, a great sandwich,
it is a thing of beauty.

A lobster roll to a banh mi--

They can be as packed
with flavor as you choose.

- Pilar, what's
your favorite sandwich?

- Fried catfish po' boy.
- Oh!

- Wow.
- Yes.

- Out the gate.
- Vinny, favorite sandwich?

- Peanut butter and jelly,
chef.

- [laughs]
- that's it?

- That's it, baby.
Basics, basics.

- I'm gonna need to see more
than that today, otherwise--

- You're getting that, chef.
Don't you worry.

- Home sweet home, big man.

Yes?
[laughter]

- I want them to bite
into my sandwich and say,

"this is what I've been
looking for my entire life.

Vinny's done it.
You're hired."

[laughs]

- All of you
will have 40 minutes

To create your perfect
next-level sandwich.

That platform will be packed

With every ingredient
you'll need.

Do not minimize
your ingredients today.

Otherwise, you're going
straight to elimination.

Is that clear?
All: Yes, chef.

- All right, team blais,
you're back cooking on top,

Thanks to tini's best dish
last week.

- Team ramsay, thanks to cassie

Cooking her way out
of elimination last week,

We're back
in the middle kitchen.

- Okay, my loves.

Team arrington,
we're down one teammate,

And we're back in the basement.

This is our time to cook
our way back to the top.

- All of you, good luck.
Off you go.

♪ ♪

- Going back
to the top level, baby.

We'll be able to pick the
top-of-the-line ingredients

And all sorts of equipment.

I already plan
on using the kitchenaid,

These lovely hexclad pans,
and that vitamix.

These sandwiches are going to
be next level without a doubt.

[elevator bell dings]
hello, beautiful!

[cheers and applause]

♪ ♪

- Our best work has come
out of this kitchen.

- That's all you need.

- We're still six strong
on team ramsay.

[elevator bell dings]
- let's go, let's go.

- Home base, baby.
Home base.

- Let's go.

- But we need to get
a top dish on our team

So we can get back up
to the top.

This is it.

- This is the best challenge
to be in the basement, guys.

- Let's go, let's go.
- Yes.

- This is the best challenge.
- Agreed.

- This basement sucks so bad.

- Let's go.

- But I make sandwiches
for my husband and my boys,

So I can make a sandwich.

[elevator bell dings]
- what's up, team?

Let's go, let's go,
let's go, let's go. Ugh!

[cheers and applause]

Line up, line up.

- The boss is coming.
[elevator bell dings]

- Let's go. Let's go,
let's go, let's go. Yes?

I want
a perfect sandwich today.

Team ramsay
is standing strong,

With a 100% record
and 6 strong chefs.

I've got to up my game to make
sure we don't go down to 5.

[elevator bell dings,
cheers and applause]

- Let's go, chef. Let's go.
All right. We're on the top.

Let's stay on the top.
- Yes, sir.

- Sandwiches, they are
harder to put together

Than you think.

Oh, it's a sandwich.
Boom, boom, boom.

- Yeah.
- It's not.

It's a lot of layers
of structuring.

- We are not losing
another person, right?

- No, not today.

- One, two, three.
All: Team arrington!

[cheers and applause,
elevator bell dings]

- When it's green,
it's go time.

- Oh, it's coming,
it's coming, it's coming.

- Go! Let's go.
Get over there.

Okay, grab what you can.

This sandwich of mine is
going to be earth-shattering.

I'm going to save my team
from elimination this round,

Hands down.

- Don't bite me, don't bite me.

I know exactly what I want.
I want that lobster.

And I just start
grabbing things,

Stuff it in places
that you don't stuff food.

- Do you have bread?
Do you need cheese?

Do you have a condiment?

Five seconds.
There's hot sauce.

- Where's the mayonnaise?

- You can grab it
until it goes.

- I am trying to focus
on the protein.

I got flat iron.

- If you can grab it,
you can get it.

- All these things
are running through my head.

I'm like, "oh, my god."

And I'm trying
to reach for bread,

And the platform
starts moving.

I wanted to jump in there.

Damn it.

I forgot bread.
What was I thinking?

[sighs]

- Let's go, guys!
Come on, let's go!

Let's go, let's go, let's go!
Well done.

Grab.
Look at that.

- Who let the hanger steak
drop to the middle floor?

Y'all are silly.

There's only one per cow.

Mmm.

Put it in the apron basket.
Mine.

- Ten seconds.
Go back again, vinny.

Go back.
Grab, vinny.

Grab, grab, grab.
- Any lemons?

Any lemons?
- Other side, other side.

- Any lemons? Give me a lemon!
- Five, four...

- Give me a lemon!
- Cheese, cheese.

- Three, two, one.

Grab, grab, grab, grab!
Let's go, guys.

- Go! Here we go.
[claps hands]

Spread, lettuce,
bread, protein.

- I see pork, I grab the pork.

And then I'm looking
for the cheese.

Where's my cheese?

I would love some cheese
in my sandwich.

I didn't see any cheese.
There was no cheese.

There was zero cheese.

I didn't see it.

- Come on, guys.
You want this.

I know you do.
Three, two, one!

Platform's still here.
Grab what you need.

Let's go, let's go,
let's go, let's go.

- I saw the soft-shell crab.

My eyes lit up, and I'm like,
"that's it."

