Next Level Chef Season 5 Episode 4

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Transcript

00:01Previously on Next Level Chef, from 24 chefs,

00:05only 15 of you will make you into 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, and 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.

00:31Come on, Chef Ramsay.

00:32Pick your boy.

00:33Good luck, Gordon.

00:34You'll need it.

00:35Got to go.

00:36Oh, my god.

00:37Platform.

00:38Now, now, now.

00:39You want to write him down in your little book?

00:41Oh, my goodness me.

00:42Does not take criticism well.

01:00Oh, my goodness.

01:02Hello.

01:03Good morning, Chefs.

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

01:28that was victorious last year.

01:30Oh, Lord.

01:30Chef Austin put us up on the top level,

01:33and I plan on keeping our team up there all season long.

01:37Listen, you best believe, you guys,

01:41I've been taking notes, OK, on all of you.

01:45You have a notebook?

01:46I sure do, because I'm putting together a team

01:49that is going to absolutely dominate all season long.

01:52Aisha's coming out fighting.

01:54Wow.

01:56I looked at her notebook, and it says,

01:58how to beat Blaze, page one.

02:01It's been a minute since Team Errington has had a winner

02:04with Piet in season one, but we're going to take back that crown.

02:06I love the fact that you two are super confident.

02:09You know that.

02:09But there's only one two-time winning mentor

02:12standing in front of these talented chefs.

02:14Yes!

02:15And I intend taking it to a three-time hat trick.

02:20Yeah.

02:21Right.

02:22Team Errington gets the first pick.

02:24No, Aisha, you're on the clock.

02:26Where are you going?

02:27Chef Errington is a legend.

02:29I would love to be on Chef Errington's team.

02:31Come on.

02:32It's a match made in heaven.

02:33This is a 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.

02:42My first choice is an easy one.

02:47And it's going to be Danielle.

02:52Wow.

02:54Did she say Danielle the very first?

02:57Woo!

02:59I have never been number one pick for anything in my whole life.

03:03I will make you proud.

03:04I believe it.

03:06Number one, baby!

03:08I'm not shocked, but I'm happy.

03:10Because that means I get the chef that I wanted from the minute they stepped into that kitchen.

03:16I'm not looking for a front runner.

03:18I'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.

03:32Welcome.

03:33Woo-hoo!

03:33Let's go.

03:35Let's go.

03:36Okay.

03:36Are you kidding me?

03:37Chef Ramsey's first pick.

03:40Thank you, Chef.

03:41We won't let you down.

03:42Welcome to Team Ramsey.

03:43That is un-freaking-real.

03:47Listen, I am very excited about this moment because I get two championship picks in a

03:52row.

03:54On my first pick, though, an absolute slam dunk.

03:57To be honest, this chef had me at first bite.

04:01Team Blaze's first pick is Christian.

04:05Wow.

04:06Let's go, Christian.

04:07Okay.

04:07Let's go.

04:08First bite.

04:09Ring the flavors.

04:10You ready?

04:11Yes, Chef.

04:12It's a Blaze.

04:13Oh, I can't wait to get you your first pickleball set.

04:16Wow.

04:16Okay, so you might not see my next pick coming here, but after studying the performances

04:22here in the auditions and maybe doing a little online research as well, the next member of

04:27Team Blaze is Tim.

04:30Wow.

04:31Let's go, Tim.

04:31Come on.

04:32Let's go.

04:33I'm ready for this.

04:34Starting strong.

04:36I see huge potential in my next pick.

04:40Andy.

04:41Come on!

04:44I saw her in your little black book.

04:46He did.

04:46Clearly.

04:46I did.

04:47I did.

04:48I gave that one to you.

04:49Oh!

04:52The next member of Team Arrington is Connor.

04:56Wow!

04:57Let's go.

04:58LA on the map.

04:58Let's go.

04:59Let's go.

04:59For my third pick, Emerson.

05:03Woo-hoo!

05:03Hey!

05:04That's right.

05:07The next member of Team Ramsey is Cole.

05:12Welcome.

05:13Yes!

05:14Welcome!

05:15Let's go!

05:16Yes!

05:17Back to back again.

05:18Team Blaze is going with Darian.

05:22Let's go, Darian.

05:23Okay.

05:24Bring it up front.

05:25Make your winner.

05:26Let's go.

