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00:00Previously on Next Level Chef.
00:03From 24 chefs, only 15 of you will make you
00:06into that incredible draft.
00:08Go home, chefs.
00:09Oh, my goodness.
00:11I want one of you to want me.
00:12I did not get this far to get this far.
00:15Five professional chefs, social media stars,
00:19and home cooks.
00:21You have earned your way into that incredible draft.
00:25Talk about a dream.
00:27And tonight, we are going to draft
00:29our team.
00:31Marcia Ramsay picked your boy.
00:33Good luck, Gordon.
00:34You'll need it.
00:35Got to go.
00:36Oh, my god.
00:37Flat board.
00:37Now, now, now.
00:39You want to write it down in your little book?
00:41Oh, my goodness me.
00:42Does not take criticism well.
01:02Oh, my goodness.
01:03Good morning, chefs.
01:05Woo.
01:08Let's go.
01:09The butterflies I'm experiencing are insane.
01:13Sort of like Hunger Games without the death part.
01:15Are you guys ready to go?
01:16Yes, chef.
01:17I am glad because we are going to draft our teams
01:25The fact is we all know it's team blaze that was victorious last year
01:30Oh Lord chef Austin put us up on the top level and I plan on keeping our team up there
01:35all season long
01:36Listen you best believe you guys
01:41I've been taking notes
01:45You have a notebook. I sure do because I'm putting together a team that is going to absolutely
01:51Dominate all season long. He's just coming out fighting
01:55I looked at her notebook and it says how to beat blaze page one
02:01It's been a minute since team errington has had a winner with piet in season one
02:05But we're gonna take back that crown. I love the fact that you two are super confident
02:08You know that but there's only one two-time winning mentor standing in front of these talented chefs. Yes
02:16In 10 take you to a three-time hat trick
02:21Right team errington gets the first pick
02:24Noisha you're on the clock. Where you going chef errington is a legend. I would love to be on chef
02:30errington's team
02:31Come on to match made in heaven. This is very important decision
02:35I'm looking for a well-rounded team who brings the best energy
02:39I've taken a lot of notes on who would fit on team errington. My first choice is an easy one
02:47And it's gonna be
02:50Danielle
02:53Did she say Danielle the very first I
02:59Have never been number one pick for anything in my whole life. I will make you proud. I believe it
03:05Number one baby
03:08I'm not shocked, but I'm happy because that means I get the chef that I've wanted from the minute. They
03:14stepped into that kitchen
03:16I'm not looking for a front-runner. I'm looking for someone that I can help mentor and get stronger
03:23The first member of team Ramsey
03:25Come on chef Ramsey pick your boy pick your boy
03:31It's Gabrielle welcome
03:35Let's go okay. Are you kidding me chef Ramsey's first pick
03:39Thank you chef. We won't let you down. Welcome to team Ramsey. That is on
03:44freaking real
03:47Listen, I'm very excited about this moment because I get two championship picks in a row
03:54My first pick though an absolute slam dunk to be honest this chef had me at first bite
04:01team blazes first pick is
04:04Christian
04:05Wow, let's go Christian
04:06Let's go first bite bring the flavors. You ready? Yes chef. It's a blaze
04:13Can't wait to get you your first pickleball set
04:15Okay, so you might not see my next pick
04:19Coming here, but after studying the performances here in the auditions and maybe doing a little online research as well
04:26the next member of team blaze is
04:29Tim let's go
04:32Let's go
04:33I'm ready for this starting strong. I see huge potential in my next pick
04:40Andy
04:40Come on
04:41Come on
04:44I saw her in your little black book
04:46I did I did I did
04:47I gave that one to you
04:52The next member of team errington is
04:55Connor
04:55Wow
04:57LA on the map let's go
04:59For my third pick
05:01Emerson
05:06The next member of team Ramsey is
05:11Cole
05:12Welcome
05:13Welcome
05:16Back to back again team blaze is going with
05:21Darian
05:22Let's go
05:23Okay, bring it up front
05:25Make your winner. Let's go. We have this like win it all costs vibe. So I'm gonna go with someone
05:32who knows competition more than anyone else here
05:35I can't believe that they're still out here team blaze select Jared. Let's go. Wow
05:40Let's go captain America the next member to join team Ramsey
05:49Let's go
06:00Yes
06:00I clearly see that you have a theme going on here with the badass women. Oh, we love that
06:06But you guys have left two chefs that I've wanted from the start
06:11Machete
06:12Welcome to team errington
06:13I love the flavor you bring I love the vibes you bring hey
06:17There we go
06:18Our final chef to round us out
06:22Mr. Matt
06:24Welcome to team errington sir
06:26Maria and elise honestly, I can't believe you two are still out there. I'd gladly take both of you
06:31Tom Brady was picked
06:34199th
06:35Overall and guess what he won seven championships. I'm not worried right the final member joining team Ramsey
06:43Mariah
06:43Mariah welcome, Adani
06:44Welcome let's go
06:47Elise this played right into our hands join team blaze
06:51Hello gentlemen
06:52That's fine. Everyone can doubt you. It doesn't matter because they don't know what you can bring
06:56The teams are set every excited
06:59Let's go baby
07:02Now it's time for your first big important challenge. I think we should have a bit of a celebration. Yes.
07:08Yeah, or better yet a fiesta
07:12Let's go
07:13Because for your first team challenge we are heading south of the border
07:18Let's go with a next level taco party
07:23Let's talk about it. Let's talk about it. Y'all don't want the smoke over here
07:27Taco time. I know I got this man. I'm five-time Houston's best taco champion
07:32Run it up. Run it up. Right. Here's the good news. You'll have 30 minutes to create three identical next
07:39level tacos
07:39Yes, we got this the chef that creates the best tacos today will keep their entire team safe from elimination
07:46fire
07:47And move your team to the top level next time round
07:49Sadly the two losing teams will each send a chef into that dreaded cook-off where one of you will
07:56be eliminated
07:57Don't let it be you
08:00Right you guys ready?
