‘Next Level Chef’ season 3 episode 14 recap: Who was eliminated in ‘Kombucha Kulture’? [LIVE BLOG]
Tonight on “Next Level Chef,” the final five chefs must create a dish that won’t leave a sour taste in the judges’ mouth by using kombucha, the trendy fermented drink. Then, two chefs battle for a spot in the semifinals by cooking a winning dish using a wok in the all-new “Kombucha Kulture” episode of “Next Level Chef” airing Thursday, April 25 (8:00-9:02 PM ET/PT) on FOX.
8:00 p.m. — Previously on “Next Level Chef”! In episode 13, the six remaining chefs are tasked with recreating a “picture perfect” dish using just a photo. In the end Mada, a 36-year-old home cook chef from Team Arrington was eliminated. Who will go home next in “Kombucha Kulture”?
8:05 p.m. — The top five enter the studio and reflect on how far they’ve come. Next, they’re told they have a kombucha challenge — something many of them have never cooked with before. They’re encouraged to get creative with sauces, glazes or even a pickle. They have 30 minutes to create a Next Level dish using kombucha. Based on the last challenge, Gabi and Christina will cook on the top level with Gordon. Christina won the last challenge, so she uses her time advantage to use 10 extra seconds at the platform. Jordan will be in the middle kitchen with Nyesha. Zach and Izahya will be in the basement with Richard. Let’s go!
8:15 p.m. — Everyone lands on their level and Jordan feels weird being alone in the middle. It’s quiet! The platform descends and Christina gets there first, grabbing duck breast. Gabi snags cod before it continues down to Jordan in the middle kitchen. He grabs a flank steak. Down in the basement Zach takes the John Dory (what’s that?) and Izahya is left with chicken breast. The 30 minutes to cook starts now and Jordan looks the most perplexed. Izahya isn’t looking good in the basement either, realizing he barely has any ingredients. Gabi and Christina are looking good upstairs, and Zach never breaks a sweat.
8:30 p.m. — The mid-round platform drops with starch ingredients. There’s not a ton of time, but everyone has to grab some rice. The only person who looks remotely enthusiastic about it is Izahya, who needed more for his plate. Richard looks extremely concerned for Zach, who grabbed risotto rice and has about 20 minutes to cook it. Up in the middle level, Jordan’s in the same predicament. Time ticks down and before they know it, it’s time to plate and get their dishes on the platform.
8:35 p.m. — It’ time to for the judges to take a look at each of these dishes and have a taste. Izahya’s mango and passion fruit kombucha-glazed chicken breast with fried rice lacks flavor and the kombucha is “lost in translation.” Zach’s pan-seared John Dory with kombucha four-ways is “cooked beautifully” and creative. The rice is perfect. Christina’s duck with pomegranate kombucha is a beautifully nuanced and “thoughtful.” The duck is cooked beautifully. Gabi’s pan-roasted cod is bright and Nyesha says, “It’s touching my soul.” Richard says “it’s as smart as it is beautiful.” Jordan’s flank steak and rice with pomegranate kombucha looks “half finished” and is a “strange grab.” Richard says he missed the theme of the challenge.
8:45 p.m. — The judges have deliberated. The winning dish belongs to Gabi, who will earn the season’s final time token in the semifinals and cook in the top kitchen next week. The other two semifinalists in next week’s middle kitchen are Zach and Christina. That means Izahya and Jordan will duke it out in tonight’s elimination round. For the cook-off they’ll make a wok dish — and it’s the only pan they can use in the elimination.
9:02 p.m. — Jordan and Izahya are prepared to fight for the final spot in the semifinals. Nyesha is the mentor on hand — Gordon and Richard will be conducting the blind taste test. Time goes quickly and there’s suddenly just minutes to plate these final dishes. Izahya’s steak Pad Thai is nicely proportioned, but Richard feels it’s missing flavor. Gordon says it’s on the verge of being “slightly greasy.” Jordan’s udon noodles with ground pork loin are delicious, but “it does not need the tomatoes.” The spice is nice, but dry. It’s neck-and-neck, but the person going home tonight is Izahya. He’s heartbroken, but he’s only been cooking for two years! Gordon says he can relate to Izahya, because they both started cooking after being injured in sports. He offers Izahya a job in his restaurants in Miami. He’s got Gordon in tears! He will walk out with his head held high and continue his cooking journey.
