All language subtitles for Next.Level.Chef.S03E16.720p.WEB.h264-BAE

- This has been the toughest--

We've got no [bleep] lights.

--Most competitive--

- I'm not going
to let you go with it.

- --And
the most grueling season

Of "next level chef" yet.

- ♪ where are the champs
now? ♪

- For the first time ever,
we started with 24 chefs.

- You'll have to earn your
place on one of our teams.

Both: Ah-ah-ahh!

- And tonight--

Go!

- --The final three will
compete for the mentorship--

- This is an experience
of a lifetime.

- I'm in the finale!

- --A quarter of $1 million--

- It would change my life
and my family's lives.

- All I have to do
is cook my heart out.

- --And the title
of next level chef.

- I want to hear that
I'm the next level chef.

I just want that so bad.

- The winner of
"next level chef: Is--

[dramatic music]

[cheers and applause]

[knives shinging]

[dramatic rock music]

[elevator dings]

♪ ♪

[timer ringing]

♪ ♪

[dramatic music]

- Ahh.

- [exhales]
wow.

We made it.

This is it.

- I'm in the finale!

Yes!

Ha-ha!

- Oh my god.

- Tucker.
- Tucker, hi.

- Hello.

- This is a huge surprise.

Tucker is just sitting
right in front of me.

- It took me a second to
realize, oh, it's chef tucker.

- Gabi, what's up?
- Oh my god.

- Christina, hello.
- Hey, girl. I love you.

- Chef, how we doing?

- Zach.

- I mean, she won last season.

Like, tell me what
I need to do to win.

- At this point,
you know you can cook, right?

You've got it.

You wouldn't be here if
you weren't a badass cook.

So focus, and remember,
this is your last chance.

Don't leave anything behind.

Leave it all out on that field.

♪ ♪

Crush this, guys.
- Thank you so much.

- Crush this.
- Crush this.

- Crush this.
- Good morning.

- Good morning.
- Good morning.

- Morning, chefs.
- Wow.

- Richard, nyesha,
and I cannot tell you

How proud we are of tucker.

- Yeah.
[applause]

- Tucker did exceptionally
well last year.

[cheers and applause]

- Winning "next level chef"
is just the beginning.

- I've had tucker do pop-ups
at my restaurants in

Orlando, florida.

- Every Friday,
we have a call to develop

The concepts for her cooking
classes and her pop-ups.

- Tucker's career
has taken off.

She's one of the most
wanted chefs on the planet.

- Give it up for this
amazing chef, tucker.

So good to see you, my darling.
- Chef.

- Thank you, chef.
- Thanks so much, tucker.

- It's last chance.
- Good job, tucker.

- Thank you.
- Make it happen.

- Thank you.
- How cool was that?

- That was awesome.
[laughs]

- You guys look so nervous.
- [laughs]

- And so you should be,
because today is a big day.

Let me tell you.

One of you will be awarded
the title of next level chef,

A check for a quarter
of million dollars,

And that coveted
one-year mentorship.

- Christina,
our new jersey nurse.

- What?

- How do you feel?

- I am feeling every
emotion under the sun.

I have to keep it together.

I'm a mom.

I have so much weight of
the world on my shoulders.

And this is my time.

- You got this.

- Zach,
our last remaining pro chef.

How are you feeling, dude?

- I'm ready to just
cook with heart today.

I got maui, my family.

I'm here to take it
all the way, chef.

- Gabi, you're 90 minutes
away from becoming potentially

Our next level chef.

What would that mean for you?

- That means everything to me.

I feel like that will
give me a career.

This gives me the runway to
actually do what I want to do.

I'm ready to have that.

- Listen, zach, gabi,
christina, only one of you

Can win the title
of next level chef.

But in order to do it, you'll
have to create a stunning

Three-course meal today.

- Ok, you're going to
start in the basement

With me,
where you're going to have

To cook a beautiful appetizer.

- And then you'll move
up to the middle level

To prepare a delicious
seafood course.

And I'll be right
there with you.

- And finally, I'll meet
you in that top level

To help you deliver
the ultimate main course.

You'll only have 90 minutes
to cook all three dishes.

Each of you will be
managing your own clock.

How much time you use on each
level is entirely up to you.

Once you've cooked each dish,
you then must hit the buzzer

And stop your clock.

Understood?

[together]
yes, chef.

- Now, before you start
this monumental cook

Today, nyesha and
richard and I would

Love to have a chat with you.

- All right, so zach,
head to the basement,

And I'll see you there.
- Yes, chef.

Thank you.

- Ok.

- Oh my god.
Here we go.

This is it.
This is it.

[tense music]

Ready to cook, baby.

Oh my god!

- Ahh!

- Dude, what--
- fabulous.

- My parents have been
so supportive in anything

That I've wanted to do.

Oh, man.

You guys made me cry.

Where's my makeup?

No.

They made me to the
man who I am today.

This is probably the most
important cook of my life.

- You got this.

- You know what to do.

