Hell’s Kitchen Coverage: Two Down, Two Left

It’s time for the last four to shine up at the pass in another episode of “Hell’s Kitchen.”

At the end of the last episode there was a surprise waiting for the chefs in the dorms. That surprise was the final four’s family members. The morning after that surprise the chefs were called downstairs and sent to a supermarket.

At this supermarket the chefs were given the day’s challenge: each are given $15 and told to buy ingredients to make a dish that would bring in the highest price and biggest profit. All the chefs made it by just a few cents except Justin. After Chef Scott told him he can’t have extra money, he had no choice but to replace his avocado with a cheaper mango.

Justin made a shrimp dish, Barbie made a pork chop and sausage dish, Dana made a halibut and Christina made a swordfish and shrimp dish.

The challenge’s special guest judges were David Lefevre of Manhattan Beach Post, West Coast Editor of Bon Appetite Magazine Huge Garvey and GM of Patina Christian Philippo. They would each give a price for how much they would pay for each dish and the chef with the highest price wins the challenge.

Dana won the challenge with an average price of $34. Her reward was a day at Lefevre’s restaurant where she got some pointer from him as well as lunch. She didn’t spend it alone, however. She spent it with her parents.

As for the other three chefs, they had to go into Hell’s Kitchen’s dumpster and separate all the garbage. You could smell all the garbage right out of the TV screen. The flies and maggots didn’t help. Barbie said she does this at home every Friday while Justin was just seconds from losing it. Barbie was right when she said that if Dana was doing this she’d be complaining the whole time.

At dinner service it was time for the chefs to be tested up at the pass for the first time. This was the perfect way to see how well these chefs lead a kitchen.

Justin went up first. He did well even passing the quality control test with the lobster spaghetti having crab instead of lobster. This was on top of Dana arguing with Justin the entire way through.

Dana went second. It was obvious nobody liked her when she called the order got absolute silence. She also failed her quality control test when Ramsey put sugar in a risotto and she didn’t taste it.

When it was Barbie’s turn at the pass she did not look at the chefs when she called the orders and instead faced the dining room. Dana made fun of that in the video confession. That was a big mistake. At least she passed her quality control test with the mashed potatoes being replaced with mashed celeriac.

At this point, communication between Justin and Dana was breaking down. What else is new at this point?

Christina finished up and Dana messed up her cod, slowing down dinner service. At least Christina was assertive and passed her quality control when she spotted the garnish was arugula instead of spinach.

At elimination, Ramsey asked each chef why they should stay in Hell’s Kitchen because next episode is the last. Two chefs got eliminated this episode. The first chef that got let go was Barbie and the second would be revealed in the finale.

Barbie should not have been eliminated. If Ramsey based his decision on this week’s episode, he’s wrong. If it’s overall then maybe he’s right. Dana should’ve been let go first due to how poorly she did and her lack of communication with everyone. Looks like the only chef left that should win is Christina. Let’s see how the finale goes. Wonder if the viewers will be throwing confetti or garbage at their TVs when it’s all over.