‘Hell’s Kitchen 23’ episode 2 recap: Gordon Ramsay unleashed his wrath and one chef was eliminated in ‘The Flame Game’

Things got heated on Thursday’s episode of “Hell’s Kitchen: Head Chefs Only.” In the October 3 installment, the punishment pass was introduced, the contestants competed in a fiery flambé challenge, and Gordon Ramsay unleashed his wrath when dinner service wasn’t up to par.

Here’s how the teams stacked up:

Blue Team: Anthony, Brandon, Corbin, Egypt, Joe, Kyle, Michael, Shant, Uri

Red Team: Amanda, Amber, Ann Marie, Brittany, Hannah, Lulu, Magali, Meghan, Whit

The episode started on a high, with Gordon performing a ceremonial lighting of the HK pitchfork. Everyone was all smiles as he torched that thing, but the mood quickly shifted when he revealed this season’s punishments would be absolutely brutal. Winning that punishment pass is more crucial than ever.

In the flambé challenge, chef-testants had 40 minutes to light up the kitchen. Then, teams had to come to a consensus on their three best dishes, which is no easy task with so many egos in the competition. The women didn’t struggle much, but Egypt was really upset when the men didn’t want to send his dish forward. He voiced his frustrations to Gordon before telling him they chose Brandon, Joe, and Michael. In the end, Brandon’s sea bass earned him the Blue Team’s punishment pass.

The women sent up dishes from Meghan, Magali, and Whit. Whit prevailed despite burning her salmon skin during the challenge. She cleverly removed the skin and covered it with a flambé’d pineapple. Gordon called it “delicious” and remarked that he’d never associated pineapple with salmon before, but “it really works.”

SEE ‘Hell’s Kitchen 23’ episode 1 recap: 18 all-new chef-testants compete in ‘Hell Heads East’

After winning the challenge, Brandon and Whit each got to choose the worst two dishes on their teams. Based on that, Gordon warned one might go home. Whit called out Ann Marie and Brittany. Gordon thought both dishes were delicious and sort of questioned Whit’s judgement. Brandon chose Shant and Egypt as the worst, which infuriated Egypt. The chef was redeemed when Gordon said his dish was “cooked beautifully.” Gordon was surprised to see Shant in the bottom as well and decided not to eliminate anyone. Back in the dorms, Egypt aggravated some of his competitors when he demanded his next dish be put forward in the individual challenge.

At the first dinner service, Amber was the first to get an earful from Gordon when she served up raw scallops. She screwed up again when she re-fired them, sending up nine scallops instead of 10. Yikes! Over on the Blue Team, Corbin and Shant were the biggest disappointments. Gordon really want ballistic on Shant when he added water to the risotto, dropping F bombs all over the place. On Shant’s second attempt, he ignored Egypt’s suggestion for more salt, which Gordon echoed with a fury.

Later, the Red Team members said Magali looked like “a deer in headlights,” putting a target on her back. Her soggy-skinned salmon was raw and cold, while Hannah’s duck was “spot on.” On the Blue Team, Egypt was “micromanaging” again, telling Michael his lamb rack was raw. Michael didn’t believe him and sent it forward anyways, but once again Egypt was right and Gordon yelled at everyone in the store room. Egypt might be annoying everyone with his corrections, but he’s been right every time. Egypt said Michael has a “lack of trust” and “an inflated ego.” Later, Joe messed up several entrees, which was enough for Gordon to tell the whole Blue Team to “F*** off!” as he kicked them out of the kitchen. He called them all “useless” and told them to nominate two chefs for elimination.

Things didn’t end well for the Red Team either. Gordon was disgusted by the chicken they sent forward near the end of dinner service and kicked them out as well. There would now be four chefs up for elimination.

In the end, the Red Team nominated Magali and Amber. The Blue Team nominated Michael and Shant. After each pleaded their case to stay, Gordon decided to eliminate Amber. He closed the show stating, “Amber’s inability to cook or even count scallops was all I needed to know that I couldn’t count on her to be my next head chef.”

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