08:02Let's go
08:03Okay team blaze
08:04I've been waiting to say this for a really long time as reigning champions
08:09Oh jeez
08:10We will start on the top level
08:12Let's go
08:13Head to the elevator. I'll see you there soon. Let's go team blaze
08:16The only way is down
08:17I can't wait to put this blue apron on
08:18Team work makes the dream work
08:20Next level show
08:21Team blaze baby
08:27Yes
08:28Woo!
08:28Let's get it
08:31All right
08:33Let's do this
08:34Chef blaze
08:34Assembled the Avengers
08:36Assemble
08:38That's Captain America for you
08:39We're blazin' blue
08:40The hottest part of the flame
08:44Yay!
08:46Let's go!
08:48Feels so good to be in this kitchen
08:50We're a team now
08:51The girl power
08:52You can taste it
08:55The Gordon girls
08:56The Gordon girls
08:57The Gordon girls
08:57The Gordon girls
08:59Yay!
09:00Yay!
09:00Yes, you
09:01Boom, boom, boom, boom
09:02Let's go my boys
09:03Oh my gosh
09:04Make sure that I want this one
09:05All right
09:05It's like home sweet home
09:06I don't need that one no more
09:08Woo!
09:10It looks nice
09:13Yes!
09:14Yes!
09:15Let's go!
09:17Let's go!
09:19Let's go!
09:20Let's go!
09:21Let's go!
09:22Let's go!
09:24Let's go!
09:26Let's go!
09:28Let's go!
09:28Come on!
09:29All good work?
09:30Right.
09:31Come here.
09:32I have three daughters when I told them the news
09:34that I've got an all-female team.
09:35They're so excited!
09:37Yes!
09:37Yes!
09:37So excited.
09:40All right, everybody.
09:41How we doing, guys?
09:42Let's do it.
09:43Let's go!
09:44Bring it over here.
09:45So this is a taco challenge, but it's not a Mexican challenge.
09:48This could be a taco from New Orleans, a Chinese taco,
09:51like, whatever it is.
09:52We're always thinking about making the challenge ours.
09:55What do I do well?
09:57All right, let's line it up over here on the door.
10:01Here it comes.
10:02When the light goes green, it's go time.
10:04All right, guys.
10:05Back-to-back champs this year.
10:09Go!
10:13All right, there we go.
10:15Proteins.
10:15Make sure you grab a protein.
10:17The first thing I see is flank steak.
10:19And I'm like, oh, I love a steak taco.
10:21Of course I'm gonna pick that.
10:22All right, chilies.
10:23There's corn, salsa.
10:25Oh, my gosh.
10:26Tomato paste.
10:26What kind of tongue is that?
10:28I'm not touching that.
10:29I'm like, you know what?
10:30That's going to the basement.
10:32All right, chipotle and adobo.
10:33Tomato paste.
10:34See that pork loin?
10:35Beautiful fat cap.
10:36Grab that immediately.
10:37Gochie Chang's right behind you.
10:39Gochie Chang.
10:40It looks like gold shining at me.
10:42All right, grab that.
10:43Five seconds left.
10:44There's garnish, citrus, fresh herbs and citrus.
10:48Right, if you can grab it, you can get it.
10:50Grab it or regret it.
10:51Good luck, Gordon.
10:53You'll need it.
10:54Okay, let's go, ladies.
10:55Let's go.
10:56Right, scallops there.
10:58There's some goat scraps there.
11:00Yeah.
11:00The first thing I see is a ribeye.
11:03Let's go, baby.
11:04I see some refried beans.
11:06I see peanuts.
11:09Try mahi-mahi.
11:10Ooh, mahi-mahi.
11:12That is perfect.
11:13Prime gold protein for tacos.
11:16I have no idea what they're doing upstairs,
11:18but I'm happy they sent this down to me.
11:21Pepper.
11:21Five seconds, ladies.
11:22Pepper.
11:23Pepper.
11:23Thank you, Chef.
11:24Oh, my goodness me.
11:25Holy crap.
11:27The platform is on the move, guys.
11:30Let's go.
11:32Go, go, go.
11:33Next level taco.
11:34Oh, sorry, sir.
11:35Everybody's going down the alleyway.
11:37My ass goes around the table.
11:39I see tongue.
11:40Hell, nah.
11:41Tripe.
11:42Disgusting.
11:43Lo and behold, the con.
11:45I grabbed the con.
11:46The easy taco decision.
11:47Cola.
11:48Why not?
11:4915 seconds, guys.
11:51Let's go.
11:52The platform has been picked over.
11:55We got a tripe.
11:55You want tripe?
11:56You want a tripe?
11:56The ingredients that are left are straight garbage.
11:59So I grab the beef tongue.
12:02Grab it, grab it, grab it.
12:03Back to your station.
12:04Organize yourself.
12:05Okay, okay.
12:05This is not a good choice.
12:07How do you elevate beef tongue?
12:10And I tell myself all the time, keep it simple, stupid.
12:13And sometimes I don't keep it simple.
12:15Sometimes I go towards the stupid side.
12:22All right, guys.
12:23Your 30-minute starts right now.
12:25Let's go.
12:28Matt, dad.
12:29Welcome to you, Arlington, bud.
12:30Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you.
12:31What did you grab?
12:31I saw it there at the very beginning.
12:33It's you and me.
12:34I grabbed beef tongue.
12:35I've been dreaming about beef tongue, not wanting to get it, but I dreamed about it.