You will.

You got it.

- Just having them here
means so much to me.

I have to win for them.

[light music]

♪ ♪

- Hi.
[sobs]

- Oh my gosh.
- How crazy is this?

- I know.
- Hi, boo.

- Hug me too.

[sobs]

It means the world to
me to have them here.

- I just cannot
believe I'm here.

- I can't believe
you are either.

That means I made it.

- It's something
that in my lifetime

I never would have expected,
and I'm so proud of you.

I mean, I'm so proud of you
for everything you've done.

And I'll follow you anywhere.

- I know.

- I love you so much.

- To share with them part
of this journey is so cool.

It reminds you of
why you're here.

[gentle music]

- This is it.

- This is so--

Ahh!

♪ ♪

Hi!

♪ ♪

- Oh my god.

Hi.

[sobbing]

Hi, beautiful girl.

Hi, beautiful man.

Oh my gosh.

It feels so good
to see isabel and steve.

I miss those cheeks.

Mwah!

- I need your nose.

- Mwah!

There the reason I'm here,
not just for my dream.

I'm going to do
this for you, ok?

- I missed you so much.

- I missed you
so much.

Winning the grand prize,
it would totally change

The path of my family's lives.

Give me all the good juju.

- Let's give great juju.

Ready?

All: Good juju.

- Isabel, she's like--

She's a superstar, that kid.

[sobbing]

I love you.

I just want to give
her everything.

- Love you, mama.
- Love you, mommy.

- Mommy sandwich.

[dramatic music]

♪ ♪

- Ok.

- Yeah.

- Please, all three of you.

Ok, this is it.

The time has come.

You are literally just three
dishes and 90 minutes away

From becoming our
next level chef.

That platform is moving.

When it turns green,
we are off.

Three incredible appetizers,
you'll only have 90 minutes

To cook all three dishes.

Go!

- Let's go, guys.

- All right, think
about flavor, produce.

There's a truffle up here,
worcestershire sauce.

- Yes, chef.

- Boom, scalps,
corn, prosciutto.

Thank you, basement gods.

Ponzu is over here.

- It's a risk going for
ground pork as opposed

To something more luxurious.

Oh my god.

But my goal is to knock
that appetizer out quick.

I really want to hit
that buzzer first.

- Protein, vegetable, sauce.

- I grab the giant prawns.

I grab coconut milk,
lemongrass, red chilies.

Ok, I'm going asian flavors.

- Five seconds, ok?

Grab more than you need, right.

You can grab as
much as you want.

- Yes, chef.
- Ok.

Spend every second
here, every second.

If you can grab it, it's yours.

If you can physically grab it.

Good job.

- Remember, you want to try and
bank time in this 90 minutes.

- Yes, chef.

- [laughs]

- Was that a diabolical laugh?

[laughter]

Get the things that need the
most cooking first, right?

- Yes, chef.

- Whatever that is.

It's going to be your sauce,
your protein, your big idea,

All where all that flavor is.

Get that cooking first.

All right, zach,
what do we got?

- Chef, I got some scallops
I'm drying out right here.

I have some corn.

I'm going to do a braised
fennel and corn succotash

With a ponzu beurre blanc.

- There's lots of
ingredients in it.

Sounds like a zach dish.

The ponzu's kind of giving me
a little bit of hawaii vibes.

- Yeah, I'm going to
probably fold that

In with my beurre blanc, chef.

- Ok, five minutes down.

- Thank you, chef.

- 85 minutes left in the
whole entire competition.

Let's not spend 80 of
them down here, ok?

- No, chef.
- No, chef.

- All right, gabi.
- Hi, chef.

What are we doing?
What'd you grab?

- So I have some ground pork.

I am going to make sort of a
spiced meatballs and broth.

I want sort of a warming dish
and just make sure that broth

Is incredibly flavorful.
- Ok.

Ok.

- It's risky, making a broth
in this amount of time,

And I am like, oh my god, is
this the right call right now?

- Just make sure visually
this is something

That's stunning as well, ok?

- Absolutely, chef.

- All right, christina.
- Hey, chef.

- What are we doing?

- I just want to do a
really simple seared prawn

And a coconut broth.

- Ok, I love the idea.

Just make sure, again, big,
big, flavors and technical

Precision when it comes
to the proteins, ok?

- It's getting a little tough
to clean these, actually.

I'm going to do it like this.

- Yeah, just use your hand.

Usually, I grab
the legs off first.

I pop the legs out,
and that sort of

Opens up the belly area.

And then you can peel
away that shell real easy.

Zach, what's the ideal timing
you're looking for here?

- You know what, chef?

If I can keep it
under 20 minutes,

I'll be in perfect shape.

I have a plan.

I want this first appetizer
to be done in 20 minutes.

I know I could crank out
a beautiful fish course

Or seafood dish
in about 30-ish minutes,

And then whatever's left
is for the meat course.

- Right behind.

- 10 minutes down,
80 minutes to go.

- Yes, chef.