I want to make sure
I make an amazing dish

So we can get
the hell out the basement.

I'm tired of it.
- I got the lobster.

- Yeah, you did.
- Oh, yeah.

- Yeah, she did.
- That's my lobster.

He's going to make sure
I don't get an elimination.

So you have to, you know,
give it love.

You have to make
food with love.

You're going to taste
so frickin' good.

You're going to get
another top dish.

- All right, team,
your 40 minutes starts now.

Okay, darryl,
what are we thinking over here?

What are you doing?

- I think I'm going to
marinate this flat iron

And maybe make a bread.

- You're gonna make a bread?

- I'm going to make
a flat--flat--

- You're going to
make a flatbread.

Okay, because you
didn't grab bread?

- Yeah.

Oh, god.
Never forget your bread.

If you hear someone screaming
in the kitchen real loud,

You know it's me.

I'm chef drama.

So I want to try to give
you drama on the plate.

I'm darryl,
from atlanta, georgia,

And I'm a professional chef.

I own an upscale
catering company.

When you come to an event,

It's all about
the dramatic presentation.

Many call me chef drama.

[somber music]

At the age of 31,
my kidneys shut down.

I remember
when the doctor said to me,

We have to start you
on dialysis today.

I just jumped up and ran
and just--

♪ ♪

It just like,
brought it back, you know?

2019, I received a new kidney.

A gift of life.

And to be here
on "next level chef,"

It has shown me that
all things are possible.

- All right, matt.
How was the grab?

What are you going to do?
- It was good.

I got a filet mignon.
I got blue cheese.

- You're making a steak
sandwich

With some cheese
and mushrooms.

- Yeah.
- Got it.

Let's go, let's go, let's go.

The stakes are high.
The pressure's on.

Gordon hasn't lost a player.

Do I want to take
down gordon ramsay?

Of course.

Team blais is taking it home.

- Winning sandwiches.
Winning dish today, right?

All: Yes, chef!
- Absolutely.

- What's your game plan, shay?

- I'm making a pork belly
in a coconut curry sauce.

- Yum.

- With a little
pepper tomato slaw.

And I haven't quite
figured out what

To do with this mushroom pate,
but I'm really glad I got it...

- Maybe a spread.

- 'cause I figure it's
got a lot of umami.

- Nuri, what's your
game plan, chef?

- So what I'm
going to do is make

The pancetta mayonnaise,
toast the buns,

Fry the soft-shell crab.

- Who you cooking
for right now?

- My daughter right now.
This one is for her.

- Your daughter to come, right?
- Yes, chef.

- I know you've
got one on the way.

- This one's for her, chef.
- What's her name?

- Uh, she's nori.
N-o-r-I.

- Ah!
- I'm n-u-r-I.

- We love to see it.

- Yes, chef.

I don't want to attach
my baby girl's name

To nothing but perfect.

Fingers crossed.
Top dish, baby!

- Nori, this is for you.
- This is for my baby girl.

- Right, vinny.
What did you grab?

- I grabbed a nice
little haddock.

- Ciabatta. Yeah?
- Ciabatta.

- And how are you going
to cook this fish?

- I'm gonna batter it up.

I got my oil nice
and hot, going.

- Elevate it, yes?
- Yes, chef.

You got that.
- Okay, good luck.

- Thank you.

Being a firefighter, we live
through pressure every day.

Right now, I'm the
duck on the water.

I might look cool and calm,
but my little flippers

Under the water are
going banana sandwich.

I'm vinny from massachusetts,
and I'm a home chef.

I've been a firefighter
for 18 1/2 years,

And I'm the firehouse cook.

Love cooking for the firehouse.

They will tell you if it's
garbage or if it's great.

- It's so good.

- People describe me as
a very loud, fun guy.

I love to compete.

You could be tom brady,

And I will throw a football
against you.

It doesn't matter.
I'll compete.

I'm a very proud father
of my daughter, madison.

She's nine years old.

Let's put you right over here.
- Okay.

- She is my very soul,
my very breath.

Being a dad is the best
achievement in my life.

I want to win this
competition for my daughter.

That's my special ingredient
coming into this competition.

I am bringing my a-game.

I'm a fireman,
and I don't give up.

- Preston, what did you grab?

- I grabbed a lot of spices
for my banh mi, chef.

I'm making an aioli right now.

- It's a sandwich, okay?
- Yes, chef.

- Don't underestimate
the power of simplicity, okay?

- Yes, chef.
- Good.

Cassie, what'd you get?

- I didn't get a bread.

- Hold on.
You didn't get bread?

Oh, my god.

How did you not get bread?

You can't forget the most
important thing in a sandwich,

And that's the bread.

Oh, boy.

Otherwise, you're
an idiot sandwich.

- I am now messing up
two challenges in a row.

- What happened?
- I must be blind.

Chef ramsay is just
looking at me

Like I am
the sore thumb in his group.

- Young lady, you do not want
to be back in that elimination.

- I have to figure out
what to do,

Or else I could be going home.

- Think about that
composition there, okay?

Think about what you're doing.

- I'm going to make
a cheese crisp

For a little extra texture.
- Okay.

- I forgot the bread,

So I'm going to make a lettuce
open-face sandwich wrap,

Served with a cheese crisp.

This is going to really
just help with my dish.

- So you're doing
a fried turkey--

- Like a hot chicken sandwich,

Using the sambal
for the hot glaze.