12:38So I was prepared for it.
12:39I love that.
12:40Beef tongue's not easy, but I can make a bacon jam that's kind of sweet, salty, spicy.
12:47So I'm making crispy beef tongue tacos with bacon jam.
12:53Delicious dip of flavor here.
12:54You got to get this cooking, okay?
12:55I'm on it.
12:57Bro, look at all this good stuff.
12:59Michetti.
12:59What's up, baby?
13:00I'm in the van for a taco challenge.
13:01You know what I'm saying?
13:02I got the king bin.
13:03H-Town king taco bin.
13:04Let's go.
13:04I got some cod over here.
13:06I'm going to do like a nice cola battered cod.
13:08We don't need a beer batterer.
13:09I got Coca-Cola.
13:10I got everything in there I need for it.
13:12Come on, baby.
13:14Thank you to the basement.
13:15Connor, what you got?
13:16Jeff, let's go.
13:17I got goat.
13:17Goat, amazing.
13:18You love goat.
13:18Reflective of my captain right here.
13:20Because it's the goat, baby.
13:25Emerson.
13:26All right.
13:26I got tripe taco here.
13:27So I'm doing like a birria inspired.
13:29Birria inspired.
13:29Don't forget the sauce on the side, okay?
13:31Okay.
13:31And I'm going to make a fresh salsa.
13:33Nice fresh salsa.
13:34And then I'm going to make a homemade crema sauce.
13:36Really smart.
13:37Really creative.
13:38I love it.
13:39Thank you, chef.
13:40In Filipino culture, we eat tripe with many of our dishes.
13:43But you need to know how to cook it, get the right texture.
13:46You got to know how to season it.
13:47Once you nail all of that, tripe is beautiful.
13:50Oh, this is tasting good, chef.
13:53Five minutes gone.
13:5425 to go.
13:57Maria.
13:58I'm going to do chicken thighs.
13:59Almost to wear my style.
14:01How are you going to cook the chicken?
14:02I'm going to sear them and then pop them in the oven, I think.
14:05We're good.
14:06We're good.
14:06We're good.
14:07You good.
14:08You good.
14:09Right.
14:09Protein-wise, what did we get?
14:10Tiger prawns.
14:11Yes.
14:11Come on.
14:12I love seafood tacos.
14:14Everybody loves my tacos.
14:16My whole family, like, we love getting together and just, like, serving it up.
14:19Some coming from California.
14:21Yeah.
14:21Some great tacos there, right?
14:22Southern California has the best.
14:24So what are you going to do with this?
14:25Turn it into a glaze.
14:26So I'm going to cook the prawns separately and then finish them with the glaze on top.
14:28Nice.
14:29You got lovely flavors here as well, by the way.
14:31All right.
14:31What did you grab?
14:32Ribeye.
14:33Lovely.
14:33I'm toasting my peanuts right now to make a rub just inspired by Cameroon.
14:38I was born and raised in Cameroon, West Africa.
14:42Soya has this peanut-y base and then just that little hint of spice.
14:47It's the best.
14:52Elise, how are we doing here?
14:54We got a flank steak?
14:54We do.
14:55I'm going to marinate this in some buttermilk and some traditional spices.
14:59My kids have a tough time chewing through a lot of meat and protein.
15:04So I'm just going to marinate my flank steak in buttermilk.
15:08It's a thing that I do fairly often.
15:11I know that my kids would appreciate it.
15:13So you're marinating it almost like a tandoori chicken.
15:17I just want it tender, I want it juicy, I want it delicious.
15:20Love it, love it again.
15:20Let's start cooking that meat and start working on the flavor.
15:22Yes, got you.
15:23Breathe.
15:23Everything is okay.
15:25Twenty minutes remain.
15:26Twenty minutes.
15:27Feeling good, Christian?
15:28All good.
15:29So good.
15:29Hey, you look good over there.
15:31Okay, Christian, what are we doing?
15:33I'm doing a gochujang sweet glazed grilled pork one and a really spicy chili arbol salsa.
15:38Just be mindful that we don't have too much spice going on.
15:41The gochujang and the chilis can be both spicy, right?
15:43Yes, chef.
15:43I work on a show called Hot Kitchen.
15:46I make spicy food good.
15:47That's my thing.
15:50Oh, sheesh.
15:51She's a spicy .
15:53No one goes home today.
15:56Listen, mid-round drop, you gotta go to the platform right now.
15:59I see a bunch of balls of dough.
16:01I was like, wait, do I not have to make my own tortilla?
16:03Amazing.
16:04You got masa tortillas, fresh made.
16:07I saw the pink of the beet.
16:08Love that color.
16:09Let's roll.
16:10It was pretty.
16:13Uh, ladies, you're gonna grab a masa dough now, please.
16:17You've got charcoal flavor, red corn here, and your chili flavor.
16:20I'm just gonna play it safe and go with the white corn masa.
16:25I just don't have experience working with dough.
16:29Quick, quick, quick.
16:30Seconds to go, guys.
16:31Yeah, good color.
16:34All right, guys.
16:35We need a tortilla to make a taco.
16:37Grab a masa that makes sense with your flavors.
16:40Red corn masa.
16:42It's not staying here.
16:44The platform's going up.
16:45Oh!
16:46Oh!
16:46I reach my hand there.
16:47I grab that squid ink dough.
16:49I have two.
16:50Squid ink.
16:51This'll work.
16:52Taking a run.
16:53Let's get away.
16:55All right, we unstoppable.
16:55We unstoppable.
16:57We're halfway down, guys.
16:58Make sure your tortillas are not too thin.
17:00Not pretty.
17:02We're gonna start over.
17:03That's okay.
17:06Boom.
17:06How we doing over here?
17:08Not great.