- You said you were going to
do this with a flavorful

Broth, right?
- Um, so--

- Where's the broth?

- The broth is--

Oh my god.

I forgot about that part.

I'm still making
these meatballs.

- You don't need 100
meatballs for us.

- No, just a few.
- Get it going.

- Yeah, I need to--
- ok, I know.

I know, but we got to
get it going, right?

Because the broth needs
to develop flavor.

Those are things that you
make the day before usually.

What do you need?

- Stock.

- Pull it together, gabi.

- A little over 12
minutes down, all right?

- Thank you, chef.
- Thank you, chef.

- Gab, get that broth on now.

This needs to be done asap.

- Get a top on it
or get it reducing here.

- My goal was to
try and give myself

A little more time
on the next two cooks,

So I got to get moving.

- Ok, here we go.

Christina and gabi's dish,
they require a lot of time.

You have these two broths
that usually take overnight.

Gabi's behind on her broth,
and she's making meatballs.

That needs the most
manipulation, so time

Not necessarily on her side.

It seems like zach
is sort of, like,

Almost buying time
for the other floors,

And his dish seems a little bit
light compared to the broths

I'm seeing on the other side.

- Of course, there's no
strainers in the basement.

- It takes guts to be like,
I'm going

To do meatballs
for my first course

In the
"next level chef" grand finale.

- Hey, I love a meatball.

- So does everyone,
but just make sure,

Again, you're taking the time.

Did you taste one?

- Yes, chef.

- All right, everyone,
70 minutes remain.

- Yes, chef.
- Yes, chef.

- Yes, chef.
Thank you.

- 70 minutes
to change your life

And hopefully secure $250,000
and a one-year mentorship.

- Yes, chef.
- Yes, chef.

- Don't leave anything
on that cutting board.

Make sure that this is an
outstanding-looking dish.

- Yes, chef.

- This, this, this.

- Tongs, where are my tongs at?

- Let's make sure
it's beautiful.

Make sure all those
flavors are in there.

- Yes, chef.

- All right, gabi's walking.

Good job, gabi.

Put it on that table, and you
got to hit the buzzer, ok?

Hit the buzzer.
Hit the buzzer.

Yes, there it is.

- [bleep].
She's done already.

Oh my god.
I have to hurry up.

I don't want gabi to get
too far ahead of me on this.

- 67 minutes left for gabi.

The sear on the scallop, that's
always a challenge, right?

In the basement
kitchen, you don't

Got those great pans, right?

- Yes, chef.

- These prawns, right?

We don't want to overcook
them and hammer them.

- No.

- Ok, zach, you got all your
little zach-isms on the plate?

- Yep.

- Who's gonna get
to the buzzer next?

Last looks.

You got it.

You got to hit the
buzzer to stop the clock.

Zach's in, ok.

- That course took much
longer than anticipated.

- 65 minutes left for you zach.

- Thank you.

- A couple minutes behind gabi.

- I'm slightly worried
that gabi's too far ahead.

- Let's make sure you
got everything on there.

You got all your
garnishes, all your flavor.

- I got this.

- You got everything
you want on it?

- Yep.
- Ok.

All right, you put it down,
and then you hit the buzzer.

- All right, christina is--

Ok, christina's in.

[dramatic music]

Gordon, nyesha,
I can truly and honestly say

The gravity
of the moment did not

Overwhelm any of our chefs.

- There's an amazing smell
coming off these plates.

- Yeah, the good thing
for the three of you

Is that's the last time you'll
have to cook in the basement.

[laughter]
- yay.

- Yeah.
- I am not used to it.

- All right, first up,
this was cooked by zach,

A pan-seared scallop with
a fennel and corn succotash

And a ponzu beurre blanc.

- Visually, it's colorful--

Everything that zach's about.

Your cooking is flamboyant.

[tense music]

♪ ♪

Scallop's cooked beautifully.

Let's get that absolute clear.
It's fresh.

It's vibrant,
and you've nailed that.

The sauce is very
heavy, very rich.

It's a little bit clunky.

- You sent us in
the right direction

By starting us off with
something that's very

Vibrant and light and fresh.

The plate aesthetically is
just so pleasing on the eye.

- Thank you, chef.

- I love how sensible this
dish is, that the corn,

The scallops, we know
that these go together.

And I think it's a good start.

- It wasn't a bad cook,
but the next challenge,

It has to be flawless.

- So next up, we have sauteed
pan-roasted prawns with

A little bit of
coconut lemongrass

And broth cooked by christina.

- Beautiful.
Breathtaking.

It's elegant.
I love it.

Great choice of plating.

Lovely color on the shrimp.

It's vibrant.

[tense music]

♪ ♪

- The shrimp are
cooked beautifully.

What I love even
more is the echoing

Of the flavor of that
shellfish throughout the broth.

This is cohesive,
really strong start.

- Yeah, I think that the broth
is a little too reduced to call

It a broth, but I think that's
the best cook on a prawn

That I've tasted
all season long.

