Hell's Kitchen Episode 15

Hell's Kitchen Episode 15 aka 2 Chefs Compete

As I noted in Episode 14, there's a season long recap at the beginning of this episode. This is normal for the finale and I'm not going to write it all out. It would take too long in my style. The important note is that Dave and Kevin were both injured early in the competition on the same day. Kevin's ankles healed up a bit as things went on and weren't mentioned often, so they must not have been as much of a factor. Dave's wrist was reinjured a couple of times and has almost sent him home a couple of times. That they are the final two is impressive.

Before I start with the actual programme, a few thoughts on the finalists. One, I've no problem with these two being the finalists. Some seasons you'll see someone get hosed near the end or someone's in the final because they were the best of the bunch but they don't seem very good in general but these two guys come across as good chefs. Neither is perfect, nor would I expect them to be. Ariel had a shot at this but her performance in the last three or four episodes dropped off, not horribly, but noticeably. Tennille made a good comeback to reach the final four but her skill level didn't seem high enough for the final two. Kevin is unusual to see in the final two only because generally guys that come in to Hell's Kitchen saying that they are the best and will win everything and very full of themselves and quickly find out that they aren't that good. Kevin is good. He has largely been able to back up his statements which brings to mind the question 'Is it still bragging if its true?' He doesn't seem like a complete creep and knew that there was a game to play here. Dave is no different but is manner is more relaxed so he doesn't come across as braggadocios as Kevin does. I'd like to see Dave win if nothing else because he played through so much pain and I respect that. That said, if Kevin wins, I believe he earned it as well. There is no clear-cut winner here from my perspective.

And now, the conclusion of Hell's Kitchen.

Chef Ramsey lays out the final. As normal, the restaurant will be split in two, each chef designing the style of the look and menu themselves. The best performance will win. They also need to go change and be ready to leave in the limo waiting for them.

They are taken to the roof of a hotel in downtown LA. It's about midnight. Chef Ramsey meets them there. In the courtyard below is a group of screaming fans. Their final challenge begins now! They have 45 minutes to create a dish for the judges that are waiting below in the crowd. And go!

As normal, they cook right up to the time limit. Five highly regarded judges come out to test their dishes. Three votes will carry the day. Dave's venison dish is relatively simple compared to Kevin's lobster with corn pudding and potato. While both dishes are complimented, Dave gets a quick 2-0 lead. We go to commercial before the 3rd vote can be cast.

Kevin gets the third vote. I'm not that surprised. I'm guessing all five votes will get cast. It's like wrestling, a 3 fall match always goes to 3 falls, rarely does anyone win 2 straight falls. As I type that, Kevin gets vote 4 to tie it up. The five judge is someone from Gourmet magazine. Ha! Your magazine is gone now!

The winner is... Dave! Hmm, he was the first named finalist as well. Momentum from Dave or is this a dodge to make us think he's winning so that Kevin will have to worked harder in service and win?

Yes I'm approaching this like it was scripted. The competition may well be real but that doesn't mean the presentation isn't scripted to build drama.

It looks like they aren't remodeling the restaurant like previous years. The economy is getting to everyone, huh. The guys get a few hours of sleep while the restaurant is reconfigured, develop their menus (Dave notes his will be unpretentious and simple good food, we get no hints toward Kevin's plan), and head downstairs. Kevin's in the Red Kitchen with Sous Chef Heather (who, again, has lived through a final in Hell's Kitchen) and Dave's on the Blue side with Sous Chef Scott. Chef Ramsey asks the chefs for some help unloading the 'special delivery' out front and it's a truck with a number of eliminated contestants in it for the teams. No surprise to me there. I always wonder about the chefs when they go 'I never expected that' as often the 'twists' are similar from season to season. Sometimes I think the chefs just haven't watched the show before. It occurred to me here that the guys are running on about five hours of sleep, perhaps have been for a couple days, if not the past month or so, and are distracted by the million things they need to get ready. That would explain a lot.

Suzanne, Ariel, Amanda, Sabrina, Robert, and Van have returned for the final. As Dave won the challenge, he gets to pick first. Am surprised that Tennille didn't return and that Robert and Amanda did as they seem to have been eliminated ages ago and Tennille only left a day or two ago. Am guessing Suzanne will be the last picked. She does as well. Dave picks Ariel, Robert, and Suzanne. Kevin picks Van, Amanda, and gets Sabrina as who's left. Wow, slight surprise there. Dave points to the challenge they won as a team as part of his motivation there. They take their teams off to educate them on their menus. Kevin's team is struggling to pick up his complicated menu. Dave's team picks up his simpler menu quickly.