17:08We're struggling with that thing.
17:10We're struggling with the press?
17:11It's not working for me.
17:11Yes.
17:12Okay.
17:12I've just come off from being last picked, and I'm just frustrated with the dough.
17:17You're a frickin' mess.
17:19It is extremely difficult to get me angry.
17:23And I am pissed working with that tortilla.
17:26It is just a wreck.
17:28Oh, come on.
17:30I'm so over it.
17:38All right.
17:39Get together, girl.
17:40Not going home over a frickin' tortilla.
17:41Yeah.
17:42It's a Murphy's Law situation.
17:44Whatever can go wrong is going wrong.
17:46Oh, no.
17:47I'm running out of time.
17:48Oh, my gosh.
17:49Ten minutes remain.
17:50Ten minutes remain.
17:52Yes, Chef.
17:53Hey, what do you do with your tortillas when they're done?
17:54Yeah, you throw them in a towel.
17:55Let them wrap.
17:56That one needs a little more time, though.
17:58It's still raw.
17:58Yes, Chef.
17:59Appreciate that.
18:02Tim, all right, Texas has got to represent with the tortillas.
18:05Got it.
18:06You feeling okay?
18:06Doing good.
18:07All right, let's go.
18:08Feeling good.
18:08Let's go, dude.
18:09Come on.
18:09I've seen you online.
18:10I watch you, dude.
18:10Hell, yeah.
18:11I watch you.
18:11Just like on the IG, okay?
18:13That's right.
18:16Get your pans on ready for your tortillas.
18:18Do not wait too long.
18:21I can't believe I'm cooking with Chef Ramsay right now.
18:24We're good.
18:25You good.
18:25You good.
18:26Everyone got their tortillas, yes?
18:27Making mine now, Chef.
18:28Making tortillas now, Chef.
18:29Where's your pan?
18:30Do you need this water?
18:31No.
18:31No.
18:32Not too thick on those.
18:33Yeah?
18:35Let's go touch thinner, all right?
18:36You got it, Chef.
18:37This one's falling apart.
18:39Corn tortillas break really easily.
18:41I only have one that's not falling apart.
18:46Ladies, we are not losing this.
18:48We're not losing, Chef.
18:49We are not losing.
18:51Six and a half minutes left.
18:53No one goes home today.
18:55Darian, we're good?
18:56Yes, Chef.
18:57Pineapple sauce is already working.
18:58Nice, dude.
18:59Nice, okay.
19:00I'm making my jerk spice right now.
19:02Okay.
19:02I'm gonna grind this up.
19:03Get some flavor going.
19:04Homemade jerk spice.
19:05Homemade jerk spice.
19:06Love the idea.
19:08Put jerk on anything.
19:09It's gonna be delicious.
19:10You see a crocodile running by this?
19:11Put some jerk on that thing?
19:13It's gonna be tasty.
19:15Christian, you good?
19:16Yeah.
19:17Chopping up protein, Chef.
19:18That's the thing I think you can finish on that griddle.
19:20There we go.
19:21There we go.
19:22Thank you, Chef.
19:25All right, Jared.
19:25What do we got going on?
19:26We got this ground brisket.
19:27We got some hot sauce, Tabasco.
19:29It's gonna be nice.
19:29So was this draft very similar to the NFL draft?
19:33Yeah.
19:33It did have that same kind of high-octane feel.
19:35A little bit different, though, you know, when you have Gordon Ramsay up there calling
19:38out your name.
19:39But, hey, you had my back when it was O-line dinner, so I'm pumped to be on Team Blaze.
19:43Let's go.
19:43Let's go, Jared.
19:47Five minutes, guys.
19:48Be smart, okay?
19:50Perg, Chef.
19:51Oh, that goat smells crazy good.
19:54Machete.
19:55Yeah.
19:55This is right in your wheelhouse, huh?
19:57Oh, I love this.
19:57You started with $1 tacos outside your dad's shop, right?
20:00Yeah, I'm a mechanic shop, Chef.
20:01I love that.
20:02You know what I mean?
20:03I do.
20:04Now I feel like I'm really back alley again.
20:10How we doing, Matt, Dad?
20:12I feel good.
20:13That's my beef tongue.
20:15A little southwestern-type seasoning.
20:18Delicious.
20:18Thank you, Chef.
20:21Dude, this knife sucks.
20:26Oh, my God.
20:27Chef, you should try this right.
20:29Oh, trust me, I will.
20:30It's delicious.
20:31I don't even like tripe.
20:33It's delicious.
20:34Now you have to bring it together.
20:36Just over four minutes to go, ladies, okay?
20:41How's everybody feeling?
20:42Y'all got this?
20:42Let's go.
20:43Yes.
20:43All right.
20:46Flavor town.
20:47Flavor town.
20:51It smells so good.
20:54Colt, explain these to me.
20:55They are like a taco empanada.
20:57Empanada, yeah.
20:58Have you sealed them?
20:59Yes, Chef.
20:59Good.
21:00This is not going to be a traditional taco.
21:02I didn't just put my tortilla on the grill
21:05and then stick my mahi-mahi in there.
21:07I want to make sure I stand out on this very first challenge
21:10that we have.
21:11Yeah, nice.
21:11Yes, Chef.
21:12Beautiful.
21:14Two minutes left.
21:15You plate now.
21:17Do I have a protein?
21:18Do I have a tortilla?
21:19Do I have some sort of sauce?
21:20Yes, Chef.
21:20Did I have time to make a little garnish together?
21:23Yes, Chef.
21:23No one misses the platform on Team Blaze ever.
21:26No, Chef.
21:28Okay.
21:29What am I missing?
21:30The platform will be here soon.
21:32Platform's going past, ladies.
21:34We hold our nerve.