- Thank you.
- Delicious.

Really good.

I'm tasting a level
of cuisine that

Is beyond an amateur;
it's professional.

It's beautiful.

- To hear those words from chef
ramsay's mouth, it's like, ugh,

Brings tears to my eyes.

I'm just-- my heart is so full.

I'm exploding.

- All right, lastly, we
have a spiced pork meatball

With an aromatic broth.

This was cooked by gabi.

- I can't wait to taste it, but
it is a very basic beginning

To kick-start your menu.

There's hardly
anything in there.

I'd like to see a little
bit more art and work.

It's a shock for me.

[tense music]

♪ ♪

- Meatballs
are difficult to get

Right because they can
be overcooked and dry

On the outside.

We've got to color them.

Here's the shock for me.

To bring that kind of depth
of flavor in just 22 minutes,

I'm amazed.

It's delicious.

It's fragrant, acidic.

It's hot.

It's a spiced meatball,
which is bloody brave.

I want more.

- I really love the restraint
that you use in the spiciness.

It's just enough
that's lingering

That wants to have me go in
and go in for that next bite.

- The broth is a little bit
murky because of the time

That we had to boil that broth.

That being said, this reminds
me of that little restaurant

In brooklyn that you
go to all the time,

And then, all of a
sudden, it gets a couple

Of "new york times" stars.

- Ok, they loved it but there
is a long way still to the top.

- Next up is the
seafood course,

One of the most difficult to
nail, from the middle kitchen.

Gabi, you've got just over
67 minutes remaining, zach,

Just over 65 minutes remaining.

Christina, 64 and 1/2 minutes.

The chef with the
most time going

Into the final cook
in the top level

Gets first pick
from that platform.

Very best of luck
to all three of you.

- Being the first one on the
buzzer, that'd would be huge.

Because if I could shave
off some of her time,

If I could be the first one
on the top floor for the meat

Course, that's huge.

- Head to the elevator.

Nyesha will join you shortly.
Well done.

- Good luck.
- Great job.

- That's a good job.
- Thank you.

- You're doing a
really good job.

Keep it up.

- Wow.
- Wow.

What an amazing start.

- Strong start.

- Bloody hell.

- Whoo!

- If I'm able to execute my
seafood dish ahead of zach

And christina, then that means
going into this final cook,

Getting the first
pick of ingredients,

That is a huge advantage.

- Yes, chef!

Whoo.
- Congratulations.

- Yeah, baby.

- Sweet baby angels.

- Hey.
- Yeah.

- Really strong start.

Put that joy into
the food, right?

- Yes, chef.

- Let's do this.

- Yeah, baby.

Rock and roll.

- Platform is coming.

Tell your story
in these dishes guys.

- Yes, chef.

- Go.

Go, go, go, go, go, go.

Grab your protein.

Build around it,
sea bream, lobster.

- I haven't cooked a single
lobster this whole competition,

But without risk,
there's no reward.

[laughs]

- Think about how you're
bringing these dishes to light.

Envision that dish.

- Hallelujah, I got sea bass.

This is exactly what
I want to work with.

- I've always wanted to put
grilled grapes on a dish,

And I see them enhancing
this gorgeous sea bream.

- Platform is still here.
Grab what you need.

Grab what you need.

- Oh.
- [laughs]

- Whew.

- Good job. Good job.
Good job.

- Still fishing it all out.

Pun intended.
- Let's go.

Let's go.
Let's go.

- Yes, baby.

- This is a big-ass
lobster tail.

- The finale,
how's it feel, gabi?

Talk to me about your dish.

What'd you grab?

- So I have some of
these gorgeous grapes.

I'm going to toss them in
some herbs, skewer them,

And they're going
to go on the grill.

And these are going to
accompany my sea bream.

I am just going to
try and get it all.

- You got it, girl.
Keep cooking.

Keep cooking.
- It's coming together.

Thank you, chef.

- All right.

All right, christina.

- So I want to do a butter
poached lobster tail.

I'm going to do a white
miso beurre blanc.

I'm going to get it
in this butter asap

Because this is a big boy.

Whew.

- Christina, we're breathing.

- I'm feeling a little
disjointed, a little frazzled.

There's just so much
gravity on this situation,

And I am just aiming
for perfection.

- Look at me.

Look in my eyes.

You got this.
- I do.

I got this.

Yeah.

- 100%.
- Zach.

- Hey, chef.
How we doing today?

- Doing great.

So where are you taking us
next with your fish course?

- I picked a sea bass.

I'm going to lightly
pan-sear that,

Chef, with some seasonings.

- Yeah, that's really smart.

Keep going.

Ok, guys, five minutes down.

- Yes, chef.

- Thank you, chef.

- All right, this is going.

This is good.

- Gabi, what's your
inspiration for cooking?

How'd you start?

- I was in the kitchen
with my grandparents.

Like, we would pick
grapes from the backyard

And make jam straight
from those grapes.

- Is that why you chose
to use the grapes today?