- This is just like cooking
at the magazine, right?

- Just like it. Just--
- just like it?

A totally controlled
environment.

- Exactly.
- You have enough time.

But you left the magazine
to do this.

- So far, feel like
it was a good choice.

My name's mahreen.

I'm a 27-year-old home chef
from brooklyn, new york.

Both of my parents
are from bangladesh.

My mom would make
incredible bangladeshi food.

All of my culinary influences
started with my mother.

I was an editor
at "bon appétit" magazine,

But I did recently quit
to come on this competition.

There's a smart,
logical version of me

From a few years ago thinking,
what the hell are you doing

Throwing your salary
out of the window

To cook next to gordon ramsay?

Knowing that I have so many
little cousins and nieces

That want to go
to culinary school,

And I can't wait to show them
what it looks like

To have another muslim woman

That looks like them
living out that dream--

To know that they can make
it to this level, too.

This is in their cards
as well, not just mine.

- You got 30 minutes left.
There's not a lot of time.

There's always a lot of things
to think about with sandwiches.

- Let's go!

- All right, chris.
What are we up to over here?

You're pretty pumped up.
I can tell.

- [bleep], I am.
- All right.

- I'm gonna basically do
a fried shrimp po' boy.

- Okay.

- It's going to be some spicy
mayo to go with the shrimp,

And I toss it in, and I got
white truffle paste as well.

- Okay.
All right.

- My focus right now is taking
team ramsay's digits down.

I am ready to be an
absolute menace to them.

- Oh, lord.

I'm just screwing up.

- Flip this thing, darryl.
- Yes. I'm trying.

- You take a negative, and you
turn it into a positive.

- Right.
- Lemons to lemonade.

No bread to the best homemade
bread you've ever had.

- Right.

- Let's go, team blais.
Come on.

- Does anybody see a brush?

- We're in the basement.
[laughs]

- What do we have
here, pancetta?

- That's for
the mayonnaise, chef.

I'm going to do
a pancetta mayonnaise.

I'm here to win, baby.
That's what I'm here for.

But the competition
is heating up.

And it's 250 grand on the line
and a year mentorship.

About another minute
on that, and I'm good.

If you're a shark,
you're going to swim.

If you're a fish,
you're going to get ate.

And I'm a shark.
[chuckles]

It's "next level chef," baby.
Let's go.

- April...
What protein do you have, chef?

What protein did you grab?
- Pork.

- You have pork?
- Yes.

- Are you 100% sure about that?

When you taste it--
- oh, lamb.

I'm sorry.
- You have lamb.

- Yes.
- Taste it.

- Yes.
- Dead giveaway.

- I knew exactly what I had.
I knew I had lamb.

When the chefs
speak to me,

I get so nervous
and so anxious.

I could be holding a cucumber,

And they're going to say,
what are you holding?

And I'm going to say, a banana.

- What's your
game plan here, chef?

- I'm going to do ahi tuna
sandwich,

A tarragon-infused
ranch dressing.

- Now you're
thinking like a chef.

- Yes, chef.

I've never done
a sandwich like this before.

But my specialty is sushi.

So I know I know how
to cook ahi tuna.

- Game day, baby.

Let's get out of this basement.
All: Yes, chef.

- Get out of this basement.

- I don't want to be
in this basement no more!

- I need this whole
team to get ready.

I'm not losing
to those guys upstairs.

These chefs came to win today.

- 25 minutes remaining.

Stunning, elevated sandwich.

- My fish broke.

It's not easy
to elevate a sandwich.

Do you keep it basic?

Do you go
out of what you know?

I'm really behind right now,
and I'm not loving this.

- Good, catfish.
When is that going on?

- Right now, chef.
- Yeah?

But make sure you've got a
nice color on that catfish.

And you got to let it rest
as well, because it's fibrous.

- Yes, chef.
- It's very, very--

- Swole, like you.
- Yes, exactly.

- [chuckles]

- Let's go, team blais.

I'm sick
of the up-and-down game.

We want to stay
on the top kitchen.

- I have just really...

Screwed this all up today.

- All right, everyone, it is
time for mid-round mayhem!

What goes well with sandwiches?

- Chips.
- Pickles.

- Pickles!

You have to make a pickle.

You got to grab it right now.

It's mid-round mayhem.

You got to make a pickle.

It can be pickled
any which way.

Five seconds only.

What can you make?
What can you make?

What do you need also?

You can grab it!
You can get it!

♪ ♪

- Let's go,
all of you.

A stunning pickle
with your sandwich.

Five seconds.
- Jalapeño.

- Let's go.

- I know that I need
some acidity

To balance out my dish.

But, hey, you got
any bread up there?

That's what I'm thinking.

- Pickled.
Has to be pickled.

You understand?
- Yes, chef.

- Grab, grab, grab, grab, grab!

- Mid-round drop--
it's no joke.

I know I need something
to pickle

To bring some acidity.

I need to elevate this.

I manage to grab
a cauliflower.

- Get your pickling liquid on.
All: Yes, chef.

- Make sure the vinegar
is balanced out

With some water, okay?

- Yes, chef.
- You don't want it too strong.

What's the plan
with the radish?

- I'm pickling the radish.

- Your flavors have been
on point, shay.

- Thank you, chef.
I appreciate it.