21:35Yeah, really beautiful.
21:36Nicely seasoned.
21:37This is like falling apart.
21:39Don't worry.
21:39Don't worry.
21:40The plating just looks like garbage.
21:42My tortillas are too big.
21:44I don't have enough time to redo them.
21:47Oh, God.
21:48You got it.
21:48You got it.
21:49Deep breaths.
21:5030 seconds.
21:51Yes, Chef.
21:52Don't forget, you need time to get on that platform, right?
21:56No missed platforms, right?
21:58No missed platforms.
21:59Make it your competition to win, right?
22:03Heard.
22:04Platform's here.
22:05Let's go.
22:05The platform waits for no one.
22:07Connor, let's go.
22:08Matt.
22:09Matt, let's go.
22:10Chef.
22:10Please.
22:11Heard, Chef.
22:11No.
22:14Emerson, let's go.
22:17Stop.
22:18You're done.
22:19Get there, Matt.
22:20Get there, Matt.
22:20Let's go.
22:21Get on the platform.
22:22No, no, no, no.
22:24Get there.
22:28Oh, no.
22:29Oh, my God.
22:33Damn it.
22:35Oh.
22:38The platform waits for no one.
22:40Let's go.
22:41Emerson, you're done.
22:42Please don't miss the platform.
22:44Get out of the platform.
22:45Get there.
22:49Oh, no.
22:51Oh, my God.
22:53Oh.
22:57Damn.
22:58Damn it.
22:59That was my fault, man.
23:02That's my fault and no one else's fault.
23:04And I let my team down.
23:06It's all right.
23:07It's all good, baby.
23:07It's okay.
23:08I had a damn good dish that really would've brought us to the top.
23:16Emerson, I hope you learned a lesson.
23:19When I give you a time and I give you a direction, you have to listen to it.
23:22I'm here to help you.
23:27There you go.
23:28All right, ladies, I need it on here now.
23:29Platform now.
23:30Let's go.
23:30Get on the platform now.
23:32It's got to go.
23:33Let's go.
23:33Let's go.
23:34It's got to go.
23:35Andy, got to go.
23:37Got to go.
23:37Got to go.
23:38Got to go.
23:39Got to go.
23:40Well done.
23:41Next.
23:42Next.
23:46Oh, my .
23:49I'm hoping that, man, those babies are tucked in nicely to that holder.
23:53And I'm praying they didn't budge.
23:55I want you to remember you just started cooking, too.
23:57Like, look where you are.
23:58Look where you are.
23:59Yeah.
24:01The platform is here, guys.
24:02Got to go.
24:03Now.
24:03Now.
24:05Now.
24:06Let's go.
24:07Timmy, now.
24:09Jared, you got to go, dude.
24:11Finish.
24:12All the way through.
24:12Dude, dude.
24:13Come on, guys.
24:13Put it up.
24:14Let's go.
24:14Let's go.
24:15Let's go.
24:16Ah!
24:17How you feeling?
24:18I'm OK.
24:19Good.
24:27Look at these.
24:28The fragrance is incredible.
24:31Great job.
24:32Right.
24:33Shall we start in the basement?
24:34Yes, please.
24:35Definitely.
24:36One, two, three, four.
24:38Did someone fall off the platform?
24:40Oh, no, Emerson.
24:41What happened?
24:42I had it up there.
24:43I was stretching myself as much as I could.
24:44I'm not as tall as Jared.
24:45And it fell.
24:46I had it done.
24:47It was done.
24:49It should have just been on that platform.
24:50I'm kicking myself for it.
24:53First up, we have a crispy tongue taco.
24:56This has a bacon jam salsa.
25:00Delicious balance.
25:01It's a basement ingredient.
25:02Definitely brought to life.
25:03Great effort.
25:05Protein's cooked nicely.
25:06Tortilla's just a tuck too thick for me.
25:08Yeah, I mean, the tortilla sort of falls apart as you eat it.
25:12But this dish is all about this delicious salsa that's in it.
25:15It's giving me sort of barbecue vibes.
25:17Great job.
25:18Next up, we have a cola battered cod
25:21with a cod skin chicharron and a kimchi crema.
25:25This is squid ink tortilla.
25:30Love the idea of that cola batter.
25:32It's nice and sweet, crispy.
25:34And I love the little pickling of the ginger.
25:36Delicious.
25:36Safe to say this is probably not this chef's first taco.
25:40The sauce is super, super delicious.
25:43The tortilla holds together.
25:44It's really well done.
25:46Next up, we have seared goat taco,
25:49served with a salsa matcha and a charcoal tortilla.
25:54The goat is delicious.
25:56I mean, it's super lean.
25:57It's got the heat there, and it tastes so tender.
26:01Lastly, we have a Baja-style scallop taco with a kale and mango salsa.
26:10It's really, really tasty, really balanced.
26:12Smart way of using a sort of unwanted leaf in a taco.
26:16Great job.
26:17Shall we move to the middle level?
26:18Let's start off with a suya, Cameroonian-style rubbed ribeye.
26:25I know this individual's a little bit upset
26:26because they've nearly missed the platform as well,
26:28but it's a messy taco, right?
26:29It's not supposed to look pretty.
26:31I have never had a suya taco before,
26:33and I think I'll be adding it to a list of things to try again.
26:37Maybe I would have liked to see the ribeye chopped up on it,
26:40but it's very tasty.
26:41Messy, but there.
26:42I will take it.
26:45Next up, the spiced snapper with a cabbage slaw.
26:49These are served with blue corn tortillas.
26:58The fish in here is cooked beautifully.
27:00I love this, especially with the slaw and the salsa.
27:03They're beautifully done.
27:04The fish is a little large for the tortilla that it's in,
27:08and it's lacking a lot of seasoning.