- Absolutely.

These are from nana's garden.

- Aw, I love it.

Guys, you're fighting
for $250,000.

How are we feeling, christina?

Looking good.

- Feeling ok.

- How are you cooking
the asparagus?

- I just sauteed
them, like, gently.

- Yep.

Are you slicing the
lobster half, medallions?

- I would like
to keep it whole,

But I don't want to
risk undercooking.

- Yeah, 100%.

Zach, what's your
timing on your seafood?

When are you planning to--

- You know, I'm planning on--

Oh, [bleep].

- You good?
- Yeah.

You good?
- Yeah.

- Sorry, chef.
- It's ok.

- That was fun, huh?

- Really cooking here.

Guys, how are you going to
build yourself a win today?

How am I separating
myself from my competitor?

- Yes, chef.

- Am I just cooking
a fish course,

Or am I cooking to win $250,000
and a one-year mentorship that

Is completely life-changing?

- Cooking to win, chef.

- That's what I'm doing, chef.

- Cooking to win, chef.

- I want to get this
dish done and hit

That buzzer asap so I get that
first grab at the platform.

I really want that.

- Guys, who's going to be
the first to that buzzer?

- This is a close one.

- Cook like you've
never cooked before.

So much on the line here.

Do not let it slip
away from your grasp.

Earn the right to be
here in this finale.

- Yes, chef.

- Last touches.

- We're seconds apart
from each other.

- Zach heading to the buzzer.

- I have to be the first
one at that buzzer.

[tense music]

- Guys, who's going to be
the first to that buzzer?

Last touches.

- I need to make
up time on gabi.

I have to be the first
one at that buzzer.

- All right, zach
heading to the buzzer.

Good job.

Zach, 35 and 1/2 minutes.

Hit that buzzer, gabi.

- Oh, no.

Just seconds behind me,
gabi hits the button.

Dang it.
- 37 and 1/2 minutes.

- Thank you, chef.

- Christina heading
to the buzzer.

♪ ♪

Good job.
Well done.

♪ ♪

- Whew.

- Nyesha, was it electrifying?

- To say the least.

- Wow.

They look great.

Definitely next level.

- Ok, first up,
this was cooked by christina,

Butter poached
lobster, miso beurre blanc,

Asparagus, and kale.

- Bold move, lobster.

You're going for the high-end,
expensive ingredients.

Visually, it's beautiful.

Shall we?

♪ ♪

- The lobster's
cooked beautifully.

So well done there.
It's sweet.

It's succulent,
everything you want.

The actual asparagus is
a little bit undercooked.

- But that's not really what
this dish is about, right?

It's about lobster and
this luscious beurre blanc.

- The sauce is
beautifully reduced.

It's not too tight, just
the right amount of butter.

I would have just liked to see
a little bit more finishing,

But lobster cooked
really beautifully.

Next up, we have the
pan-roasted sea bream.

This is sitting on top
of a corn emulsion.

On the side,
we have a fennel and radish

Salad with roasted grapes.

- Visually, to me,
this dish is just stunning.

♪ ♪

- Thank you.

That bream's
cooked beautifully.

Grilled grapes,
that's a bold one, that one,

With the shaved fennel salad.

Delicious.

- There's an interesting moment
with the grapes and the corn

That's kinda sweet and sweet,
but it's cut with that sort

Of fresh fennel salad.

- Yeah, I mean, this is in such
contrast to your last dish,

Quite honestly.

We've gone from brooklyn
to berkeley here.

A lot of finesse in this dish.

- I'm really happy that
the judges love my food,

But I'm like, did they
love someone's more?

- Lastly, we have a crispy-skin
sea bass with buttermilk froth

Garnished with oyster leaf.

- It looks like
there's a little lei

Or a wreath around the fish.

I don't know if that's
a callback to hawaii.

Zach, you're an artist.

- Thank you, chef.

♪ ♪

- Well, first off, the
fish is cooked beautifully.

Skin's super crispy.

Flesh is just succulent and
sweet, everything you want.

- Yeah, what an amazing
feat to caramelize

The skin so beautifully
and still retain

The moisture in the fish.

- I want a little bit
more of that pop, though.

It is lacking a little
acidity, sweetness.

But it's beautiful,
and it tastes good.

- Thank you, chef.

- We're literally one
course away from one of you

Becoming our next level chef.

- Everything is riding
on this last cook now.

Everything needs to be
flawlessly executed,

Or you're not going to win.

- Christina,
you now have remaining

Just over 34 minutes, zach just
over 35 and 1/2 minutes left.

- Yes, chef.

- And, gabi, you've got just
over 37 and 1/2 minutes.

Two-minute head start
at that platform.

- Whew.

- All of you head
to the top level.

I'll see you shortly.
- Thank you, chef.

- Well, done.
- Let's go, guys.

- Well done.
- Good job.

- Well done.
- Oh, man.

Wow, three exceptional dishes.

- Yeah,
it's anyone's game truly.