05:27We have this, like, win-it-all-costs vibe.

05:31So I'm going to go with someone who knows competition more than anyone else here.

05:35I can't believe that they're still out here.

05:36Team Blaze select Jared.

05:38Let's go.

05:39Wow!

05:39Come on.

05:40Let's go, Captain America.

05:41The next member to join Team Ramsey.

05:45Say, Amber.

05:46I'm here.

05:48Amber.

05:49Let's go!

05:50Yes!

05:52Woo!

05:53Team Ramsey!

05:54Yay!

05:56Oh, my God!

06:00Mmm.

06:00You're pissed now, aren't you?

06:01I clearly see that you have a theme going on here with the badass women.

06:05Oh, yes.

06:06We love that.

06:06But you guys have left two chefs that I've wanted from the start.

06:11Machete!

06:12Woo!

06:12Welcome to Team Arrington.

06:14I love the flavor you bring.

06:15I love the vibes you bring.

06:17Hey!

06:17There we go.

06:19Our final chef to round us out.

06:22Mr. Matt!

06:24Welcome to Team Arrington, sir.

06:26Team Arrington!

06:27Maria and Elise.

06:28Honestly, I can't believe you two are still out there.

06:30I'd gladly take both of you.

06:32Tom Brady was picked 199th overall.

06:36And guess what?

06:36He won seven championships.

06:38I'm not worried.

06:39Right.

06:40The final member joining Team Ramsey, Maria.

06:44Welcome, Adani.

06:44Welcome.

06:45Let's go.

06:47Elise, this played right into our hands.

06:49Join Team Blaze.

06:51Hello, gentlemen.

06:52That's fine.

06:53Everyone can doubt you.

06:54It doesn't matter because they don't know what you can bring.

06:57The teams are set.

06:58Everybody excited?

07:00Let's go, baby!

07:02Now it's time for your first big, important challenge.

07:06I think we should have a bit of a celebration.

07:08Yes.

07:08Yeah.

07:09Or better yet, a fiesta.

07:11Yes!

07:12Let's go!

07:13Because for your first team challenge,

07:15we are heading south of the border.

07:18Let's go.

07:19With a next level taco party.

07:23Let's talk about it.

07:24Let's talk about it.

07:25Y'all don't want this smoke over here.

07:27Taco time!

07:28I know I got this, man.

07:30I'm five-time Houston's best taco champion.

07:32Run it up.

07:33Run it up.

07:34Right.

07:35Here's the good news.

07:35You'll have 30 minutes to create three identical next level tacos.

07:40Yes.

07:40We got this.

07:41The 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.

07:50Sadly, the two losing teams will each send a chef into that dreaded cook-off where one of you will

07:56be eliminated.

07:58Don't let it be you.

08:00Right.

08:01You guys ready?

08:01Yes, chef.

08:02Let's go.

08:03Okay, Team Blaze, I've been waiting to say this for a really long time.

08:08As reigning champions, we will start on the top level.

08:12Let's go.

08:13Head to the elevator.

08:14I'll see you there soon.

08:15Let's go, Team Blaze.

08:16The only way is down.

08:17Can't wait to put this blue apron on.

08:19Teamwork makes the dream work.

08:20Next level, chef.

08:33Chef Blaze assembled the Avengers.

08:36Assemble.

08:38That's Captain America for you.

08:39We're blazing blue.

08:40The hottest part of the flame.

08:48Feels so good to be in this kitchen.

08:50We're a team now.

08:52The girl power.

08:53You can taste it.

08:55The Gordon girls.

08:56The Gordon girls.

09:00The Gordon girls.

09:02Let's go.

09:03Oh my gosh.

09:05It's like home sweet home.

09:07I don't need that one no more.

09:09Woo!

09:10This looks nice.

09:13Yes!

09:14Yes!

09:15Let's go!

09:16Let's go!

09:17Let's go!

09:20Let's go!

09:23Let's go!

09:24Let's go!

09:27Let's go!

09:28Let's go!

09:28Come on!

09:29All good work?

09:30Rice.

09:31Come here.

09:32I had three daughters when I told them the news that I've got an all-female team.

09:35They're so excited!

09:37Yay!

09:38So excited.

09:40All right, everyone.

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, like 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.

09:59Let's go.

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, and 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-based.

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-based.

10:34See that pork loin?

10:35Beautiful fat cap.

