‘Next Level Chef’ recap: One contestant can’t handle the heat in ‘A Very Special O’Cajun’
Tonight on Next Level Chef: The remaining chefs are tasked with cooking cajun and New Orleans-inspired dishes that blend Southern flare with French influence. The chef who creates the best dish will receive a coveted time token that gives them a major advantage in the next challenge. The all-new "A Very Special O'Cajun" episode of Next Level Chef aired Thursday, Apr 17 (8:00-9:02 PM ET/PT) on Fox.
The Teams
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? And who's dream will go up in smoke? See the teams (with previously eliminated contestants crossed out) below.
Team Ramsay
| Name | Age | Background |
| Arnav | 19 | Home Chef |
| Beatrice | 18 | Pro Chef |
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| Ryan | 22 | Pro Chef |
Team Arrington
| Name | Age | Background |
| Becca | 27 | Social Media Chef |
| Bobby | 38 | Social Media Chef |
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Team Blais
| Name | Age | Background |
| Austin | 30 | Pro Chef |
| Brandon | 36 | Pro Chef |
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| Megan | 37 | Home Chef |
The Challenge
The chef-testants will be tested on their ability to spice things up when they cook cajun and New Orleans-inspired dishes. Based on last week's performances, Austin and Beatrice will cook on the Top Level with Richard; Arnav, Bobby and Becca will be on the Middle Level with Gordon; Ryan, Brandon, and Megan are roughing it in the Basement Level with Nyesha. They each have 30 minutes to cook.
As the platform drops, Beatrice decides to play dirty and snags the shrimp away from Austin. He had told Beatrice earlier that he planned on using the shellfish for his own dish. Sabotage! The 18-year-old's game face is on and Austin is pissed! He settles for catfish and says he wants nothing to do with Beatrice going forward.
Beatrice on Next Level Chef (Photo credit: Lorraine O’Sullivan / FOX)
On the Middle Level, Arnav is working with alligator for the first time after Bobby "lucked out" and grabbed the frog legs. Disgusted by both of those options, Becca opts for pork belly.
Things flow smoothly in the basement with surprising proteins available: Brandon has chicken breast, Megan grabbed crawfish and ham hock, and Ryan was blessed with a ribeye.
When the mid-round platform drops each contestant grabs a French ingredient to incorporate into their dish. Fifteen minutes later, time expires and each chef successfully places their dish back on the platform.
Top Dishes
The judges selected two top chefs who will cook in the Top Level next week: Bobby for his frogs legs and Beatrice for her jumbo shrimp. The winner of the Time Token is Beatrice. Austin is absolutely fuming.
Elimination Cook-Off
Three dishes didn't quite make the mark tonight: Becca's pork belly, Ryan's ribeye, and Arnav's alligator. The judges said Becca's dish was confusing and lacked a story, Ryan's ribeye didn't represent cajun cuisine, and Arnav's alligator was tough and chewy. Next, the three chefs face off in a French cuisine cook-off. They have 25 minutes to earn their place back in this competition.
Becca on Next Level Chef (Photo credit: Lorraine O’Sullivan / FOX)
After a stressful cook-off, it's time for the judges to taste all three dishes. Arnav's veal chop is "cooked beautifully" and the sauce is "exceptional." Ryan's bone-in dover sole is "incredible" with a "great pairing" of white asparagus. Becca's pan-roasted duck breast is "rich" with flavor, but Gordon complains that the fat wasn't properly rendered. In the end, the seventh chef eliminated this season was Becca, a 27-year-old social media chef from Denver.
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