Hell's Kitchen Episode 12

Hell's Kitchen Episode 12 aka 5 Chefs Compete

Recap: Black coats, team challenge, Dave and Suzanne win, Van sweat in food, Ariel burns lettuce, Suzanne gets called out, Chef Ramsey and Sous Chef Scott leave the kitchen, then return to kick Van, Ariel, and Suzanne out, Tennille complimented, changes her vote at the last second, Van is sent home.

Returning to the dorms, Dave is angry at Tennille, not so much because she voted for Van at the last second, but because they had agreed on something and by her changing her mind at the last second it made him look like an idiot. Tennille counters that was her honest opinion and that they hadn't all agreed but footage from last episode says otherwise; she clearly agreed to putting up Suzanne and Ariel. Kevin just watches all this happen, enjoying seeing the others self destruct.

Suzanne and Ariel talk. Suzanne is shaking from the adrenaline of having been on the chopping block for the 3rd time. She knows she's been lucky and she won't survive another trip up. Ariel's more concerned for herself as she's now part of the substandard group.

A new day brings the first individual challenge: each chef must prepare a dish with focus on presentation. Special judges are the editor and staff of Bon Appetit magazine. The staff will rank the dishes based on presentation. The top two dishes will be tasted by Chef Ramsey and the editor so that the final decision is based on presentation and taste. They have 45 minutes.

Suzanne has made a Grilled Calamari salad. Kevin a Caribbean styled Sea Bass. Tennille an Asian inspired Red Snapper (her fish broke upon removing it from the pan, with no time left, she piled everything up to make it look intentional and try to disguise the break). Ariel made a Prosciutto John Dory. Dave has a hard time describing his dish, noting a problem speaking in front of crowds. Even in Interview he has an issue. We'll go with Colorado Rack of Lamb and be done with it.

5th place – Tennille. 4th place – Suzanne. Chef Ramsey then reveals 1st place for dramatic purposes no doubt – Kevin. 2nd place – Ariel. 2nd and 3rd were 'very close'.

Now the taste test. Ariel is complemented by both. So is Kevin. The judges confer. Their decision is...commercial.

The winner is both of them. The judges couldn't pick a loser so they both win as both were fantastic. They win a photo shoot for the magazine with their recipe in the magazine and everything. Punishment: picking up rubbish in the street that Hell's Kitchen has adopted. They get orange suits and look like convicts. Once they get back to the Kitchen, they have to clean outside the restaurant.

Dave's wrist start to swell up while sweeping up. As he tries to rest it, Kevin chats with him. Does he really want to injure himself for life for this? It's mind games. Dave is too hardcore for that. Commercial.

Kevin decides its time for him to step up and show he's a leader. To him this means running around and keeping an eye on everyone, supervising them as he works on his own prep for service. It doesn't go over all that well.

Chef Ramsey leads the chefs in a positive pre-service meeting, noting that he wants a complete service and all the chefs to shine. He ends with 'Can we do it? Yes we can!' and high fives. Bob the Builder reference? Wild!

The challenge winning dishes have been added to the menu for tonight.

Suzanne, Tennille, and Dave have issues with communication straight out of the gate but it manages to not impede the progress of food out of the kitchen. Tennille works to improve communication on the next order but overcooks her risotto. Ariel sees this, samples it, and tells her its overdone but Tennille thinks its fine. Chef Ramsey does not agree and she has to start over. She's dragging the kitchen down already. Immediately after this, Suzanne has an order of scallops rejected at the pass. Dave is able to get salads out and Chef Ramsey sends incomplete orders out just to get something moving. Tennille's second risotto is no better, much to her confusion. Chef Ramsey investigates and finds that the prepared rice was overcooked... by Kevin. Tennille takes responsibility for not noticing this problem earlier. Chef Ramsey is disappointed and starts expressing this to Kevin because he expects better from him. The 3rd risotto, made with a different batch of rice, just makes Chef Ramsey more annoyed. Commercial.

Oh, he's not annoyed, he's just loud because this one looks correct. Finally. Kevin and Tennille get to look at it again so that they can learn what the dish should look like. Heh. With this breakthrough, appetizers start flying out of the kitchen, even Suzanne's scallops are finally good to go. They move to entrees but Ariel's first order of chicken up isn't consistantly cooked; some portions are cooked and other raw. She tries again and take two succeeds. Suzanne brings up an order of Ariel's john dory that's raw. Everytime one of the chefs fails, Chef Ramsey is bringing all five up to see it and express his displeasure. He wanted tonight to go 'perfectly' and it's very much not. As the night goes on, they continue to be out of sync, to the point where Chef Ramsey complains that the last five tables he's sent food to have been incomplete, a big no-no as everyone at the table can't start eating at the same time. JP even has to go and apologize to people waiting for food and recommending the others start before their delivered food gets cold. Ariel delivers a piece of lamb to the pass that looks like it's been chewed on. Chef Ramsey takes her just into the dining room and chews her out for it. Once they return to the kitchen, Chef Ramsey just starts muttering swears. He calls everyone to the front of the kitchen and tells them he's not busting his butt for this piece-meal service. He tells them all to [screw] off back home. Commercial.

After commercial we see his full statement: either get it together now or they can go. The chefs manage to finish service but it's a messy, clunky process. Chef Ramsey is very disappointed in post-service meeting. No one wins. As a group, they need to pick two nominees for elimination. As they start the discussion, Dave suggests each person just vote for two people. Suzanne picks Ariel and Tennille. It becomes a discussion between them. Suzanne seems to think she did much better than she did tonight. Ariel votes for Kevin and Tennille based on the risotto and that she wouldn't vote for herself. We go back downstairs at this point, and don't hear the rest of their conversation.

Nominees for elimination: Ariel for her inconsistencies and raw food tonight, and ... commercial.

2nd nominee is Suzanne for raw fish, overcooked scallops and she thought she had a good service tonight. Ha! In her defense, Suzanne notes all the good things she was focused on tonight but, as Chef Ramsey notes, she accomplished none of those things. She also believes she's a better chef than Ariel. After noting Ariel's been on a downturn, Chef Ramsey asks for her defense. She believes she's better than this and hopes for another chance.

Honestly, truthfully, Chef Ramsey believes they should both go but he eliminates Suzanne. He shakes her hand and notes all the chances he's given her. She hasn't been at her best and it will only get harder from here. As she leaves she notes that she learned a lot about herself during the competition and that her distance from her team probably hindered her. After her departure, she's sure they're all laughing and giggling like schoolgirls.

If they are, we don't get to see them do it today. They're all pretty somber as Chef Ramsey tells them that the 'playoffs' have begun.

Trailer: The pressure is on. Dave's wrist flares up again. Chef Ramsey has 'unfinished business'. We're warned of 'two shocking surprises' and it looks like kid's meal day.

- If Dave's wrist holds out, I'd say Kevin and Dave for the final two. If Dave's wrist gives out on him or impedes him too much, I'd have to guess Kevin and Tennille at this point. Ariel's picked a horrible time to hit a slump and she isn't showing signs of recovery at this point.