27:11Next up is a mahi-mahi deep-fried taco,
27:14almost like a sort of empanada with a saffron tortilla.
27:18This is the type of dish that I want to dive into.
27:21The texture is so craveable, I went in for a second bite.
27:24I think the overall presentation lacks a little bit.
27:27Maybe I would have loved a little bit more sauce,
27:28but frying the tortilla is super smart.
27:30Right.
27:31Next up is a sort of take on a chicken shawarma taco.
27:34Tomatillo crema and a white corn tortilla.
27:37It's a little bit messy.
27:38Okay.
27:39I am so devastated because this is not my best work.
27:46This isn't even close.
27:50Tacos should be easy to eat, and these are challenging to eat.
27:54I think what this is missing is a little bit more time
27:56on the execution, and the tortilla has not been broken.
28:01Last up.
28:02This is a prawn taco, apple kohlrabi slaw, and an archer chili tortilla.
28:09Mmm.
28:11Wow, I really appreciate the flavor of the prawn and apple kohlrabi classic pairing.
28:16Delicious.
28:16They taste beautiful.
28:19All right, let's head to the top floor.
28:22We'll start off right here.
28:23Oh, God.
28:24This is a buttermilk-marinated flank steak taco with a habanero salsa and a beet tortilla.
28:31Yeah, it's a shame.
28:32I mean, I've never marinated flank steak in buttermilk.
28:34It doesn't do it justice, if I'm honest.
28:36The flank steak needs a hard sear and a hard seasoning.
28:39And the tortillas are really thick.
28:41They can't even fold properly.
28:42I sort of had to cradle mine, sadly, to stop it from falling apart.
28:45Next up, we have a chili-rubbed tri-tip with a roasted chili salsa and an achiote tortilla.
28:53The smoky notes that come off of the tortilla play really nicely with the salsa.
28:58Delicious, the tri-tip.
28:59The texture inside these tacos are beautiful.
29:00It's a really good taco.
29:02Okay, next up, we have a jerk-spiced lobster taco with a pineapple salsa.
29:07The lobster's cooked beautifully, but it's very, very, very spicy.
29:10I love jerk-spices, and it's my favorite way to clear my sinuses.
29:15Love the spice blend on this, but this salsa, put it in a jar and sell it.
29:19It's seasoned so well.
29:21Okay, so next up, we have a grilled chochijang pork taco.
29:25That'll be useful.
29:26With a chili salsa, an onion gremolata, and a cactus tortilla.
29:31I quite enjoy spicy food.
29:33It is definitely very fiery, but delicious.
29:38You're saying it's on fire.
29:39I mean, I think the dish is fire.
29:41They're eye-catching as well.
29:42We have put them together, so perfect taco.
29:46Okay, lastly, we have a spicy ground brisket taco with a little queso fresco and a nice pico de gallo
29:54salsa.
29:56This reminds me a lot of my mom's cooking.
29:59This is probably good.
30:00She was not a very good cook.
30:01Oh, no.
30:02But she brought it on Taco Tuesday.
30:04She saved it for Tuesdays.
30:06Thank goodness.
30:07That was quite a up and down there.
30:10Excuse us.
30:11Thank you, chefs.
30:14We got this.
30:16What a shame that one missed.
30:17Emerson.
30:18The most unfortunate circumstances to happen.
30:20That's unfortunate, because just even from the auditions, he knows how to cook.
30:24And he's wearing the dish.
30:25Look at the back of his...
30:25What's that on his back?
30:26The delicious consomme.
30:28Wow.
30:29I just feel really bad.
30:30The one that I don't want again, though, is the taco, shawarma, shawarma, hako, taco.
30:37Yeah, a bit messy.
30:38They were overfilled, also.
30:39The red snapper was just a little bit too clumsy.
30:41It was challenging to eat.
30:43The buttermilk-marinated flank steak with the beet.
30:47Yeah, a bit weird.
30:47It was bland.
30:49I really liked the cola-battered cod.
30:53Same.
30:53Really inventive.
30:54I'm amazed that cod ended in the basement as well, by the way.
30:57Yeah.
30:57I think the tiger prawn from my flop was the best.
31:00It was lacking some salsa.
31:01Oh, my goodness.
31:02It's not a salsa competition.
31:04It tasted like a spring roll and needed a little dipping sauce with it.
31:06Oh, my goodness me.
31:07Your best.
31:08Outstanding taco.
31:09I mean, spoiled for choice.
31:12There's a lot of good...
31:13Oh, my.
31:14The portfolio might have been the most beautiful of the three tacos.
31:17That's one of the better dishes upstairs.
31:18There's a lot of great dishes up there today.
31:19It's the first challenge, and already you're starting out as if all your tacos are delicious.
31:24Come on.
31:24No.
31:25How great was that salsa?
31:26If it was too spicy.
31:27It's not a salsa competition.
31:29It's not a salsa competition.
31:29You're agreeing with me.
31:30I'm just sharing my notes, but...
31:31Yeah, we're allowed to.
31:32I know.
31:33You want to write them down in your little book?
31:34I did.
31:34Trust me.
31:34Oh, my goodness.
31:35I'm going to write some notes about you, too.
31:36Oh, my...
31:37Blaze is going to bat for whoever they don't like.
31:39I can feel it.
31:41Does not take criticism well.
31:43Wow.
31:53Back there, we all fight for our teams, but we also fight for the best dish of the day.
32:01Richard, Naisha, and myself have come to consensus.
32:05The winning taco of the day.
32:08Earning safety for their team and the right to cook in that top-level kitchen next time round was cooked
32:16by...
32:19Christian.
32:20Congratulations.
32:21Let's go, Christian, baby.
32:22Team Blaze.
