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It's a kitchen unlike any other... where
18 souls go to die... only to have one rise again. This go-round, the
one chef who is fortunate enough to outlast the others will find himself
or herself the head chef at Caesars Atlantic City with an annual salary
of $250,000.
And tonight, it's open AGAIN. Well, maybe. It's locked as the 18 make
their way to the former Century Studios lot. Ramsay appears from the
rooftop to usher in this 14th running of the bull-headed with a
ceremonial jump into an airbag with two contestants named Enrique &
Ruth.
Only one thing. They're not really chefs. They're professional stunties.
Only in Hell's Kitchen, folks.
Time now we must meet the REAL chefs AND their dishes of great
significance.
CHALLENGE #1: Signature Dishes
This year's signature dish challenge is different in that a) you're
cooking in front of a live audience, and b) Ramsay is rating each dish
on a scale of 1 to 5, 5 being hot stuff, and 1 being a hot mess.
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RED TEAM |
BLUE TEAM |
Sarah Baumert (27;
Dallas; chef instructor)
- Filet Mignon (4)
Monique Booker (23; Lynn, MA; line cook)
-"Mo's Pasta" with Marinara... from a jar (1)
Meghan Gill (28; Roanoke, VA; executive chef)
- Rainbow trout (5)
Torrece "T" Gregoire (31; Atlanta; line cook)
- Coffee-Crusted Flank Steak (5)
Christine Hazel (30; Philadelphia; banquet chef)
- Scallops with Polenta Cake (4)
Mieka Houser (25; Olney, MD; sous chef)
- Shrimp Cake with Asparagus (1)
Alison Rivera (27; New York City; sous chef)
- Red snapper (3)
Chrissa Schmerler (34; Bellmore, NY; food truck chef/owner)
-Ginger-Cookie Crusted Chicken Breast (1)
Michelle Tribble (22; Dallas; line cook)
- Huevos Rancheros with Queso Fresco (4)
TOTAL: 28 |
Randy Bell (45;
Nashville; line cook)
- Salmon with Raspberry Bourbon BBQ Sauce (3)
Michael Dussault (38; Hartford, CT; senior center chef)
- Herb-roasted Chicken Breast (3)
Bret Hauser (30; Delray Beach, FL; sous chef)
- Bone-In Veal Saltimbocca with Smashed Potato (3)
Adam Livow (31; Freehold, NJ; amusement park chef)
- Rack of lamb (4)
Milly Medley (33; Philadelphia; executive chef)
- Seafood Macaroni & Cheese (3)
Brendan Pelley (34; Bedford, MA; executive chef)
- Tempura Soft-Shelled Crab with Ginger Sauce (4)
Nick Peters (25; Stoneham, MA; private chef)
- Pan Roasted Duck Breast (3)
Cameron Spagnolo (33; Jersey City, NJ; banquet chef)
- Coriander-Rubbed Rack of Lamb (4)
Joshua "Josh" Trovato (24; Brooklyn; chef de cuisine)
- Seared scallops with apple fennel slaw (4)
TOTAL: 31 |
For the record, you don't try to pass off
a canned product for fresh from Gordon Ramsay, who knows a thing or two
about Italian cuisine. Not as much as Lidia Bastianich, Mario Batali, or
Masahiko Kobe, but damn near close.
For winning this first challenge, the Blues are going to have dinner
with a surprise Hollywood legend. Ramsay's not saying who just yet. The
Reds, on the other hand, will redress the living room, clean the
kitchens, and handle the mailing of the confirmations of reservations to
Hell's Kitchen all. Night. Long. So if GSNN's gets lost in the mail, we
know who to blame.
So. Who's going to be meeting the chefs at Saint Rocke? Randy has met
numerous generals... but has he ever met a CAPTAIN before? Yep, eating
with the Blue Team tonight is William Shatner! He also has the menu
books to study tonight. Signed by him.
And yes, "Holy (^_^)" indeed. I'm about to nerd out here.
The next day, everyone's dressed and ready to prep for opening night.
Everyone gets a set of JA Henckel knives. Yours to keep no matter what.
So while the women are practicing how to not screw up as much, the men
are ... well, just getting ready for battle. Bring your A game... or get
sent the bleep home.
But first, Chrissa needs to pee.
DINNER SERVICE #1: Opening Night
Joining the 18 chefs in Hell's Kitchen tonight, "Chopped Canada" host
Dean McDermott, Michael Ohoven & Joyce Giraud from "The Real Housewives
of Beverly Hills", and Tennessee Titans TE Delanie Walker.
In addition to the classic menu, Ramsay has added a tableside pan-seared
prawn appetizer. Handling that: T for the Reds and Josh for the Blues.
The Reds' first order... flawless. The Blues'... juuuuust a bit outside.
Sarah's working on trying to keep Chrissa focused. Chrissa's thinking
about dessert. Too soon. And she's the first to feel Ramsay's wrath,
sent to help T on tableside. Next up, a VIP ticket, the McDermott party
for entrees. Back in the Blue Kitchen, Michael delivers the first order
of scallops... and true to form, they suck out loud.
Forty minutes into season 14, and Michael is holding back the first
table of apps. He recovers. From then on, it's app after app after app.
Meanwhile, the Reds move onto entrees, and Christine & Monique are
looking to complete a pork and a lamb... both of which are not near
completion. REFIRE! The Blues are onto entrees now, with Milly and Brett
on meats. And Milly's lamb is (^_^)ing raw. Is the Red VIP table ready
YET? Nope. Monique's oven is not even on. End result: raw lamb and dry
pork. At this point, Dean would've said... "Red kitchen... You've been
chopped." Ramsay orders the Reds OUT of the kitchen.
It's up to 90 minutes in, and the Blue Team has to pick up the slack
while the Reds play the blame game and Ramsay is picking up the VIP. The
Blues finish strong to complete their FIRST EVER Opening Night Service.
The question now, who will be on the block tonight? T votes Christine
and Monique, on the meats... while Chrissa... seems to be lost in her
own little world making coffee. T: "I don't want no damn coffee. I want
a cigarette and a W. Can you provide me with that?"
ELIMINATION #1
Alison nominated Monique (poor performance on meats) and Chrissa (not
aware of what was going on). Ramsay also wants Christine down.
Monique cops to putting meat in a cold oven, but says she's better than
these two, and that Chrissa has no self-confidence. Christine says that
she's the better of the three, saying she takes it more seriously.
Chrissa... well, she was nervous about dinner service. She thinks it's a
serious opportunity.
Ramsay cuts his ties with... CHRISSA. He doesn't get it. She can't even
give her the jacket off her back.
"There's nothing more terrifying to Chrissa than jumping off the
building. But there is nothing more terrifying to me than the thought of
having her as my next head chef."
To see tonight's episode in its entirety, go to
fox.com/hellskitchen.
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