The number of competing chef’s has now been cut in half and we are down to the final 9. It has definitely been a weaker bunch this season, and to my mind, there are only one or two real serious competitors left in the contest.
The Challenge
The chefs were given one hour to come up with a sexy, delicious dessert that would both tempt the palate and tickle the fancy of a prospective lover; whether that dessert would be eaten or put to another use, is entirely up to them.
The ladies had one extra team member and were forced to axe one dish, with Elise’s huge glass of dessert getting the chop. A pair of professional dessert chefs was brought in to judge, with each dish being rated with 1-3 stars; most stars at the end of the challenge wins.
Tommy was first with a nasty looking sticky bun which the judges gave 1 start each; not a good start for the fellas. Jamie offered up a bread pudding and scored a total of 3 stars, which paled in comparison to Paul’s 6 star offering. Elizabeth needed a strong effort to close the gap, but her 3 star Napoleon did little to make an impact. Natalie matched those 3 stars with her chocolate bread pudding, and then Carrie continued her struggles with a 2 star Blondie that failed to impress anyone; score at this point 11-8 blue team. Will had a chance to put it away by scoring 4 stars, but only managed 2 stars, meaning that Jennifer could win it all with a perfect score. Her Banana’s Foster looked great and the taste matched, meaning a perfect 6 and a win for the girls. Before the contest was over, Elise was allowed to present her dish which proved to be a vinegar laced nightmare. The decision to cut her dessert was deemed a great one. The winners got a trip to Las Vegas including a stay at a 5 room mansion at Caesars Palace. The boys had to transform the dining room for couple’s night before setting up a spectacular raw bar for dinner service.
Dinner Service
Date night at the Hell’s Kitchen saw Jennifer offer to run the ladies’ side, much to the chagrin of Elise, who then chose to shut down completely when asked for times. Tommy tried to get ahead by seasoning his scallops in advance, but a little too far in advance, which led to a bunch being tossed in the trash.
A combination of excellent cooking and strong leadership from Jennifer had the appetizers moving quickly, but that came to a grinding halt when Chef Ramsay discovered one of Jamie’s hairs in a dish at the pass. Meanwhile on the blue side, Tommy continued to behave like a fool, cooking entrees before the appetizers were done; that earned him a little trip outside, perhaps soon to be permanent.
Carrie was next to go after sending up some burnt offerings, but she argued her point vehemently before leaving. Tommy, on the other hand, spent his time flirting in the dining room before heading back to the kitchen, although the break did serve to get him back on his game.
Jamie continued to sink, sending up overcooked food, and seeming to be completely out of it. It was problems of an opposite nature on the blue side with Paul sending up the first entrée completely raw; time for him to leave the kitchen too.
Elise’s vegetarian pasta had an extra ingredient usually not found in a vegetarian dish; meat, while Tommy seemed content to watch Chef Ramsay preparing his scallops. Elise was next to be sent packing, along with her overcooked oysters, and it was beginning to look like a total collapse on both sides.
The remaining members of both teams picked up the slack, seemingly spurred on by a marriage proposal out on the dining room floor, and were able to finish their services.
The blue team was declared the winners, with the girls forced to pick a pair for elimination.
Elimination
No real surprise that Carrie and Elise were chosen for elimination, given the fact that their bickering from day one has been a constant distraction for the red team. The surprise came when Chef Ramsay sent both girls back and chose to eliminate Jamie instead.
John Watson splits his time between work that pays the bills, and writing which is his true love. As a Scotsman living in the deep south, he is forced to write in order to be understood. John currently resides in the Atlanta area with wife, Penny, a regional chef. You can read more of his work by visiting his blog at TheInkedWriter.com
