Hell’s Kitchen (Season 6, Episode 12) – “5 Chefs Compete”

Dave and Tennille exchanging complaints start off this episode of Hell’s Kitchen. Dave’s upset that Tennille changed her mind at the last minute of the previous episode when she decided to throw Van up on the chopping block. Dave calls Tennille a few choice words and says he can’t trust her anymore.

The first challenge is their first individual challenge of the season where Gordon says one of the most important things they will be judged on is the presentation of their food. Gordon will have some help judging this challenge from the editor-in-chief of Bon Appétit magazine, Barbara Fairchild and a few of her staff. The judges will rank the dishes based purely on presentation, with the top 2 being tasted by Barbara and Gordon.

During judging, Kevin’s stood out to me as the best looking. But looking at dishes on the TV compared to seeing them close up is very different. The judges scored the following:
5th place goes to Tennille, 4th to Suzanne, 3rd to Dave, 2nd to Ariel, and 1st to Kevin. I think I called that one right.
Next it was tasting time. Both Kevin and Ariel bring up their dishes for tasting and the win goes to both. Gordon says Barbara and he couldn’t pick a clear winner, so they tie. Their reward is a photo shoot with Gordon and Barbara with both dishes being featured for the world to see.

Losers get to clean up a street adopted by Hell’s Kitchen… pick up trash, sweep – sounds fun. While Dave and Suzanne got busy cleaning up, Tennille was doing the most complaining. And I really can’t blame her. They had to wear bright orange jumpsuits, and as Tennille said, they looked like convicts. But they should know by now that humiliation is usually what comes along with losing on HK.

After the photo shoot Dave’s back in bed with his hand and wrist hurting again. What does he expect after using it all day? Kevin does a little nibbling at Dave telling Kevin he needs to really think about if this is worth it. Nice try Kevin. I don’t think Dave will back down now… at least I hope he doesn’t. I think he’s put up with the pain up to this point; he can make it a little further. And I have a feeling Kevin thinks Dave is his biggest competition.

After commercial break everyone’s back in the kitchen prepping. Kevin decides it’s time for him to take charge and starts giving out orders, much to the dislike of Suzanne. Gordon tells the chefs he wants everything perfect and wants to complete the service tonight.

HK opens with the normal menu, plus the two additional dishes from the first challenge.
Service starts with some communication breakdown between Tennille and Suzanne. Tennille takes up overcooked risotto, Suzanne takes up poorly cooked scallops, but Dave seems to be going strong. Tennille sends up more bad risotto, but after a little digging by Gordon it turns out that Kevin’s to blame. Kevin overcooked the risotto during prep. Bad mistake. As everyone knows, you’re not going to get poorly cooked risotto past Gordon. And as expected, Gordon gives Kevin a BIG reaming.

Once more rice is brought up by Suzanne the kitchen gets a few more appetizers out when hell breaks loose again. This time its Ariel bringing up undercooked chicken and Suzanne sends up raw fish. Gordon’s getting really steamed now. Ariel sends up some bad lamb and gets called out of the kitchen. In front of the customers Gordon asks Ariel if she would serve that to customers at the Araxi and she quickly says “no”. Gordon yells out something harsh, not sure what, but I could see the express on the customers in the background. They got a kick out of it.

Back in the kitchen and Gordon’s blowing his top again. The chefs finally complete service in a really poor way. Gordon says no one came together as a team and they all have to come up with two people for elimination. Back in the house they all put up a fight stating their opinion, complaining and saying everyone was worse than the other person. In the dining room Gordon asks for the nominees and they are Ariel and Suzanne. Just what I expected. Suzanne says she was focused tonight, but Gordon says while she may have been focused she accomplished nothing. Ariel admits to mistakes but says she’s a better chef. Gordon says honestly they should both go but sends Suzanne packing. Gordon closes telling Tennille she dodged the bullet tonight and that she should have been on the chopping block. Down to four. Kevin and Dave are my picks for the final two. Hopefully Dave’s hand doesn’t handicap him so bad that it sends him home.