10:36Grab that immediately.

10:37Goji Chang's right behind you.

10:39Goju 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?

10:48If 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.

10:57Gollum's there.

10:59There's some goat scraps there.

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.

11:17I have no idea what they're doing upstairs.

11:19But I'm happy they sent this down to me.

11:21Pepper.

11:21Five seconds, ladies.

11:22Pepper.

11:23Pepper.

11:23Good.

11:24Oh, my goodness me.

11:26Holy crap.

11:27Platform 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 cod.

11:45I grabbed the cod.

11:46The easy taco decision.

11:48Cola.

11:48Why not?

11:4915 seconds, guys.

11:51Let's go.

11:52The platform has been picked over.

11:55We got to try.

11:56You want to try?

11:56The ingredients that are left are straight garbage.

11:59So I grabbed 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.

12:28Dad, welcome to you, Merrington, bud.

12:30Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you.

12:31What did you grab?

12:32I 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.

12:36Not 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

12:43that'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?

12:55Yeah, I'm on it.

12:57Bro, look at all this good stuff.

12:59Michetti.

12:59What's up, baby?

13:00I'm in the band for a taco challenge.

13:01You know what I'm saying?

13:02I got the king bin, H-Town king taco bin.

13:04Let's go.

13:05I got some cod over here.

13:06I'm going to do like a nice cola battered cod.

13:08We don't need a beer batter.

13:09I got Coca-Cola.

13:10I got everything in there I need for it.

13:12Come on, baby.

13:14Thank you, the basement.

13:15Hunter, what you got?

13:16Dad, let's go.

13:17I got goat.

13:17Goat, amazing.

13:18You love goat.

13:19Reflective of my captain right here.

13:20Because it's the goat, baby.

13:25Emerson.

13:26All right, I got type taco here,

13:27so I'm doing like a birria inspired.

13:29Don't forget the sauce on the side, okay?

13:31Okay, and 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.

13:39I love it.

13:39Thank you, chef.

13:40In Filipino culture,

13:41we eat tripe with many of our dishes,

13:43but you need to know how to cook it,

13:45get the right texture.

13:46You got to know how to season it.

13:47Once you nail all of that,

13:49tripe is beautiful.

13:50Oh, this is tasting good, chef.

13:53Five minutes gone, 25 to go.

13:57Maria.

13:58I'm going to do chicken thighs.

13:59This is almost your weirma style.

14:01How are you going to cook the chicken?

14:02I'm going to sear them

14:03and then pop them in the oven, I think.

14:05Good.

14:05We're good.

14:06We're good.

14:07You good.

14:08You good.

14:09Right, protein-wise, what did we get?

14:10Tiger prawns.

14:11Yes!

14:12Come on!

14:13I love seafood tacos.

14:15Everybody loves my tacos.

14:16My whole family, like,

14:17we love getting together

14:18and 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

14:27and then finish them

14:28with the glaze on top.

14:29No, you've got lovely flavors here

14:29as well, by the way.

14:30Thank you, thank you.

14:31All right, what did you grab?

14:32Ribeye.

14:33Yes, chef.

14:33Lovely.

14:33I'm toasting my peanuts right now

14:36to make a rub, just inspired by Cameroon.

14:38I was born and raised in Cameroon, West Africa.

14:42Soya has this peanut-y base

14:45and 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?

14:55We do.

14:55I'm going to marinate this

14:56in some buttermilk

14:57and some traditional spices.

14:59My kids have a tough time

15:01chewing through a lot of meat and protein.

15:04So I'm just going to marinate

15:06my flank steak in buttermilk.

15:08It's a thing that I do fairly often.

15:11I know that my kids would appreciate it.

15:14So you're marinating it

15:15almost like a tandoori chicken.

15:16I just want it tender.

15:18I want it juicy.

15:18I want it delicious.

15:20Let's start cooking that meat

15:21and start working on the flavor.

15:22Yes.

15:22Got you.

15:23Breathe.

15:24Everything is okay.

15:25Twenty minutes remain.

15:26Twenty minutes.

15:27Feeling good, Christian?

15:28All good.

15:29So good.

15:30Hey, you look good over there.

15:31Okay, Christian.

15:32What are we doing?

15:33I'm doing a gochujang sweet-glazed

15:35grilled pork one

15:36and a really spicy chili arbol salsa.