32:24Good job.
32:26Come on, baby.
32:27Top dish first round.
32:29Are you kidding me?
32:31Wow.
32:32All of you are safe.
32:34Nice job, Team Blaze.
32:36Head back to the lounge, and we'll see you really, really soon.
32:39Enjoy it.
32:39Thank you, chef.
32:40I am so fortunate that Christian saved me today.
32:44I mean, I owe him, like, a margarita or something.
32:47Let's go.
32:48Let's go.
32:48Let's go.
32:49What?
32:50What?
32:53Good job.
32:54Thank you, Christian.
32:57Thank you, guys.
32:59Gordon and Naisha, you each must choose one member from your team to head into the elimination
33:05cook-off.
33:09Emerson, I would love to give my fellow mentors an opportunity to taste your magic.
33:13So, you will be going into the elimination this evening.
33:19The person I'm sending into the elimination is...
33:26Marea.
33:27Yes, chef.
33:28Get yourself back to Team Ramsey quickly, please.
33:31Okay, Marea, Emerson, for your elimination cook-off, we'll be staying south of the border as you
33:39get ready to create one of Mexico's most iconic and adored dishes.
33:44Mole.
33:47I have never seen the fear of God in someone's eyes.
33:50Emerson went...
33:53I've never cooked a mole in my life.
33:55I don't even know what's in a mole.
33:57Let's go, Emerson.
33:58Good luck.
34:00Marea, you can do this.
34:01Emerson, bring the energy, right?
34:03Mole.
34:12Let's go.
34:13I'm gonna have to lean on my team.
34:16Breathe, baby.
34:17Breathe.
34:17I ain't going home.
34:19You got it, Marea.
34:20She's in the zone.
34:21She's in the zone.
34:22When I'm locked in, I'm laser focused.
34:25Emerson's super talented, but it's a boxing match right now and I'm going all the rounds.
34:33Okay, everyone, we doing good?
34:34Hey, chef.
34:35Emerson, Marea, line up with your teams over there.
34:38We got you.
34:38Okay, listen, you have one last chance to save yourselves in this competition.
34:4330 minutes to create a next-level mole entree.
34:48Yes, chef.
34:49Listen, here's the thing.
34:49Make sure you have your proteins and everything else you need to build this dish.
34:55Because, listen, we're gonna make it a little bit tougher.
34:58Platform is not staying this season.
35:03Grab it or regret it.
35:05It's already freaking hard to make a mole in 30 minutes and they're like,
35:09well, we're gonna make it harder.
35:11Really?
35:12Here it comes.
35:13When the light is green, it's go time.
35:17Go!
35:18Go, go, go.
35:18There we go.
35:19You got chicken.
35:21You got it.
35:21You got it.
35:22There we go, baby.
35:23There's pork up here, Marea.
35:25Way to go.
35:26All right, all sorts of dried chilies.
35:28Chili, chili.
35:28Chipotle and adobo.
35:29Raisins are up here.
35:31Chocolate is up here.
35:32There you go.
35:32Damn.
35:33That platform isn't staying.
35:35If I miss those key ingredients on the grab, there goes the mole.
35:38Make sure you get chocolate.
35:40Yes.
35:40Aromatics.
35:41Dates.
35:41Plants and peanut butter.
35:43Okay.
35:44Smortillas.
35:45Okay, if you can grab it, it's yours.
35:47Grab it or regret it.
35:48Okay, back to your station.
35:49Your 30-minute starts now.
35:52Oh, my God.
35:54Okay, traditionally, any mole starts with toasting some chilies.
35:58What kind of dish are you going to make, Emerson?
35:59I'm going to do, like, a chicken pollo asada.
36:02So, like, a dark mole.
36:03You got some sort of sweetness to balance it out.
36:05Yes, Chef.
36:06You got some dates over here.
36:07And those plantains are going to have to, like, really thicken this up.
36:09I like this.
36:10You got your onions charring, garlic, toast the almonds, right?
36:14Ooh, okay.
36:15All right, all right.
36:15See some flavor.
36:17That's looking good.
36:18Yeah.
36:18So, this is what type of mole?
36:21The coloraditos.
36:22You have a sweet...
36:22Do you have something for sweetness?
36:23Yes, you have molasses.
36:24Yes, I'm going to grab spices, too.
36:25Okay, I like that.
36:26I like that.
36:27Calm and collected, girl.
36:28Yeah.
36:28Love it.
36:29Give that chicken all that pan.
36:30Skin side down.
36:32Corn is the most important key.
36:33It's that element of yellow is going to pop in that brown dish.
36:3620 minutes remain.
36:38You have your mole base.
36:39We're going to get that mixture to our blender.
36:42Nice.
36:43You got this, girl.
36:44That looks great.
36:45Beautiful.
36:46Gorgeous color.
36:48No more chili.
36:49No more chili.
36:50No more chili.
36:50No more chili.
36:51No more chili.
36:51You're okay with all the seeds of the chilies being in there?
36:54Yeah.
36:54We want this a little spicy.
36:55Listen to Chef.
36:56Yeah, listen to Blaze.
36:57We'll do, we'll do, we'll do, we'll do.
36:58My team is screaming at me.
37:00I will pull the stems out.
37:01I'm starting in a panic.
37:02I already screwed up because I missed the platform.
37:06I don't want to be the first one to go home.
37:09You got this, Maria.
37:10Watch that pork, girl.
37:12Get it in that skillet.
37:13Get it in that skillet.
37:14Wide pan.
37:15That's looking beautiful, my boy.
37:16That's what I'm talking about.
37:18Looks good.
37:19It's glossy.
37:20This one's great, too.
37:21I mean, man.
37:23Check your chicken.
37:24Yeah.
