Thu, Sep 6, 2007
After a disastrous dinner service the previous night, the remaining eight contestants are shocked to hear that their next challenge will have nothing to do with cooking. Emphasizing that the secret to being a good chef is having a discerning palate, Chef Ramsay pits the teams against each other in a HELL'S KITCHEN taste-test challenge. The blindfolded contestants go head-to-head to identify a selection of foods chosen by Chef Ramsay, relying not only on their taste buds, but also on their experience as chefs. When the losing team fails to identify some of the most commonplace food items, Chef Ramsay orders a grotesque taste-testing practice session that turns even some of the strongest contestants' stomachs. Meanwhile, the winning team members get to treat their palates to a unique dining experience with Chef Ramsay that is unlike anything they've ever experienced before. At the next dinner service, the contestants' fate lies in the hands of the customers, who will rate and critique the meals they are served that evening. As Chef Ramsay's insults abound, the criticism pushes some contestants dangerously close to their breaking point.
Sun, Sep 9, 2007
After a decisive dinner service and a swift elimination the night before, the remaining six contestants prepare for their next challenge. Chef Ramsay informs them they must turn trays full of leftovers into delectable meals in just 30 minutes, a challenge he always gives his chefs to test their resourcefulness and creativity. It's a mad dash as each team sifts through the leftover ingredients in order to come up with one appetizer and two entrees tasty enough to impress Chef Ramsay. While one team fails to "wow" him, the winning team is elated at the challenge reward when they are given the ultimate chance for revenge on Chef Ramsay. At dinner service that evening, the competition gets serious as each team designs and executes its own original menu. When the HELL'S KITCHEN diners seem to be ordering mainly from one team's menu, lack of teamwork and poor communication may signal the end of one contestant's dream.
Tue, Sep 11, 2007
At their next challenge, Chef Ramsay instructs the Top 3 contestants to take a classic American dish and transform it into an entree worthy of fine-dining, noting that special guests of honor will be judging their creations. In one of the most emotional reunions yet, the contestants learn that the greatest home-cooking experts they know -- their very own mothers -- have come to HELL'S KITCHEN to vote for their favorite entree. Not knowing who made what, the mothers select a winner, who is treated to a memorable meal. That evening in a critical dinner service, Chef Ramsay informs the chefs that each of them will have a shot at running the kitchen in his place, so that he can separate the cooks from the leaders. To ensure that the chefs have a discerning eye and a desire for perfection not unlike his own, Chef Ramsay enlists the helps of the sous chefs to throw some wrenches into the preparations. While some contestants catch the mistakes before the sabotaged plates are served to the diners, others struggle to handle the hot plate. In one of the most difficult eliminations yet, Chef Ramsay chooses two finalists who will go on to compete for the Head Chef position in Las Vegas.
Wed, Sep 12, 2007
It's down to the final stretch as the last two contestants are one dinner service away from being crowned the winner of HELL'S KITCHEN. After overcoming several failed tasks and watching Chef Ramsay eliminate their opponents, the final two face the ultimate test: to design and run their own restaurant. From the menu to the decor, they must combine cooking skills with creativity and passion to prove their worth to Ramsay.