- Stick with that.
Yeah, I appreciate it, too.

Let's go.
- All right.

Can't let the nerves
get the best of me.

- Let's go, shay. Let's go.
- Thank you, chef.

I'm shay.
I live in key west, florida.

And I am a social-media chef.

Growing up, I never felt that
I was really good at anything

Until I started cooking.

Finally, I found my passion,
after all these years.

I started posting on tiktok,
on instagram my recipes.

I didn't think much was
going to come out of it.

Then I started going viral.

And once you go viral,
you want more.

It's like you're at a casino

Pulling that slot over
and over again.

I am engaged.

I have been with james
for 8 1/2 years.

Want me to feed you?

He's my best friend.

I don't think I would be
sitting here right now

If it wasn't for him,
because he's my--

Ah.
I'm getting a little emotional.

[glasses clink]
- cheers.

- Cheers.
- Love you.

- I want to win this
competition so we can have

A freakin' awesome wedding
and I can pay for it

And not freak out.

- Chef, time?
- You have 15 minutes to go.

Come on, guys,
I want to win this.

I want to win.
Come on.

- Yes, chef.
- Want to win.

- Don't be scared
of this sandwich. Let's go.

[bleep].

- That's not ready yet, chef.
- No.

Vinny--he's got this beautiful
slice of haddock,

But he's sort of
almost overcooked it.

It's like, it needs
to be elevated.

But right now he's
out of his comfort zone.

Great shame.

- What am I doing?
What am I doing?

What am I doing?
- Uh, cassie.

- I'll check my
fries in a second.

- No, it's not the fries.

It's the cheese crisp.
It burnt.

- It's burnt.
- I can smell it from here.

- It's burnt.
- Take it out and start again.

- Yes, chef.

[dramatic music]

- Do you make sandwiches
at home for the kids?

- All the time.
- All the time?

- Yeah, all the time.
- So this is like--

We're in your wheelhouse.
- Dude, I'm in it. I'm in it.

- All right, what are your
kids' favorite sandwiches?

- Oh, they love steak.

- You're making filet mignon
for your kids?

Steak sandwiches?
- Oh, yeah, yeah.

They've had it.
- You're dad of the year.

- Richard, they've had
caviar, truffles,

And steak, by request.
- Unbelievable.

I like that.
- [chuckles]

- All right, chef,
I'm here with you.

- I've just screwed up.
- Okay.

That's still raw.
That's still raw.

Yeah?
I mean, it's raw.

So don't worry
about overcooking it.

I'd get it in the oven, right?

Okay. Super worried
about darryl over here.

He didn't grab any bread.
He made his own flatbread.

He's kind of flustered.

I don't know
if he can pull together.

So much pressure
to stay on top.

Everyone comes up here,
they get a little complacent,

And they fall quickly below.

I don't want that
to happen today.

I love this.

Is it cooked
all the way through?

- I pounded it out pretty flat,
so I hope it's good.

- All right, are you not
going to slice it?

- I've chosen
the turkey breast.

And I'm looking at it
and knowing, okay,

This could get too thick real
fast, too dry really fast.

But I can just imagine
chef ramsay cutting through it

And being pleased, hopefully.

- We are running out of time.
- Oh!

♪ ♪

- How are you spending the
next five minutes of your life?

Let's get out of this basement.
All: Yes, chef.

- Hell, yeah.

- P, I need to see
pitbull p here today.

Walking around
the kitchen is not

Going to get you to the
title of next level chef.

- Yes, chef. Hear.
- Intensity.

Full throttle. Let's go.
- Yes, chef.

- Let's go, guys.
Last two minutes.

Start building those amazing
next-level sandwiches.

Let's go.
- Yes, chef.

- I want to see the pickles
in there as well.

I want to identify
what we're pickling, yes?

- Yes, chef.
- Yes, chef.

- Let's go.

- A minute left.

Season your food.

Does it look beautiful?

Did you get your pickle
on the plate?

Think about presentation.

We want to stay
on the top kitchen.

- Platform's on the move.

Come on.
Platform is here.

It's here.
It's not waiting for you.

Let's go.
- Making room for you, girl.

Put yours down here.
Put yours down here.

- Shay, right now.
- I got it.

- Come on, chef.

- Come on, team.
Pickles!

Let's go.

- Ah!

[plate clanks]
- it's too late.

- It's okay.

- Oh, my gosh.

Ugh.
Pilar, pilar, pilar.

That's what I wanted--

To elevate the dish
a little bit more.

I'm hoping that the lack of the
pickle is not a disqualifier.

- Okay.
Let's go.

♪ ♪

- I got far charger right here.
- Let's go, guys.

Five, four...
- Taking second furthest.

- Third, third.
- Three, two...

- Get it, get it.
- One, go!

- Good job. Let's go.
- Man.

- Good job.

- Cassie, that was the crisp.

You got no bread.

Parmesan tuile,
and there's the crisp.

No crisp.

Girl, come on.

- I forgot a component
that could really save me.

I definitely do not feel ready

To be in that
elimination round again.

- Platform's here!
The platform's here!

♪ ♪

Five seconds!

Matt! Matt!

- I pick up my plate, and I'm
running over to the platform.

And as I'm reaching up,
my apron hooks my arm.

- Matt!

Go, go, get your stuff
on there!

[bleep]!

- Just as it's going up,
I drop it on the platform.

