HK11, Ep. 14
Ramsay tests each chef’s ability to identify ingredients relying solely on their taste buds in the blind taste challenge. The winning team is granted a luxurious sushi meal overlooking the ocean followed by a relaxing day of horseback riding. Meanwhile, the losing team is charged with delivery day duties and backbreaking labor in HELL’S KITCHEN. Later, Chef Ramsay presented the chefs with a surprising challenge in order to determine which contestant deserves immunity in the next dinner service.
Cyndi and Anthony were selected to test their sense of touch, meaning to place their hands inside a box and identify the ingredient inside. Both Cyndi and Anthony earned the first point when they were able to identify the raw eggs inside and quickly scored another when they recognized the polenta in the second box. At the third box, Anthony took the lead when Cyndi fails to identify ice-cold oysters, but then it was clarified that this was just a warm-up and not the real Challenge.
The real Challenge is a Blind Taste Test, with each of the 3 male chefs competing against one of the female chefs and then the first man to compete against the 4th female chef.
Mary vs. Zach - Zach took the first point with scallions while Mary wrongly guessed shallots; neither is able to identify the papayas and Mary thought the turkey was egg yolk; they both scored on zucchini. Blue 3 Red 1
Ja’Nel vs. Anthony – he missed broccoli as potato; he missed pistachios for cashews; both missed tuna for halibut; Ja’Nel got prune while Anthony missed with licorice Blue 0 Red 3
Cyndi vs. Jon – both got cheddar; he got duck right while she missed with chicken; Jon was wrong with squash while she got parsnip right; both were wrong with cauliflower when it was Brussels sprouts Blue 2 Red 2
Susan vs. Zach – Zach guessed celery and Susan radish when it was white asparagus; Zach got boiled egg white while Susan missed with soy; they both guessed peas when it was garbanzo beans; Zach guessed white radish wrong while Susan got cauliflower. Blue 1 Red 1
FINAL SCORE Blue 6 Red 7
The Red team won again and had only lost one Challenge the entire competition. Their reward is spectacular, fresh seafood lunch at Nobu in Malibu, complete with an amazing dining experience beachside in the sun and followed by Red team members treated to an afternoon of horseback riding in Malibu. The Blue team’s punishment was to put on back braces and unloading heavy bags of flour and ice from arriving trucks, then bread. They unloaded too many ice bags when they needed only 15 25-pound bags and 20 50-pound bags, so they had to carry the overage back to the ice truck.
The Black jackets arrived but each of the 7 remaining chefs has to first earn one and there is one less than the n umber of chefs. A surprise challenge was all had 45 minutes to make Ramsay whatever they wanted, with no restrictions. Whoever prepares the entrée he likes best will be exempt from elimination no matter what happens at the next dinner service. Here were the dishes and ratings:
Ja’Nel – with pan-seared duck breast, with a Cuban-scented sweet potato puree and orange-glazed green beans, she goes into the lead
Anthony – a mediocre dish of seared rib eye that he's seasoned with chili powder, salt and pepper and Italian seasoning, with caramelized carrots on the side
Susan – her lamb is raw, so she is out
Jon – delicious dish that propels him to the lead, seared mahi mahi and citrus quinoa with a tropical fruit syrup.
Mary – pan-seared beef filet with a red wine reduction, with some jus, chicken stock, shallots and garlic; the sauce was heavy and over-reduced
Zach – tiny beef medallions topped with large prawns is a poor concept
Cyndi - pan-seared halibut, with a "play on succotash": potatoes, corn, peppers and onion with butter in the cream sauce; fish cooked and plated beautifully
So, it’s time for another TO BE CONTINUED. Why play such games and leave us hanging for 7 nights? It is unworthy of Hell’s Kitchen.