15:38Just be mindful that we don't have

15:40too much spice going on.

15:41The gochujang and the chilis

15:42can 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, shit.

15:52She's a spicy .

15:53No one goes home today.

15:56Listen, mid-round drop.

15:57You got to go to the platform right now.

15:59I see a bunch of balls of dough.

16:01I was like, wait,

16:01do 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.

16:13Ladies, you're going to grab a masa dough now, please.

16:17You've got charcoal flavor, red corn here,

16:19and your chili flavor.

16:20I'm just going to play it safe

16:22and go with the white corn masa.

16:24I just don't have experience working with dough.

16:29Quick, quick, quick.

16:30Seconds to go, guys.

16:32Yeah, 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.

16:50Okay.

16:51This will work.

16:52I'm taking 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.

17:01Not pretty.

17:02We're going to 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.

17:12Yes.

17:12I've just come off from being last picked,

17:15and 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.

17:40I'm not going home over a frickin' tortilla.

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.

17:57That 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?

18:07Feeling 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 do.

18:11Hell 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.

18:26You good.

18:26Everyone got their tortillas, yes?

18:28Making mine now, Chef.

18:28Making tortillas now, Chef.

18:29Where's your pan?

18:30Do you need this water?

18:31No.

18:31All right.

18:32Not too thick on those.

18:33Yeah?

18:35It's good.

18:35Touch thinner, 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.

18:59I'm making my jerk spice right now.

19:02Okay.

19:02I'm going to 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 going to be delicious.

19:10You see a crocodile running by this?

19:11Put some jerk on that thing.

19:13It's going to 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.

19:28We got some hot sauce Tabasco.

19:29It's going to be nice.

19:30So was this draft very similar to the NFL draft?

19:33Yeah.

19:33It did have that same kind of high-octane feel.

19:36A little bit different, though, you know, when you have Gordon Ramsay up there calling

19:39out your name.

19:39But, hey, you had my back when it was O-line dinner.

19:42So I'm pumped to be on Team Blaze.

19:43Let's go.

19:44Let's go, Jared.

19:47Five minutes, guys.

19:48Be smart, okay?

19:50Heard, 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.

19:58You started with $1 tacos outside your dad's shop, right?

20:00Yeah, at my mechanic shop, Chef.

20:02I love that.

20:02You know what I mean?

20:03I do.

20:04Now I feel like I'm really back alley again.

20:11How are 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 fries.

20:33Delicious.

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?

20:42Yes.

20:42Let's go.

20:43Yes.

20:43Let's go.

20:46Flavor town.

20:47Flavor town.

20:51It smells so good.

20:53Cole, explain these to me.

20:55They are like a taco empanada.

20:57Empanada, yeah.

20:58Are you stealing them?

20:59Yes, sir.

20:59Yeah, good.

21:00This is not going to be a traditional taco.

21:02I didn't just put my tortilla on the grill and then stick my mahi-mahi in there.

21:07I want to make sure I stand out on this very first challenge that 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.

21:21Did 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?

21:31The 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.

21:40The 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.

21:49Deep 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.

22:08Max.

22:09Max, let's go.

22:10Please.

22:11Heard, chef.

22:14Emerson, let's go.

22:17Stop.

22:18You're done.

22:19Get there, Mac.

22:20Get there, Mac.

22:21Get on the platform.

22:22Please don't miss the platform.

22:24No, no, no, no, no, no, no.

22:24Get there.

22:28Oh, no.

22:30Oh, 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 on the platform.

22:45Get on the platform.

22:45Get there.

22:49Oh, no.

22:50No.

22:51Oh, my God.

22:53Oh.

22:57Damn.

22:58Damn it.

23:00That was my fault, man.

23:02That's my fault.

23:03And no one else's fault.

23:04And I let my team down.

23:06Oh.

23:06It's all right.

23:07It's all good, baby.

23:08It's okay.

23:08I had a damn good dish that really would have bought us to the top.

23:17Emerson, 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.

23:28Ladies, 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.

23:34Let's go.

23:35Andy, got to go.

23:37Got to go.

23:38Got to go.

23:39Got to go.

23:39Well done.

23:40Let's go.

23:41Let's go.

23:42Let's go.

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.

24:01Clockwork is here, guys.

24:03Gotta go now.

24:03Now.

24:04Now.