[bleep].

- The pressure's on.
I mean, talk about anxiety 101.

I just hope the other floors
are in the same mess,

Or we are in trouble.

- [bleep].

- Everyone thinks that
sandwiches are easy.

But, truthfully, to
nail a great sandwich,

It's exceptionally hard.

There are some great
highlights in front of us.

But, honestly, it was
a struggle to get here

For some of you.

Shall we start off with
nyesha in the basement?

- Yes, please.
- Please.

- So, first up,
we have a albacore blt

On ciabatta bread,
served with a tarragon aioli.

[bowl dings]

Unfortunately,
this person forgot

To put on
the pickled cauliflower.

- Damn.

[dramatic music]

♪ ♪

I love this.
That tuna is absolutely nailed.

What is missing is the acidity.

- Yeah, it's lacking
some acidity.

I love the surf and turf.

And it's an ablt--creative.

- I'm wondering
what would have

Been the outcome
if I would have managed

To get those pickles
on the plate.

There was one pickle
on there, though.

[laughs]

- Next up, a pork duo.

This pork belly is cooked
with a coconut curry

And prosciutto with a spread
of mushroom duxelles.

- Duxelles and curry,
that doesn't go.

Let's get that
absolutely clear,

But I love the cook
on the caramelized pork.

Delicious.

- Am I the only one that wants
it wrapped in aluminum foil?

It's just got this, like,
on-the-go vibe to it.

I love the salad.

- So here we have sort of play
on a sloppy joe.

This person chose
to pickle bird's eye chili.

So beware.

- I love the tribute
to a sloppy joe.

My mom made me sloppy joes
all the time.

- There's no way on earth

That I'm going to taste
that as a pickled chili,

Because that will absolutely
obliterate anybody's palate.

And that is so soggy.
- Yeah.

- A shame.

- Next up,
a pork meatball sandwich.

This person picked maple syrup
to sort of enhance

The sweetness of the pork.

- Pork's really,
really well seasoned.

Maple's a little too sweet.

- It's a shame.
Bloody good meatballs.

♪ ♪

- Next up here, we have
a soft-shell crab sandwich

With pickled red pepper
and pickled cucumber.

[crunching]

- You can hear
the crunch on this.

- Yeah.
Great job on the batter.

- It's an absolute travesty
for me

To see that crab go all
the way down to the basement.

I was shocked.

But delicious,
really delicious.

- The crab's great.

The pickles--
outstanding on this.

- And that fresh slaw in there

Really adds
great textural elements.

- It looks like
the type of sandwich

That you'd get at a restaurant.

This is the result, I think,
of a great platform grab.

- This individual is cooking
at the top of his or her game.

- I was doubting my own self,
but no more.

It's go time.
It's showtime.

- Should we move to the middle?
- Please.

- Oh, boy.

- [sighs]
here we go.

- Let's start with this one.

This is a slice
of breaded haddock,

Topped with a pickled cabbage.

I was excited
with this individual

When he grabbed that haddock.

Dark fish.

♪ ♪

It needs seasoning.

It needs acid.
It needs to be lifted.

It was fried very quickly.

A little bit too fast
for their own good there.

- I did completely opposite of
what chef ramsay just told me.

Good tactic, vinny.
Good tactic.

- It's got that
hot-oil flavor to it,

Bordering on burnt.

- Next,
a marinated strip steak

With a beautiful aioli.

- Steak is cooked
wonderfully here.

- There's
a beautiful brightness

I absolutely love.

Great job.

- Now, this is
a seasoned catfish

That has been blackened on a
soft bun with a pickled slaw.

- Looking at this dish,
I wasn't impressed visually,

But the flavors
are just jumping around

And dancing on my palate.

- It's a tough one
to get right, catfish.

Really good.

This ham steak was seared.

And then there's
an artichoke puree.

- The pork is cooked
beautifully.

- I mean, you don't usually
see artichoke schmear

On a sandwich.

It eats really, really healthy.

I'm not sure
if that's a good thing.

- This is a hanger steak,

Served with pickled onions

And a beautiful truffle aioli
on top.

- This is
a well-executed thought.

And I have to say,
I'm really impressed

With how well the steak
is cooked.

- It's a chef's sandwich--
delicious.

Pork tenderloin.
It's an open sandwich.

Unfortunately,
forgot the bread.

Also, it came with
a parmesan cheese crisp,

Which was also forgotten.
- Wow.

- I'm confident in my flavors.

The challenge was a sandwich,
and I didn't make a sandwich.

- Flavor-wise, it's fantastic.
It's so fresh, so bright.

I don't want bread
all the time.

But is it a sandwich?

- Pork's cooked beautifully,
marinated beautifully.

Aioli's amazing.

But it is missing
the sandwich effect.

Should we move
to the top floor?

- Yes.

We'll start over here.

We have a surf-and-turf
open-faced sandwich

With homemade bread,
homemade bread.

- Did they forget the bread,
or was the intention no bread?

- They forgot to grab bread.
- Right.

- Oh, god.

- It's such a shame.
It looks like an entrée.

- I love the idea.

The bread is just
a little bit dense.

And I would say it's a bit
of a missed opportunity.

- It's missing
the sandwich part.

- I am so frightened.

The elimination challenge has
my name written all over it.

