Episode Report Card Monty Ashley: B | Grade It Now! YOU GRADE IT The Final Showdown
By Monty Ashley | Season 4 | Episode 15 | Aired on 07.08.2008
In the other kitchen, Petrozza is waiting on one onion ring from Jen. She sasses him a bit and then gives him a floppy, limp ring. Petrozza looks like all the fight has gone out of him, just walking around with a hangdog look (he does a really good hangdog look; I think his face is built for it) and asking Jen despairingly for a crispy onion ring. In an interview, he despairs further, lifting his hands to he heavens and crying out for onion rings. The rest of the table (six orders!) is getting cold, and Chef Ramsay explains to Petrozza that his kitchen has "one awkward bitch" in it. Petrozza talks to Jen, but goes with "Shut up and cook the food" instead of "Get the [bleep] out of my kitchen." Chef Ramsay thinks Jen is sabotaging Petrozza. I know that's a traditional theory, but I'm not sure I buy it. Some seasons, sure, but this group has never been that great at finishing a dinner service to begin with. Anyway, the onion rings finally show up.
Two hours into the final dinner service, Petrozza has served entrees to 10 of his 13 tables. Christina has served 8. Matt provides uncooked monkfish, and is told in no uncertain terms to "Fix it. Now!" I think Christina has a good voice for shouting at people and telling them to get it right. It's very piercing. Christina interviews, "You need to shape up or get the [bleep] out of my kitchen." What, me? What did I do? Chef Ramsay threatens Matt with expulsion, and Matt's still muttering, "Shut the [bleep] up and let me cook." Gordon as much as tells Christina that if she doesn't throw Matt out, he will.
There are commercials. What will Christina do? Well, she will micromanage Matt a little, telling him to cook two thin tail pieces, presumably because they'll cook faster. Matt interviews defensively that the fish was not raw, well maybe a little bit of it was raw. He refers to the crevice, pronouncing it "CREE-viss". Is it shallow of me to mock someone's pronunciation? Oh, it is? Well, that's a shame, because that's what I'm doing. And I stand by it!
Matt has some good fish (finally) and at least seems to be cursing at the food now instead of the other chefs. Suddenly they're almost done, and Christina tells Matt he's two perfect risottos away from being done. Then there's some dessert-related shouting, and both kitchens finish their services. Christina and Petrozza share a relieved handshake, which is nice to see.
After the service, Chef Ramsay has the two brigades applaud themselves. Then he tells them again about how one of them will become the Executive Chef for the London West Hollywood and sends Petrozza and Christina upstairs to the dorms. They both hug and thank their teams, and it looks sincere. Up in the dorms, they're consumed by exhaustion and impatience.