‘Next Level Chef’ recap: Season 4 auditions conclude with 8 Pro Chefs competing for 5 spots
It's a brand-new season of Next Level Chef and 24 culinary masterminds from across America have been selected to put their cooking skills to the ultimate test in hopes of taking home the grand prize of $250,000. Among the competitors are groups of eight chefs of different categories — Pro, Social Media, and Home. The auditions conclude when eight Pro Chefs rely on their expertise in a race against time. The all-new "Pro Chef Auditions" episode of Next Level Chef aired Thursday, Feb. 27 (8 p.m. ET/PT) on Fox.
In an epic three-story kitchen, the only way to move to the top is to cook your way up. 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? Gordon promises the toughest, most competitive, and most grueling season of Next Level Chef yet. With an amazing one-year mentorship and $250,000 on the line, only one contestant can climb their way to the top.
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The Auditions
The Pro Chefs
Name | Age | Hometown |
Austin | 30 | Freeburg, Ill. |
Ash | 34 | Scottsdale, Ariz. |
Ashley | 18 | Atlanta, GA |
Beatrice | 18 | Flagstaff, Ariz. |
Brandon | 36 | Chicago, Ill. |
Brennan | 46 | Mullica, NJ |
Iman | 35 | New York, NY |
Ryan | 22 | Boston, Mass. |
The Basement
In this episode, eight professional chefs will begin their journey cooking in the basement level. Each round, one will be eliminated until only five remain. Those final five will move on to the draft, where Gordon, Nyesha, and Richard will select their teams for the season. The bottom level of this three-tier kitchen is less than ideal, with the poorest-quality cooking supplies and utensils. Richard coaches the eight competitors in this round. He challenges the pro chefs to create a "staff meal" with limited ingredients. They have 20 minutes to transform their scraps and leftovers into a delicious, soulful dish.
Top Dishes: Austin (Indonesian cod head curry), Ash (hoisin-glazed beef strips with fried tomato), and Brandon (roasted chicken carcass with cheesy polenta)
Worst Dish: Ashley's crispy pork rib with a spicy cream sauce
The Middle Level
In this round, the pro chefs have 20 minutes to create a Next Level daily special with low cost ingredients. Nyesha will mentor them on this floor. The middle level consists of a beautiful kitchen that has all of the typical supplies a great chef would have in their home.
Top Dishes: Austin (Spanish shrimp with red pepper puree) and Ryan (pan-seared ocean trout with succotash)
Worst Dish: Ash's Chinese-Italian fusion noodles
Ash on Next Level Chef (Photo: Lorraine O’Sullivan / FOX)
The Top Level
For their final challenge, the pro chefs must prove they belong in the competition by creating a Next Level dish. On this top level, they'll have the best equipment and ingredients at their disposal. This round will be coached by Gordon.
Top Dish: Austin (filet mignon with celery root puree)
Worst Dish: Brennan (tiger shrimp and peas)
The Big Winners
The first professional chef called to the draft was Austin. He was one of the top cooks on all three levels, firmly taking his spot as the one to beat this season. Other contestants to advance to the Season 4 draft are Beatrice, Brandon, Iman, and Ryan.
Austin on Next Level Chef (Photo: Lorraine O’Sullivan / FOX)
The Big Losers
Three home chefs failed to make the cut in this week's episode: Ashley, Ash, and Brennan.
Next Week
Gordon, Nyesha, and Richard draft their teams. Each mentor will choose five contestants from the pool of 15 home, professional, and social media chefs. Then, the competition kicks off and one chef is eliminated.
Next Level Chef airs Thursdays at 8 p.m. on Fox.
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