- All right,
in front of you, gordon,

This is a crispy shrimp po' boy
on a toasted baguette.

- Whoever made this is cooking
with such confidence.

This is textbook for me.
I love it.

It's a perfect sandwich
that is a proper meal.

This is a sandwich to die for,
and it's bloody delicious.

- I love to see the great
utilization of the protein.

I know exactly what I'm eating.

Visually,
it's absolutely stunning.

- This sandwich was
on a different planetary level.

Top dish, it's going to be me.
Just you wait.

- Moving on, we have
a cheesesteak, if you will.

It's filet with blue cheese,
mushrooms,

A chili aioli,
and some artichokes.

- It's a shame,

'cause it's not the most
visually attractive sandwich.

It's certainly one
of the tastiest.

- Take some time to be able
to plate something beautifully

So that the vision can carry
through to the flavor,

'cause the flavor's
absolutely impeccable.

- Mm-hmm.
- Yeah, unfortunately,

This chef ended up having to
toss his dish on the platform,

And that's why it looks
this way.

All right, moving on, we have
a play on a lobster roll,

Potato and dill,
and red-pepper salad.

- Lobster is beautiful,
really beautiful.

- It's so well cooked,

And lobster
is so hard to cook perfectly.

- I'm really impressed
with the pickle.

- Okay, here we go.

In front of you, gordon,

We have a hot
fried-turkey sandwich

With a fresh cucumber slaw
and a sunny-side-up egg.

- Can we just talk
about visuals first?

'cause it just looks beautiful.

[dramatic music]

To cook turkey like that

And have the confidence
not to slice it,

Knowing full well it's going
in front of us three

And it's nailed beautifully,
there's something quite unique

About this individual's
technical ability.

- I mean, this proves
that, like, you need technique

To cook a sandwich.

The dredge is so crispy.
The egg is perfect.

- Bloody good, chef.

- I feel incredibly proud.

The three best chefs
in america--

The fact that they like it...
I don't know what to say.

[laughs]

- We asked
for a next-level sandwich.

And let me tell you, there's
a lot to choose from here.

This is going to be
a very tough choice tonight.

Please give us a moment.

Shall we?

♪ ♪

Some really good dishes
tonight.

The techniques were incredible.

The glaze on that shrimp--
beautiful.

- Delicious.
- That's a top-level choice.

- Honestly, that turkey--
incredible.

- It was so perfectly cooked.
- Smart.

- That crab was delicious.
I mean, it looks stunning.

- Really great job.
- The pickles on that...

- Mm-hmm.
- Were next level.

- I'm disappointed
with the slab of haddock.

Great choice, but,
unfortunately, badly executed.

- Let's not forget

About that open-face
dense surf and turf.

- I mean, it's
a pretty neat concept.

- It did not look anything
like a sandwich, I'm sorry,

Even an open sandwich.

- It's not
about the presentation

As much as it was
the lack of flavor.

- That pork tenderloin
was desperate for bread.

- And even if you're
going to use lettuce,

Like, pick a protein that has
a lot more depth of flavor.

- Sure.
- It's close.

- We got our top, right?

Yeah?

- Yes.
- Let's go.

- Ah.

- [exhaling sharply]

Whew.

- Okay.

So the winning next-level
sandwich tonight...

Congratulations goes to...

♪ ♪

The soft-shell crab.

- Let's go! Let's go!

I got the best dish!
[claps hands]

I want to cry, chef.
- Aw.

- Like, I can't believe it.

- All three of us agreed,

It's the kind of sandwich

We'd stick
on our restaurants tonight

For a perfect appetizer.

It was exceptional.

- Thank you, chef.

- You're the type of cook who
walks around with cookbooks

In their bag, right?
- Yeah.

- It reminds me
of me growing up.

- Thank you, chef.

- Cook with that confidence

And carry that
through this competition.

- Yes, chef.

This one was for my baby girl.

So daddy's making
you proud, baby.

I'm making you proud.

- All right, team arrington,
you guys are all safe.

Head back to the lounge,
please, put your feet up.

- Yes, chef.
- Yes, chef.

- Good job, nuri.

- I'm just happy
that I could save the team

And get the best dish.

We deserve to be safe.

We deserve to get
out of the basement.

- Whoo!
- Let's go!

- Let's go! You did it!
- Let's go!

- Started from the bottom!
Both: Now we're here!

- Whoo!
- Let's go, guys.

- Started from the bottom.
Now my whole team's here.

♪ ♪

- [sighs] unfortunately,
that means that both of you

Have to pick one of your chefs

To battle it out
in that elimination.

♪ ♪

- This is really hard.

The chef I'm putting in
the elimination tonight is...

♪ ♪

- The chef I'm putting
in the elimination tonight

Is someone that was slightly
scattered across that cook

And I know can do much better.

The chef I'm putting in the
elimination tonight is...

[dramatic music]

Vinny.

Cassie, although you
forgot your bread,

Your flavors were delicious,
and that's what saved you.

Vinny, I want you cooking
up there

Like you cook back home
for your fire brigade--

Whole heart, passion,
but organized structure.

- Yes, chef.

- 30-minute redemption.

Clear?
- I'll bring it, chef.

Thank you.

- Richard?
- [exhales deeply]

All right, team blais,
this is where it gets tough.

I have to put someone
up against vinny,

Who's cooked
some tasty food here.

