‘Next Level Chef’ season 3 episode 13 recap: Who was eliminated in ‘Picture Perfect’? [LIVE BLOG]
Tonight on “Next Level Chef,” the six remaining chefs are tasked with recreating a “picture perfect” dish using just a photo. However, once the platform leaves, the photo goes with it, putting the contestants’ memory and cooking skills to the test in the all-new “Picture Perfect” episode of “Next Level Chef” airing Thursday, April 18 (8:00-9:02 PM ET/PT) on FOX.
n an epic three-story kitchen, the only way to move to the top is to cook your way up. Each week professional chefs, home chefs and social media chefs have seconds to grab, minutes to cook and moments to deliver their dishes to mentors Gordon Ramsay, Richard Blais and Nyesha Arrington. Who will rise to the challenge? Gordon promises the toughest, most competitive and most grueling season of “Next Level Chef” yet. With an amazing one-year mentorship and $250,000 on the line, only one contestant can climb their way to the top.
Here are the chefs still in contention:
Team Blais: Zach
Team Arrington: Christina and Mada
Team Ramsay: Gabi, Jordan and Izahya
8:00 p.m. — Previously on “Next Level Chef”! In episode 12, the seven remaining chefs worked individually to create Japanese-inspired dishes for their bento boxes. In the end Nicole, a 28-year-old social media chef from Team Blais was eliminated. Who will go home next in “Picture Perfect”?
8:05 p.m. — The teams return to the studio and learn the next challenge is “Picture Perfect.” They have 30 minutes to recreate a dish from a photo. Season 2 competitor Tini Younger drops in for some inspiration, letting everyone know she’s built a social media empire with millions of followers and even her own cookbook. This girl knows how to make a plate look good!
8:15 p.m. — The challenge begins with Team Arrington on the top level, Jordan and Zach in the middle and Gabi and Izahya in the basement. As the platform reaches each level, it will have a picture of the dish they must recreate. When the platform leaves, the picture leaves with it. This is not only a cooking challenge, but a memory challenge. Izahya sounds particularly concerned, saying he has “the memory of a goldfish.” There’s no grab on the platform, there’s a basket, so all the chefs can concentrate on the picture. Izahya gets left with the chicken mole, the dish nobody wanted to make. He doesn’t even know the main components of a mole, but Gordon lets him know it usually takes 8-10 hours to make.
8:25 p.m. — Zach is making fresh pasta, which is incredibly difficult within this 30 minute time limit. He’s a professional chef and the last one standing on Team Blais, so he feels like he has something to prove. Everyone is thrilled to see the platform drop again so they can get a second look at the picture they’re trying to recreate. The clock ticks down and the chefs are increasingly stressed. With two minutes left they have to start plating. Everyone gets their dish on the platform, but as it pulls away we see Mada’s lemon sitting on the counter. He was extremely confident he remembered everything, so he’s going to be very disappointed in that mistake.
8:30 p.m. — Starting in the basement, Gabi’s pork belly ramen is first. It’s a stunning recreation, visually. Richard says the taste is also “spot on.” Nyesha says the broth “is hugging my soul.” Izahya’s chicken mole is visually “really close.” Nyesha compliments the depth of flavor he achieved in such a small amount of time, unfortunately the rice lacks seasoning.
8:32 p.m. — Next is the middle floor starting with Jordan’s seafood paella. It’s identical to the picture and looks delicious. Gordon is at a loss for words and loves it. Nyesha thinks it’s “a really lovely dish.” Next is Zach’s ravioli. The visual impact is “stunning.” Sadly, three of them have burst open. Nyesha says the mushrooms are cooked beautifully. Gordon says one ravioli was wet and soggy, but the other was delicious.
8:33 p.m. — On the top floor we start with Christina’s shrimp dumplings. They’re beautifully caramelized and plated. Richard says it’s as tasty as it is beautiful. It’s a perfect replica. Last is Mada’s veal schnitzel. Richard immediately notices the missing lemon wedge. Will that crush his chances?
8:40 p.m. — The judges take time to deliberate the best and worst dishes of the night. Tonight’s top level dishes belong to Christina and Gabi. They’ll cook in the top kitchen next week, but the winner of the time token is Christina. Heading into elimination are Zach, Mada and Izahya. That means Jordan is safe.
8:45 p.m. — For this elimination challenge the chefs will create their own “picture perfect” seafood risotto. Richard will coach them through the challenge. Gordon and Nyesha will judge the blind taste test. Their 25 minutes starts now! They are being super aggressive at this platform. Izahya rips the scallops from Zach’s hands, leaving him with lobster. Mada is happy with his shrimp, which he’s cooked 1,000 times this season already. He says, “I’m not shrimp daddy for no reason.” Zach dumps a whole bunch of sherry vinegar in the rice, thinking it was sherry wine. Whoopsie! “That’s going to be very acidic,” Richard warns. Zach has to start over with 15 minutes to cook a risotto.
9:02 p.m. — The chefs have finished cooking and plate their dishes. It’s time for Gordon and Nyesha to taste each one and decide who is going home. Izahya’s scallops with a pea risotto has a nice puree, and Nyesha says the scallops are perfect. Gordon would like a hit of lemon juice in the risotto. Zach’s butter-poached lobster on a squid ink risotto is “visually bold” but the presentation could be tightened up. The lobster is great, but the rice is about 90 seconds undercooked. Nyesha is not impressed with the presentation and says it’s “not super appealing.” Mada’s sun-dried tomato risotto with shrimp needs more stock and butter. Gordon says the combination of flavor is “on point” but the consistency of the risotto is a miss. Gordon and Nyesha both decide the chef going home tonight is Mada. That takes Team Arrington down to one chef. Mada says he gave it his all and he’s walking out 10 times the chef he was walking in. Nyesha says he was a joy to have on her team.
