Episode Report Card Daniel: B- | 3 USERS: B- YOU GRADE IT 20 Chefs Compete
By Daniel | Season 11 | Episode 1/2 | Aired on 03.12.2013
After what feels like hours, the cheftestants are taken to an auditorium where they seem surprised to be greeted by cheering fans, despite the fact this happens pretty much every season now. Ramsay arrives, and the cheftestants introduce themselves. Apparently there's more than ever before, and more than just Americans -- there's a Mexican who figures if he could make it past Immigration, Ramsay should be a breeze. And now one of the women is doing pushups and I'm not sure what's going on.
Thankfully the always lovely Chef Andi comes out, leader of the women's team, followed by new guy Chef James, to oversee the men. Ramsay announces this year's winner will oversee the brand-new Gordon Ramsay Pub and Grill at Caesar's Palace, plus a salary of $250,000.
But wait, there's more! The signature-dish challenge is happening in front of this live audience. This news seems to excite some of the cheftestants and terrify others. They've all got forty-five minutes to come up with something that represents them on a plate. "And as they say in Vegas, 'Good fucking luck,"" Ramsay tells them. I don't remember that on too many tourism brochures, actually. It's more of a subtextual thing, I suppose.
The cheftestants trip all over themselves in the crowded kitchens but they all get their dishes completed in the time frame. First up are executive chef Danielle from Atlanta and head chef Barret from Long Island. Barret has a Mohawk and -- much to Ramsay's amusement -- a Hell's Kitchen pitchfork and HK shaved into the side of his head. He's made a porkloin roulade with fresh spinach, oyster and shiitake mushrooms, and roasted garlic potato and shallots. Ramsay balks at the apparently excessive garlic. "No wonder you're fucking hair's standing up," he says, to applause from the audience.
Danielle made a parmesan-encrusted chicken breast with grilled asparagus and a lemon beurre blanc. Ramsay tells her the asparagus looks burnt. But will it still make your urine smell funny (and maybe burnt)? He shits over the preparation of the chicken too. No points for either side.
Up next: Nedra from Detroit and sous chef Sebastian from Brooklyn. Sebastian doesn't seem to want to bring his dish up, so Ramsay goes with Nedra first. Instead of just showing him the goddamn dish, she asks for time to pray before Ramsay busts her balls.
EVENTUALLY, we learn that she made double-grilled potatoes with a rosemary-glazed lamb. Ramsay tells her it's cooked perfectly. As for Sebastian, he's made shrimp and salmon corn dogs. (The audience titters, because what?) Ramsay's unimpressed, and he makes Nedra taste it. She makes a big show of gagging and spitting it out. Good thing she doesn't have a vested interest in her competitor's dish tasting like shit or anything. Ramsay tells Sebastian he was right to try to bolt out the door rather than bring that dish up. One point for the women.