So the person that I'm going
to put in for team blais is...

♪ ♪

Darryl.

Not only did you
forget to grab bread,

But your sandwich
just lacked flavor.

You're a veteran.
You're a pro chef.

It's time to take vinny down.

- I'm ready to rock.

- Okay, vinny and darryl...

For this elimination cookoff,

You're both going
to take on a dish

That has seen
such a surge in popularity

Over the last couple of years--

Spicy chicken sandwich.

- If I can't bring the heat
on chicken,

Pack my bags
and send me home, okay?

- It sounds simple, but
a great spicy chicken sandwich

Is very difficult to get right.

- Yes, chef.
- Yes, chef.

- Team ramsay, team blais,
please head to the elevator.

- You got this, man.

- I could go home today.
I don't want to do that.

I'm a firefighter.
I'm ready to fight.

- Vinny.
- Yes, chef.

- Take him down.
- I don't think he can.

- You're coming back, darryl.
- I can bring it.

- Head to the elevator, and
I'll see you up there shortly.

- Come on, vinny.
Good luck.

- Time to rise up, darryl.
Let's go.

You got this, darryl.
- I got it.

- Don't cut yourself,
vinny, okay?

- Peanut butter and jelly,
vinny.

Peanut butter and jelly.
- Come on, vinny.

Take him down, man.
Come on!

- I'm gonna cook my heart out.

That's what
we're here for--heart.

Doing it for my daughter.

[voice breaking]
I miss her so much.

[cheers and applause]

- I came to cook, baby.

- Good!

- Chef arrington!
[cheers and applause continue]

- Darryl, vinny,
30 minutes, right?

- Yes, chef.

- Cook like it's
your last dish.

- Yes.

- Because the reality is,
for one of you, it is, right?

- Right.
- Yes, chef.

- Hands on the elevator,
please.

- Let's go, vinny.
[applause]

- Platform's on the move.

Go!

Let's go!

30 minutes.
- Here we go, vinny.

- Think spicy.
Think about your spread.

Think about your lettuce.
Think about your bread.

- There you go.

- How are you bringing
the spice?

You don't have to get it
all at once.

The platform's here
the entire time.

- There you go, there you go.
- Right?

What you got in your bowl here?

- I'm going to do a nice
little hot fried chicken.

- All right, we going thigh,
we going breast?

- We're going thigh
all day long.

It's a nice tender
piece of meat.

- Is this a sandwich
you've made before?

- I have never, ever
made this in my life.

- Okay.
What's your spread?

- I'm going to do
a hot mayonnaise.

- Hot mayonnaise. Okay.
Balance, right?

Spicy but not overwhelming.

- There you go, vin.
- You got this, bud.

- What's the game plan, darryl?
- I'm going to go with--

I'm gonna flatten
my chicken breast...

- Yes, sir.
- Get it into marination...

- Yep.
- And get some spice on it.

- Are we frying
your chicken, pan-frying?

- I'm going to fry it.

- Deep fry?
- Deep fry.

I'm going to get to it.
- Let's go, chef.

Make sure you balance
out the spice, okay?

That's really important.
- That marinade is fine.

- You're good.
Get a bowl for your aioli.

Darryl is confident.

That man has cooked
some fried chicken before.

As long as he brings
the right amount of heat,

Darryl's coming out with this.

- 25 minutes to go.

- Work on the chicken.

- Put your chicken
in the fryer.

Chicken needs to go
in the fryer.

- Grab your tongs.
- There you go, baby.

There you go, baby.
Yeah! Let's go!

- Vinny, vinny, left side.
Left side, make sure it's flat.

- There you go.
- Beautiful.

- Nice.
- Yes.

- Ten minutes down, guys,
twenty minutes left.

- There you go.

- Yeah, baby!

- [gasps] that was a lot.

That was a lot.
- Oh, that was a lot of chili.

- Whoo!
- Boom, we like it spicy.

There we go.

- They said they wanted heat,
so give them heat.

- Got a little heat.

- Get the chicken
in your flour

And get it
in the [bleep] fryer.

- Let's go, darryl.
Let's go, baby.

Let's go, chef drama.
Let's go, chef drama.

- Full throttle.
Full throttle, let's go.

- There you go.
- Here we go, d.

Here we go, d.
- In the fryer--cooler one.

All right, good.
Now go back.

- I am feeling confident.

I'm here to represent
hot atlanta.

- Check your chicken.

- Let's go, darryl.
Let's go, baby.

- Let's go.
- There you go, baby.

- They're soft.

My chicken isn't crispy.

I need to throw it
into the next fryer,

Which is a little hotter.
- Yep. Pop them in there.

- You can just switch
the things.

- Switch the baskets.
- Oh, he's got both.

You got all three.
[laughs]

Three out of the four
are being used currently.

That just isn't fair.

It's not cooked.
All the fryers are taken.

- Take it out.

- Sorry, vinny.

[laughs]

- Ten minutes left, guys,
ten minutes.

- Knowing how much time we had,
I'm like,

Put those potatoes in there
and go on to the next task.

It wasn't like I was trying
to take all the fryers.

I wasn't.

- All the fryers are taken.

- Finish it in the oven.
Finish it in the oven.

- Yep, going.
- Beautiful.

- He just put it in the oven.

So that's going to make
the bread a little soggy.

