Hell’s Kitchen Recap: Dry Meatballs?

Strap up your boot straps and grab your cowboy hat because “Hell’s Kitchen” was the place to be for cowboys on an all new episode. Just be sure to mind the bison urine smell.

The chefs were greeted by a strange sight when they entered the dining room this episode: A bison. Understandably, everyone was on edge to be around a giant animal with horns. This giant animal also urinated on “Hell’s Kitchen’s” nice carpet. The stench in there at that moment must have been horrible.

Anyway, after (very) carefully making their way around the bison and outside, the chefs had to choose which cut of bison they wanted to work with. The pairings were: ground (Jackie and Jared,) filet (Ashley and Dannie,) rib eye (Ariel and Joe,) top sirloin (Kristin and Frank) and Flank (Manda and Chad.)

On top of that, each chef per pairing had to fire an arrow at a target and the closest one chose which country’s cuisine to cook the bison. The winners were: Jared (Spanish,) Ashley (Thai,) Manda (Italian,) Ariel (Japanese) and Frank (French.) They did pretty well for people who never shot a bow before. Kristin, on the other hand, didn’t even hit anything and bounced off the target. This is despite her saying she was channeling Kevin Costner in “Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves.”

At tasting, one of the biggest surprises was Jackie cooking dry meatballs. For an Italian, she should’ve been able to cook better meatballs. In the end, the score was tied 4-4 because everyone except Jackie and Manda did well. Chad won the tie breaker for the Red.

The Red’s reward was a day with Hollywood animals. That meant they had to feed a tiger and a bear. Of course, everyone was terrified by the tiger because it’s a tiger. The bear was super friendly, though. All the chefs also got “Vitamix” blenders.

The Blue had to not only clean up the bison urine, but they also had to churn butter and bake bread. Joe broke two churners. How in the hell can someone break two churners back to back?

This episode’s dinner service was cowboy steak night. When you think these chefs would get better, they are still making mistakes this late in the competition.

The Blue did great on appetizers but had problems with entrees. Joe was tossing his mashed potatoes instead of stirring them. There really is no reason anyone would thing to toss mashed potatoes like they were sautéing something. Later, he would bring Ramsay up super greasy French fries. Despite that, they finished service.

The Red Team’s first order was from actress Stacey Dash and it did not go too well. Dash complained that her scallops were salty undercooked. Salty is understandable, but how did undercooked get by the pass? Her second attempt was overcooked and then they got stuck to the pan. Ramsay even scolded her because this was a basic mistake. Later, Jackie overcooked Ahi tuna and Ashley undercooked two rib eyes. After another undercooked rib eye, the entire Red Team was kicked out.

One thing of note here is that while the Red Team was discussing who to nominate, Jackie admitted to only be cooking professionally for three months. Three months really isn’t long enough to be good enough to run your own restaurant.

The Red chose Jackie and Ariel. Ramsay eliminated Joe instead.

Ariel may have done poorly this episode, but she’s been strong all season long even with a busted foot. Joe’s exit was inevitable and Jackie is well on her way out. There is nothing more she can do in this competition.