Chef Ramsey notes that Kevin's menu is beautiful and artistic but may be too complicated. Dave's is more rustic and simple (also referred to as 'classic') but can't be sloppy. Execution will be the key. I'm inclined to think that Kevin's menu will be too tricky for a team to pick up at the last minute. I think Dave has an advantage in that regard.

Just before service, Chef Ramsey calls Kevin and Dave over and notes that there's something that's been bothering him that he needs to take care of before they start. Commercial.

Chef Ramsey has Executive Chef jackets for them both. They change and Hell's Kitchen is open!

Among the guests in the restaurant are head chefs from Canada, including the chef that will be the winner's employer. First order comes in to Kevin. He has to push his team to respond. Dave's team immediately responds.

Despite getting orders first, food is slow to emerge from Kevin's kitchen. Dave does not have this problem. Amanda is working fish and meat stations. She has issues with scallops and slows Kevin's kitchen to a crawl. Chef Ramsey encourages him to move her about if need be. As Kevin cries out for someone to get him some scallops, a plume of fire erupts from one of Amanda's pans. Commercial.

Kevin swaps Van and Amanda. She's clearly crushed but this works and food comes from the kitchen.

On Dave's side, appetizers are almost complete when they run low on mushrooms for the risotto. Dave tells Robert to dial down on the mushrooms in order to get through the last few tickets. Robert dials down too far so that there aren't enough mushrooms in it. Chef Ramsey catches this and gives Dave a hard time. Dave responds that he hadn't gotten a chance to see this and wouldn't have sent them out. He restates his directive to Robert, who sees this as being thrown under the bus and gets annoyed. He immediately starts messing with Dave in little ways to get some revenge. Petty certainly but somewhat entertaining.

Dave's still in the lead for delivering food that's appreciated by the customers. A risotto returns to Kevin's kitchen for being crunchy. Who made that? Amanda. He asks Van to help her out. Van becomes Kevin's go-to guy to crank stuff out. It works and they start making progress.

Ariel overcooks a venison for Dave. He catches it and has her try again. Take two is successful.

Food is now streaming from both kitchens. Kevin gets the ticket from the hotel head chef. He gets more tense. He calls out a temperature for this ticket. Amanda double-checks the temperature 'medium-rare or medium-well?' Kevin says 'well', then 'rare'. Amanda gets confused and gives him the wrong one. Everything crashes to a halt. More fire in a pan. Commercial.

Before he explodes, Kevin takes a deep breath and rallies the troops calmly. He explains himself and what he needs to Amanda. He makes sure that the team is working to support on another. Excellent move! The entree gets to the chef from the Araxi restaurant and he likes it.

Dave has four tables left and Kevin has six. Kevin tries to do two tables at once to catch up. Dave's kitchen sputters with Ariel suddenly unable to kick out fish or meat properly. Robert is assigned to assist and he tries to rally the troops as well. This allows Kevin's team to catch up. Both are at four tables remaining.

Both sides push. One table apiece. They finish at about the same time. Dave and Kevin thank their teams for their hard work. Nerves kick in. They've done what they can and now they have to wait to see who won.

The winner will be determined by customer comment cards and Chef Ramsey's observations. We see him thinking. Then the phone rings for Dave and Kevin to hear the result.

In Chef Ramsey's office, he congratulates them both. He states this has been the closest race ever in Hell's Kitchen. They approach the doors. One will open and that person will be the winner. They congratulate each other. They place their hands on the door handles. At the count of three, they will turn their door handle. Commercial.

The winner is... Dave!

As normal, Dave freaks a bit. Kevin sits there in shock for a moment. Chef Ramsey gives him a hug and Kevin decides he needs to show his son that its okay and he can lose like a gentleman. Chef Ramsey points to Dave's skill, palate, and his gutting through the injury as reasons why he won.

During the credits we get bloopers. Hilarious moments cut from the season. Van beating Chef Ramsey in arm wrestling. Dave dancing to amuse customers in the restaurant. JP getting sprayed by children. Robert breaking something in the dorm. Chef Ramsey repeating Joseph's 'ain't nobody's [female dog]' line.

- Good season. No problem with the winner. They had ads for the last couple weeks for 'casting' the next season so I guess there'll be another. I may do this again. If so, I hope I get better at it.