- Vinny, is your
pickling liquid

Boiling yet, or not yet?
- No. Not yet.

There's a lot
of pressure right now.

But pressure makes diamonds.
I'm a diamond.

I'm going to sparkle.
I'm going to shine.

I have it.

I just need to bring it
together.

- There you go.
Do it up.

There you go.
- Nice.

- There you go.
- Nice.

- Come on, darryl.
You got this, baby. Come on.

- Perfect.

That chicken look good,
I give him that.

- Beautiful buns.
- Sexy buns.

- Out of the gate,
I thought vinny had it,

But now darryl's coming back.

- Darryl's sneaking in.
- Look, he's speeding up, too.

- I'm confident.

I'm not going home
over some chicken.

No way.

Chef drama is bringing it.

- You don't want
this going soggy.

Retain that beautiful texture.

- Yes, chef.
- Two minutes.

Two minutes.
Start plating.

Start plating.

You got this.
You got this.

- Thank you, chef.
- Just build it up.

- It's cooked through, right?
You're using one of those?

- I'm using one of those.
- Season while they're hot.

Season while they're hot.
Do not put a burnt part.

- Plate it beautifully, right?
- Okay.

- You got this, babe!
- Grab a pick.

Grab a pick, if you want.
- Big one, big one, big one.

- Yes!
[indistinct shouting]

- One minute left, guys.

- Being
at an elimination challenge

Is so frickin' stressful.

I have no idea
how this is going to go.

It's close.

- You got this, vin.

- 20 seconds.
- Let's go, darryl! Let's go!

- Let's go, let's go!
- You got this.

- Come on, darryl.
Do it, do it, do it, do it.

Hit it.

- Ten, nine, eight, seven,

Six, five...

All:
Four, three, two, one.

[cheering]

- Let's go.

- Oh, this is going
to be very hard.

[elevator bell dings]

[dramatic music]

♪ ♪

- Gordon, richard,
our first dish here--

We have
a spicy chicken sandwich

With a chicken breast,

A side
of seasoned potato wedges

And a spicy barbecue slaw.

- Shall we dig in?
- Please.

- The chicken's cooked perfect.
- Mm-hmm.

- It's juicy.
- Okay, okay.

- Ooh, that looks really nice.

- Spice level's okay,

But I'm looking for a little
bit more contrast in flavors.

But it is cooked beautifully.

- Gordon, please.

- The breading's
a little bit bland,

But I love the cook.

It's cooked good.
- It's gorgeous.

Next dish, we have
a spicy chicken thigh

With cajun fries.

- Wow. It's a "spicy chicken
sandwich" challenge,

But this one is really hot.

What I love about this
is the acidity of the pickle--

Just a little bit
of that sweetness

That this really needs
because it is spicy.

- Gordon, please.

- Yeah, this one's
just slightly

On the overcooked side.

Smart choice of bun.

It's seasoned nice,
and it's hot.

This is a tough one,
really tough, indeed.

- Two really good dishes here.

Will it be
the spicy chicken thigh,

Or will it be the spicy
chicken with the breast?

♪ ♪

- I mean, literally,
it's that close.

It's six in one hand,
half a dozen in the other.

For me, my favorite, though...

It's got to be the thigh.

- Gordon, please.
- Two good attempts.

But the person
I want to save...

Is the person who cooked
the breast...

- Wow.
- On the technical reason

That it was cooked beautifully.

Nyesha, we're tied.

It's down to you
to break the tie.

Who are you sending home?

- Very difficult decision.

♪ ♪

The one I'm sending home
tonight, it's going to be...

♪ ♪

The chicken breast.
- Wow.

- That dish was cooked
by darryl.

Sorry, darryl.

- It's okay.
- You cooked well tonight.

- Thank you, chef.

- But the reality is,
it wasn't spicy.

I don't want to see either
one of these guys go home.

But also, this competition

Is about finding
the next level chef.

It's about the food
and who has the ability

To learn and adapt
in this competition.

This elimination cook was to
make a spicy chicken sandwich.

Vinny's sandwich
was more spicy.

- Darryl,
you brought the drama,

Truly, in this last round.

I'm going to miss having you
on our team.

- I'm going to miss being here.

- Loved cooking with you, and
the next time I'm in atlanta,

I'm going to have to find you.
- Look me up.

I am sad to be leaving.

I lost this battle,

But I haven't lost the battle
of living and learning.

[applause]

Let's see what tomorrow brings.

- Tough night, right?
- Yes, chef.

- But if you thought tonight
was tough,

Wait till you see the next
challenge you're about to face.

Trust me.
It's going to be tight.

Good night.
All: Good night, chef.

- Vinny.
Vinny, vinny, vinny, vinny.

- Good job.
- Thank you, chef.

- You're dancing on thin ice.

And guess what.
The ice is melting.

- "the ice is melting,"
he says.

[laughter]

♪ ♪

- Next time
on "next level chef"...

- You will have 45 minutes

To create a next-level
chinese-inspired dish.

- I order chinese.
I don't cook chinese.

- Why is the pressure
so much higher today?

- We on
"next level chef," baby.

- What did you grab?
- Whole lot of sauces.

- Sauces?
- I am an idiot.

- Hey, guys,
how's it feel down there?

- Let's not live here, okay?

Team blais has to win today.
There's no choice.

- Someone's going home
on the other [bleep] teams.

[loud smash]