24:05Now.

24:06Darian, now.

24:07Let'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.

24:14Oh, man.

24:14Let's go.

24:15Hey!

24:16Let's go.

24:17Ah!

24:18How are you feeling?

24:18I'm OK.

24:19Good.

24:27Look at these.

24:29The fragrance is incredible.

24:31Great job.

24:32Right.

24:33Shall we start in the basement?

24:35Yes, please.

24:35Nasha, please?

24:35Definitely.

24:37One, two, three, four.

24:38Did someone fall off the platform?

24:40Oh, no.

24:41Emerson, what 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.

24:48It was done.

24:49It should have just been on that platform.

24:51I'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.

25:07Tortilla's just a tuck too thick for me.

25:09Yeah, I mean, the tortilla sort of falls apart as you eat it, but this dish is all about this

25:14delicious 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 with a cod skin chicharron and a kimchi crema.

25:26This 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 pickle and the ginger.

25:36Delicious.

25:37Safe to say this is probably not this chef's first taco.

25:40The sauce is super, super delicious.

25:42The tortilla holds together.

25:44It's really well done.

25:46Next up, we have seared goat taco served 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?

26:19Let's start off with a suya Cameroonian-style rubbed ribeye.

26:25I know this individual's a little bit upset because 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, and I think I'll be adding it to a list of things

26:36to try again.

26:38Maybe I would have liked to see the ribeye chopped up on it, but it's very tasty.

26:41Messy, but there, I will take it.

26:44Next up, the spiced snapper with a cabbage slaw.

26:50These 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.

27:05The fish is a little large for the tortilla that it's in, and it's lacking a lot of seasoning.

27:11Next up is a mahi-mahi deep-fried taco, almost like a sort of empanada with a saffron tortilla.

27:19This 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, but frying the tortilla is super smart.

27:30Right, next up is a sort of take on a chicken shawarma taco, tomatillo 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 on the execution, and the tortilla has not

27:59been broken.

28:01Last up, this is a prawn taco, apple colurabi slaw, and an archo-chili tortilla.

28:09Mmm.

28:11Wow, I really appreciate the flavor of the prawn and apple colurabi classic pairing.

28:16Delicious.

28:17They taste beautiful.

28:20All 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.

28:30Yeah, 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.

28:46Next up, we have a chili-rubbed tri-tip with a roasted chili salsa and an achiote tortilla.

28:53The smoky notes that come off the tortilla play really nicely with the salsa.

28:58Delicious, the tri-tip.

28:59The texture inside these tacos are beautiful.

29:01It'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.

29:11I 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.

29:20It'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

29:52and a nice pico de gallo salsa.

29:56This reminds me a lot of my mom's cooking.

29:59This is probably good.

30:00She was not a very good cook.

30:02Oh, no.

30:03But 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.

30:12Thank you, chefs.

30:15We got this.

30:16Yeah.

30:16What a shame that one missed.

30:17Oh, the most unfortunate circumstances to happen.

30:20That's unfortunate, because just even from the auditions,

30:22he knows how to cook, and he's wearing the dish.

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,

30:36ako, taco.

30:37Yeah, 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 tasted like a spring roll.

31:03It's not a salsa competition.

31:04It tasted like a spring roll and needed a little dipping sauce with it.

31:06Oh, my goodness.

31:07What the?

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.

31:16It's stunning.

31:17That's one of the better dishes upstairs.

31:18There's a lot of great dishes up there today.

31:20It's the first challenge, and already you're starting out as if all your tacos are delicious.

31:24Come on.

31:24I'm not to know.

31:25How great was that salsa?

31:26Too spicy.

31:27It's not a salsa competition.

31:29You're agreeing with me.

31:30I'm just sharing my notes.

31:31Yeah, we're allowed to.

31:33You want to write it down in your little book?

31:34I did, trust me.

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 could feel it.

31:41Does not take criticism well.

31:43Wow.

31:53Back there, we all fight for our teams.

31:56But we also fight for the best dish of the day.

32:01Richard, Naisha, and myself have come to consensus the winning taco of the day.

32:09Earning safety for their team and the right to cook in that top-level kitchen next time round was cooked

32:16by...

32:20Christian.

32:20Congratulations.

32:21Let's go, Christian, baby.

32:22Team Blaze.

32:24Good job.

32:25Let's go, baby.