37:25Oven, oven, oven.
37:26There you go, there you go.
37:27Looks good, looks good.
37:28Halfway through.
37:29Maria Emerson, halfway through.
37:31Love the tasting, Maria.
37:33I'm feeling good.
37:34I am leaning into the flavors of my heritage.
37:38Trust your instincts.
37:39You're gonna come all the way out here to go home today.
37:40My game plan is just focus on flavor, flavor, flavor.
37:44Mmm!
37:45Yes!
37:46Yes!
37:47That's good!
37:49That's a lot.
37:49That's a lot.
37:50No more.
37:50No more sugar.
37:51No more sugar.
37:52What is going on?
37:54A knife.
37:54Clean knife.
37:55Clean knife.
37:55We got his back, but he looks so overwhelmed.
37:58Corn, corn.
37:59Emerson, your corn.
38:02Oh, my God.
38:04My dog is in trouble.
38:06What's up, Emerson?
38:07You're giving me nervous energy over here.
38:08Oh, my gosh.
38:09That's right.
38:10Ooh, hot.
38:11Okay, deep breaths.
38:14It is so important to get this mole right,
38:17or else I'm gone.
38:17I gotta look this way.
38:18I can't look right now.
38:29Breathe.
38:30Emerson, breathe.
38:31You got this.
38:31We got you.
38:32We got you.
38:33I'm feeling all the pressure,
38:34but I got my team behind me.
38:36Good job.
38:36Good job.
38:37Yeah, my wife and my kids know me as a fighter.
38:39I'm gonna...
38:40I don't know.
38:40It's up to you to do riblets, maybe.
38:43I ain't giving up.
38:44I owe it to them.
38:46All right, two minutes.
38:47You can play it right now if you want.
38:48Two minutes left.
38:49Mole on top.
38:50Mole on top, Emerson.
38:51Yeah, coat it.
38:52Don't be shy with it.
38:53It's a mole challenge, right?
38:56Yes, girl!
38:57Four and ten!
38:58Woo!
39:00It's looking beautiful.
39:01I like that.
39:02Oh!
39:05Nice!
39:06Beautiful.
39:06Beautiful.
39:10What?
39:11Oh, no!
39:12No way.
39:14That's number two in two different ways.
39:16Do you like the way that looks?
39:17No.
39:17Okay.
39:17Do you need a new plate?
39:19Which one?
39:19Blue one.
39:20Okay, let's go.
39:20Blue, yes.
39:20I love it.
39:22Way to pivot.
39:23Oh, no.
39:24Okay, good, good, good, good, good call.
39:27Gorgeous, gorgeous.
39:29You got this, girl.
39:30Yes, yes, yes, yes!
39:32Five, four, three, two, one.
39:36Stop cooking.
39:38Yeah!
39:44Aisha, Gordon.
39:45How was that?
39:46Oh, my gosh.
39:47You know how hard it is to make a mole?
39:48Yeah.
39:48And both competitors absolutely threw down.
39:51Okay, so first dish is a chicken leg with an ancho and pasilla chile mole.
39:58Shall we?
40:03Could do with a touch more seasoning.
40:07But overall, it's good.
40:08Very good.
40:08Chicken's cooked beautifully, by the way.
40:10Who ever cooked that?
40:10Mmm.
40:12Well, this mole for me, it's leaning a bit on the sweet side, which I love.
40:18The depth of flavor and the smokiness achieved is quite a feat.
40:24Next up, we have a seared pork line, and this is with a mulatto and chipotle mole sauce.
40:37That mole is nice.
40:38There's a lovely vibrancy, but a lot of spice in this one.
40:41If anything, it needs to be cooked out more.
40:44Pork is a little bit overcooked.
40:46I gotta say, in 30 minutes, tons of depth of flavor.
40:50All right, two next-level moles, but we have to eliminate one.
40:54Gordon, I'm gonna start with you.
40:56Which dish will you be eliminating tonight?
41:00Poof, the dish I'm eliminating.
41:05God.
41:07I'm gonna eliminate the pork.
41:11Okay, Naisha, same question.
41:14Tough choice.
41:16The mole that I will be eliminating...
41:23...is...
41:25...the pork.
41:30That was cooked by Maria.
41:32Oh, my gosh.
41:33Damn.
41:35Damn, damn, damn.
41:36You know, the short time we got to know you, clearly talented.
41:40You've done yourself proud, your family proud, and I'm proud of you.
41:44It's been a pleasure being on your team.
41:46Likewise. I wish it was longer.
41:48Short time.
41:48I wish it was longer.
41:49Please say goodbye to your teammates and head to the elevator.
41:53Good job, Maria.
41:56Damn.
41:57You've been so good.
41:57I cooked my heart out today, and I have no regrets.
42:05It's something I'll never forget.
42:08Emerson, get your timings right, okay?
42:11That platform, it waits for nobody.
42:14I'm still here.
42:16I ain't going nowhere.
42:21Get some rest, all of you.
42:23Because when we see you next time, the one thing that none of you can afford is a breakdown in
42:30communication.
42:32Thank you, Josh.
42:33That was a clue.
42:33Good night, guys.
42:35Clean that jacket.
42:36Send the tacos on the platform.
42:38Don't wear them.
42:40Next time on Next Level Chef, you're about to see some things I've never seen in my career.
42:46There are monsters on this platform.
42:49Oh, my God.
42:50I have trouble with proteins that still have their heads on them.
42:54He was moving like a samurai in there.
42:57Here we go, Team Blaze.
42:59Pipe down, pipe down.
43:00There is.
43:00Somebody's mad over there.
43:02Best dish of the day.
43:03We have three mentors, and my choice is the other dish.
43:05They're fighting back there.
43:07Is it going to be like this full season?
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