[tense music]

♪ ♪

- One last cook.

Let's keep focusing
and just win this thing.

Boom.

- I just want to ride into
the sunset with this one

And enjoy every second of it
because it's the last time

That I will be cooking here.

♪ ♪

- Chef!

- Come on.
- Yeah, baby.

- Come on.

Come on.

Ok, start thinking
about the most exciting,

Most creative,
and the most stunning dish

You've ever put together.

It needs to happen now
in the next 30 minutes.

Now, when that
platform comes down,

Gabi, you are
going to go first.

- Yes, chef.

- The platform stays, but
grab what you need first.

The very best of
luck to all of you.

- Thank you, chef.

- This is it, the final
course to get yourself

That incredible title.

- Yes, chef.

- Yes, chef.

- The platform is on the move.

Gabi,
on your mark, get set, go.

Go, go, go.

The clock is ticking.

Wow.

Pork chop, venison
rack, filet mignon.

- This beautiful
new york strip.

- Love that.

I see the filet.
I'm like, oh, good.

She didn't grab that.

- Stand by, zach.

- Yes, chef.

It feels like a
long two minutes.

I had enough time to, like,
get a haircut, trim my beard.

- Off we go, zach.

Filet mignon, wow.

- I got the
rolls-royce of meat.

- Baby carrots.

Some chilies there, peppers.

15 seconds to go, christina.

- Truffles, potatoes,
rustic mushrooms.

I'm just going to go in
there and do what I do best.

Let's put out good food.

- Three, two, one.

Go, christina.

Venison rack and a pork chop.

- I've already cooked,
like, three pork

Chops during this competition.

So I'm going for
that venison rack.

I'm switching it up,
and I'm going big.

- Platform stays.

- I have red wine,
plums, garlic,

Shallots, everything I need
to make a beautiful plate.

- 33 minutes to go.

- [bleep], here we go.

Let's do this.

This is it.

- Let's go, guys.

Right.

Tell me, what'd you grab?

- I have all these
gorgeous root vegetables.

My eastern european heritage--

I'm very much into borscht.

I love borscht.

And so, going to be sort
of a reinvented borscht.

Borscht is a sweet
and sour soup

And takes hours
to make, normally.

And I'm just trying to take
the essence of that dish

And put it on my plate.

- Right.
How are you feeling?

- I feel ok.

- Good.

- I never have cooked venison.

- If you've never cooked it
before, why did you grab it?

- Because, ugh,
I can't play it safe.

This is about
next level chef, right?

- I know. I know.

But you've cooked pork
multiple times, right?

- I know, but I can do this.

- Don't underestimate the power
of letting that venison relax.

- I want that mentorship.

I need it.

This is the most
important cook of my life.

- The pepper cauliflower--
where are we going with that?

- I think I'm just
going to get it roasted.

- Good.

Ok, young man,
what did you grab?

- Oh, chef,
I grabbed some truffle oil,

Some beautiful chanterelles,
potatoes, baby carrots.

Yeah, I did a nice,
beautiful coffee rub, chef,

On the filet mignon.
- Mm-hmm.

Take me back to the beginning.

Because, like me, we started
off in the pot wash kitchen.

- Oh, man, yeah.

I was 13, and that's where
it all started, you know.

I was watching my brother
cook, and I'm like,

This is the most
amazing thing ever.

- Right there.
- Right there.

I knew.
- 13 years of age.

Love it, love it, love it.

- Do you see any red
wine anywhere, chef?

- Red wine?

I don't see any red wine.

- I took it.
- You got the red wine?

All right.

Bourbon it is.

- Man, what a final cook.

Zach grabbed the filet.

He's doing so many
things with it.

He wants red wine.

He has no red wine.

So he's a little bit lost
in how he's going to bring

This together with the sauce.

The idea sounds good, but he
just needs to edit himself.

Gabi, she went for
the new york strip,

And she's taking a modern
turn on a borscht,

Playing to her strengths.

And you could see the
anxiety in christina's face

When she was last to
come to the platform.

Then she goes and
grabs a venison rack.

She's never cooked
venison in her life,

And we're literally minutes
away from plating these.

Guys, 14 minutes to go!

- 14, heard!

- Right, venison.

Come here, look.

Bring it up so
you can see it properly.

- Oh.

- So just touch it up there.

Touch it up there.

It's way too rare still.
- Yeah.

I can't serve the judges
undercooked venison.

At the same time,
I cannot overcook it,

And I cannot dry it out.

So I'm, like,
kind of freaking out.

- Out of sight, out of mind.
Don't forget it, ok?

- Nope. I won't.

- 10 minutes to go!

- Yes, chef.

- Gabi, what did mum say to you
before you said goodbye to her?

What was the last
words of advice?

- She just wants me
to go about it today

Like I have everything else.
- Yeah.

- Throughout my career,
she has always just

Gone along with whatever it
is that I've wanted to try,

And so--

- Yeah.

- --She just said today to just
go out there and give 'em hell.