32:27Top dish, first round.

32:29Are you kidding?

32:31Wow.

32:33All 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.

32:40Thank 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.

32:49Let's go.

32:49What?

32:50What?

32:51What?

32:53Oh, boy.

32:54Good 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 cook-off.

33:09Emerson, I would love to give my fellow mentors an opportunity to taste your magic.

33:14So, 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.

33:32Okay, Marea, Emerson, for your elimination cook-off, we'll be staying south of the border

33:38as you get 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. Emerson 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?

34:03Yeah.

34:03Mole.

34:04Oui.

34:13I'm gonna have to lean on my team.

34:16Breathe, baby, breathe.

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.

34:34We doing good?

34:34Yes, 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.

34:50Make 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 it, girl.

35:20You got chicken.

35:21You got it, you got it.

35:22There we go, baby.

35:23There we go, baby.

35:23There's pork up here, Marea.

35:25Way to go.

35:26All right, all sorts of dried chilis.

35:28Chili, chili.

35:28Chipotle and adobo.

35:30Raisins are up here.

35:31Chocolate is up here.

35:32There we go.

35:33That platform isn't staying.

35:35If I miss those key ingredients on the grab, there goes the mullet.

35:38Make sure you get chocolate.

35:40Yes.

35:41Aromatics.

35:41Plants and peanut butter.

35:43Okay.

35:43Good, good, grab one.

35:44Tortillas.

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 chilis.

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?

36:14Okay, all 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 on 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.

36:39Nice.

36:39We're going to get that mixture to our blender.

36:42Nice.

36:43You got this, girl.

36:45That looks great.

36:46Beautiful.

36:46Forza's color.

36:48No more chili.

36:49No more chili.

36:50No more chili.

36:51No mas.

36:51You're okay with all the seeds of the chilis 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.

37:17That's what I'm talking about.

37:19It's glossy.

37:20Hers one's great, too.

37:21I mean, man.

37:23Check your chicken.

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 can 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, that's a lot.

37:50No more, no more sugar, no more sugar.

37:52What is going on?

37:54A knife, clean knife, clean knife.

37:55We got his back, but he looks so overwhelmed.

37:59Corn, corn!

37:59Emerson, you're 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.

38:10Woo, hot.

38:11Okay, deep breaths.

38:15It is so important to get this mole right, or 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.

38:32We got you.

38:33I'm feeling all the pressure, but I got my team behind me.

38:36Good job, good job.

38:37Yeah, my wife and my kids know me as a fighter.

38:39I'm gonna...

38:40I don't know.

38:41It's up to you either.

38:41Do riblets, maybe.

38:43I ain't giving up.

38:44I owe it to them.

38:46All right, two minutes.

38:47You can play right now if you want.

38:48We got two 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.

38:57Orange it.

38:58Woo!

39:00It's looking beautiful.

39:01I like that.

39:03Oh!

39:05Nice.

39:06Beautiful.

39:10What?

39:12Oh, 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.

39:18Do you need a new plate?

39:19Which one?

39:19The blue 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.

39:25Good call.

39:27Gorgeous, gorgeous.

39:29You got this, girl.

39:30Yes!

39:31Yes!

39:32Five, four, three, two, one.

39:36Stop cooking.

39:38Hey!

39:39Hey!

39:40Hey!

39:44Aisha, Gordon.

39:45How was that?

39:46Oh, my gosh.

39:47You know how hard it is to make a mole?

39:48Yeah.

39:49And both competitors absolutely threw down.

39:51Okay, so first dish is a chicken leg with 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?

40:10Mm.

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.

40:27And 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 to have 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?

41:01Oof, the dish I'm eliminating...

41:06Good.

41:08I'm gonna eliminate the pork.

41:12Okay, Naisha, same question.

41:13Tough choice.

41:16The mole that I will be eliminating...

41:23...is...

41:25...the pork.

41:31That 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. I wish it was longer.

41:49Please say goodbye to your teammates and head to the elevator.

41:54Good job, Maria.

41:56Damn.

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

42:28is a breakdown in communication.

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.

42:57There we go, Team Blaze.

42:59Pipe down, pipe down.

43:00Somebody's mad over there.

43:02Best dish of the day.

43:03We have three mentors, and my choice is the other dish.

43:06They're fighting back there.

43:07Is it going to be like this full season?

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