- Exactly.

Good.

How's that venison?

- Still super rare.

- Are you sure it's super rare?

- It felt really squishy.

- Touch at the end there.

It's a little bit over.

- There's so much
at stake right now.

I've never cooked
venison before!

What am I doing?

- Touch at the end there.

It's a little bit over.

You've got two, right?

- Exactly.

- Ok, so don't worry too much.

- I just have to make
sure that my second cut is

Cooked to absolute perfection.

- Five minutes to go.

- Five minutes.
What the [bleep]?

- Five minutes away
from changing your life.

Come on.

Really apart, all right?

You ok?
- Yeah, I'm good.

It's just hot.
- Good.

Zach, doing something
that rich has been

Banging on about all season.

Edit, ok?
- Yes, chef.

- This is the crescendo.

Now is like the
crash of the cymbals.

I need this dish
to just bring it all home.

- Two minutes to go!

- Whoo!

- Focus.

Please take advantage of
every second in this kitchen.

Bring it home, ok?

Bring it home.

60 seconds!
This is it.

Let's go.
Right.

Now, start cutting.
Where's your knife?

- Right here.
- Clean it off.

- Oh, god.
- Don't worry.

You're still good.

- Oh, god.

- This is it.

- Yeah, beautiful.

- Composure under pressure.

Let's go.

5, 4, 3, 2, 1, and stop.

- Whoo!

- I appreciate you so much.

[tense music]

♪ ♪

- Welcome back,
nyesha and richard.

- [exhales]

- Unbelievably
high-pressure cook.

Take a look at those beauties.

First dish here-- christina's
dish was a rack of venison.

That's with a plum
reduction-- creamy parsnip

Puree and some golden beets.

- It's one of the best-looking
plates I've seen this season.

- Wow.

- I'm almost
at a loss for words.

To say I'm proud
is an understatement.

When I see this dish,
it's screaming confidence.

- I'd like to add that
she's never cooked venison.

[tense music]

♪ ♪

Venison is stunning.

- Yeah, I mean, it's a
theme park of textures.

For someone who's never
cooked venison before,

To just know that all
of these things work

Is just incredibly intelligent.

- I think it's been your
most spectacular plate.

It's beautiful.

It really is beautiful.

Really well done.

- I'm so proud of myself.

Regardless of the outcome,
obviously, I want to win,

But even just being here
is freaking incredible.

- That second dish
is zach's filet mignon

With a coffee-inspired rub over
the white truffle parm puree.

- Wow, visually, it looks like
they had two hours to make it

And a half a day
of prep for it.

- I would want this to be my
last meal, eating a filet.

So I'm praying that they
love it just as much as I do.

- It's a very
classic dish, meat

And potatoes, and very safe--

Until you get to
this sort of mystery

Flavor combination
of coffee and truffles,

Which is something that
really, really works well.

- The filet's cooked
absolute to perfection.

But it needs a red wine sauce
rather than the bourbon.

Because it's so
rich and creamy,

But it needs a
little bit of acid.

- For me, the sauce is
complementing the steak,

Really rich and robust, and the
vegetables cooked beautifully.

- Thank you, chefs.

That plate was me.

I put it out there.

Come on, judges.

- And then finally, cooked
by gabi, her new york strip--

This is a modern
take on a borscht.

- I really love the
vibrancy, the colors that

Are popping off of the plate.

To reimagine
borscht-- incredible,

Progressive cooking.

- Please, dig in.

♪ ♪

- What I liked in this dish is
the sweet and sour notes that

I'm getting from the sauce.

And you don't really
think of it with beef,

But it works for me.

And I think the steak
is cooked expertly.

- I think there's a huge
responsibility you've inherited

From grandma to sort of elevate
borscht and put it

Into the millennial
culinary world.

You've done that beautifully.

Often,
new york strips are clumsy,

But you've helped to elevate
it almost to filet status.

So well done.

- Thank you, chefs.

- Good job.

- What a performance,
all three of you.

With a quarter
of 1 million dollars

And that one-year mentorship
on the line,

This is going
to be a very big decision.

Please head back
to the lounge while we

Discuss all of your dishes.

- Thank you, chefs.
- Well done again.

- Thank you, chefs.
- Thank you.

- Good job, chefs.

- Whew. My goodness me.

♪ ♪

The question now is, how
do we separate these three?

- What I loved about
christina's menu

Is it really did show
the transcendence,

Not only of work
as an amateur cook,

But this last course
is absolutely stunning.

Christina's venison,
I think, was the best dish

On the top floor, for sure.

- I agree.

- I thought the lobster was
cooked really beautifully.

I think it was lacking
a little bit of garnish

And maybe some
storytelling on that plate.

- I felt that was
her weakest cook.

- I think gabi's first
course was her best.

- I agree with that.

- We're staying humble
with the meatball,

But I think
restrained and mature.

- Yeah, the broth was killer.

It was a great, great dish.

- It's everything
you want from a menu.

I think it built--

Humble, ok, I'm going to start
putting some lipstick on now,

And then I'm going
to get dressed

For the ball for the entrée.

- Yeah.
- Seduction.

- Yeah.

To me, gabi's weakest
course was the third course.

I love the idea of the
borscht and the beef.

It's not a pairing
you usually see.

And it was a little too
sweet and sour, like it

Almost didn't need the beef.

- Zach?

- Ok, zach's weakest
course was the scallops.

I think he progressively
got better and better

As the night went on.

- It was visually stunning.

The second course fish
cooked beautifully.

- Yeah, the biggest
nemesis for zach

Is the overlaboring
of his dishes.

The balance between that
super chef and a good chef

Is the restraint, the line.

Don't cross that line.
- Totally.

- But listen, that's what
the mentorship is for, right?

- Yeah.

- You get a couple
of months with zach,

He's not running for the
third potato in that dish,

And he's really
sort of maturing

And becoming the artist
and chef that he is.

You can look at it
many different ways.

Who had the best
dish on each floor?

Who had the tastiest cook?

The problem is, when you
break it down like that,

You have three chefs
who have won each category.

I mean, we're still at a loss.

I don't know who's
going to win this thing.

- No matter what happens,
I'm proud of you both.

- Yeah, dude.

Both of you, too.

- Thank you.

[cheers and applause]

- Holy [bleep].

- Oh my god.

- Honestly, this whole journey
has been one hell of a ride.

This is an experience
of a lifetime.

[cheers and applause]

Yeah!

- All these people, sending
us out on that stage--

This literally
feels like a dream.

[cheers and applause]

- Oh, my goodness me.

- Just to have all these people
here, supporting and clapping

And cheering, it just--

It's such a special moment.

- Say, "I love you, mama."

[cheers and applause]

- Whoo! Whoo!

- Thank you so much,
ladies and gentlemen.

Wow.

This has been
the most competitive

Finale we've ever experienced.

Gabi, your creativity
and poise have

Been the backbone
of team ramsay

Across this entire season.

- Thank you, chef.

- Whatever the result,
you were born to cook.

- Thank you, chef.

- Seriously, well done.

- Thank you.

Thank you so much.

- Zach, you bring more
passion to every single plate

That you make than most
chefs do in a lifetime.

- Thank you, chef.

- It's been an absolute
honor and privilege

To be your mentor.

- Thank you, chef.

- Christina, you've
cooked with so much heart

And soul and determination.

I think it's time to stop
calling yourself an amateur.

Right?
- Yeah, absolutely.

- You're a chef.

- Thank you, chef.

- It's been a pleasure
being your mentor.

- It's been a pleasure
here, too, chef.

Thank you.

- We have reached our decision.

One of you is about to be
crowned our next level chef,

Winning that extraordinary
yearlong mentorship with

Nyesha, richard, and myself.

And that comes with a check

For a quarter of million
dollars.

[together]
whoo!

- Whew.

The winner

Of "next level chef" is--

- I literally lost everything,
so winning the one-year

Mentorship--
that's priceless alone,

But the cash prize, too--

That's going to get me on the
right track for the future.

It would truly mean
the world to me.

- I just want to hear my name.

I want to hear that I'm
the next level chef.

I just--
I just want that so bad.

- That money would be so epic.

It would change
the whole path of my life

And my family's lives.

- Congratulations goes to--

♪ ♪

Gabi!

[cheers and applause]

- Oh my god.
- Good job.

[inspirational music]

Amazing.

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

- You did it.
- Thank you.

- You've done it.

Well done.

- Please give it up for
our amazing runners-up,

Christina and zach.

Come on.

- No matter what, I won.

Like, what?

I was in the finale
of "next level chef."

Like, that's crazy.

- I love you guys.

I'm so inspired
by this whole experience.

I love you.

I just want to go
after my dreams.

- I've learned
a lot about myself,

And I've definitely matured
as a chef for being here

In this competition.

And I cannot wait to take
this and run with it.

- Oh, my god.

- How are you feeling?

- I-- I can't describe it.

I didn't-- it's like a dream.

The fireworks and you three,
and this, and you all here.

I just can't believe it.

- You did incredibly well,
and so well deserved.

Ladies and gentlemen,
please give it

Up for next level chef, gabi!

[cheers and applause]

- I just won a
quarter-million dollars!

That's so crazy!

And just the fact that this
journey with these mentors

Isn't over is, like,
everything to me.

It's just the opportunity
of a lifetime.

I can't believe it.

This is so cool.

- What an exceptional season.

One of the toughest,
but the end result is a dream.

And if you think
gabi is good now,

Wait till you see
what she's going

To be like with a
mentorship for 12 months

With me behind her.

And having tucker
hand that baton

Over, team ramsay
to team ramsay,

We never dropped the baton.

Congratulations, gabi.

Richard,
get your [bleep] together.

[laughs]

You've got it, girl.
It's yours.

[cheers and applause]

- Ahh!
[laughs]