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'Hell's Kitchen': Stepping Up To The Hot Plate
With Jen the queen bitch gone from Hell’s Kitchen, we can finally get down to the three who I think deserved to be here all along. Of course, only two will remain to spar in next week’s finale. Allez cuisine!
Petrozza, Corey and Christina all seem genuinely surprised they’re in the final three. They also agree (to no one’s surprise) that Jen had to go. They act as if this angry, bitchy anchor has been removed from their lives. The lounge seems happier.
It gets happier the next morning; Chef Gordon surprises the three with a visit from their families. Petrozza is genuinely happy to see his dad and girlfriend while a wave of relief washes over Christina’s face. Gordon presents them with his signature dish, which as we find out later, becomes fodder for the first challenge.
Christina is wise to suspect the meal is far from normal. While Corey and Petrozza enjoy the company, she is taking notes of the ingredients. She even enlists the help of her parents to identify key tastes and textures.
When their guests leave, Gordon gives them 45 minutes in which to faithfully recreate his dish. The part of this I think isn’t fair is that they get a second chance to sample the dish. Maybe I’m a bastard for thinking this.
Bottom line: Corey chooses the wrong meat (Venison, not buffalo!) and is eliminated. Between Christina and Petrozza, he forgets the key ingredient of the puree, which gives the win (again) to Christina.
As a reward, Christina gets a sightseeing tour and a three course meal with her parents. All the while, Petrozza and Corey are punished by hand chipping the ice and polishing each and every glass. If it were me, I’d be super pissed too. Sorry, but I hate to clean. However, the two make the best of the punishment by doing what they do best… hating on Jen. Even when Jean-Philippe points out the apparent lack of clean glasses amongst Petrozza’s set, he can shrug off the criticism with another zinger at Jen’s expense.
Somebody explain to me how Jen made it to last week… please?
Back on topic, when Christina rejoins the kitchen after her day of fun, Chef Gordon reveals their next challenge. The three will take turns running the hot plate, which is the lead kitchen position. This is their chance at showing effective leadership.
Gordon, however, thinks they need a wee more practice at displaying their assertiveness. He gives them the chance to pretend yell and criticize him. I believe them when they say it’s therapeutic to yell back at the yeller. Petrozza can be a bad ass when he wants to be. Christina and Corey need a little warm-up time before they show their nasty sides.
When Hell’s Kitchen does open, it’s revealed that our sous chefs will also be playing the role of saboteurs to our budding chefs. Petrozza is up first, and while he’s less intense here than he was during his practice run, he’s still rather effective. However, he initially misses Scott’s attempt to send out risotto minus peas. Other than that, he’s runs a rather tight ship. He even suspects Christina is sabotaging him by royally screwing up the salmon. Gordon agrees and sends Petrozza back to his station with kudos while turning up the heat on Christina.
Corey is up next to the hot plate. She has a very shaky start, barely able to belt out the orders to the kitchen crew. Corey does pick it up, even demanding a chorus of “Yes Chef” from her crew. Sous chef Scott once again tries to trip up a contestant, this time sending the wrong sauce with the dish. Corey picks up on it, but only after she pours some on a ready dish. Chef Gordon quickly dismisses her after that slip.
Christina is last and still seems rattled by the salmon faux pas. Like Corey, Christina starts slowly. Realizing she’s in real danger of leaving, she turns on her nasty side. It’s Gloria’s turn to sabotage as she puts basil in the mashed potatoes instead of mint. Unlike her counterparts, Christina quickly realizes the error and sends the potatoes back, much to Gordon’s pleasure.
After dessert, which by the way I’m now craving, Chef Gordon summons the final three. He declared this to be the toughest decision he’s had to make (shock!) It’s clear they’ve bonded.
The girls nominate each other while Petrozza says Christina needs more experience. To absolutely no one’s surprise, Petrozza is the first name Gordon announces. If only I could somehow describe the look on his face when finds out he’s in the finals. Gordon looks genuinely conflicted as to who he wants to move on. Christina shows promise while Corey’s not a quitter. In the end, Gordon goes with potential and selects Christina.
Personally, I would have been happy with either choice. Gordon agrees, sending Corey off with nothing but praise. As they hug, Christina promises to put Corey on her final team.
Next week in the Kitchen: The final two give an Extreme Makeover to the restaurant, the menu and themselves!
One more week to go… who has what it takes to win it all?
CHRISTINA is my choice. She has won the most challenges
I do believe. She has been the most consistent one, so I choose her.
Christina doesn't have what it takes to make it in the biz. Petrozza already brings experience and he has toughed it out this far. He's the better pick for overall winner. Corey should have won over Christina, if only for the fact that she's much more attractive.
Eddie G | Jun 25, 2008 4:12:12 AM | #My bet is on Petrozza. Christina lacks experience, she's a culinary student for crying out loud. Can she REALLY run the restaurant effectively?? Corey lacks something that I can't quite put my finger on. Petrozza is just better all around. Jen stayed as long as she did, because although her attitude SUCKED majorly, she was still a hell of a cook, and that's ultimately what the show is about.
Markeeda S/ | Jun 25, 2008 6:18:32 AM | #"Somebody explain to me how Jen made it to last week… please?"
She was "good" TV. She was kept around to create discord and acrimony. It was a Gordon Ramsey test designed to see how well the prospects dealt with a difficult personality. Jen's role, after the first few episodes, was to remove other contestants from the competition by causing them to focus on her rather than on doing their jobs properly.
Chris | Jun 25, 2008 8:53:33 AM | #It's gotta be Petrozza!
And Jen will sabotage someone b/c she is an ungrateful selfish B...
DId anyone see clips for next week? She says I am here and i'm not bitter...YEAH RIGHT.
She is not good tv, she is annoying.
Who cares who wins? Either will need a huge pair of crutches to "handle" whatever diminished job Gordon hands him/her.
Chris is correct: Jen was kept on just because she was (Omorosa) good TV.
I just wish they had made more of Jen's lying, cheating voting for Christina twice last week. I really wanted to hear the entire argument. Do you think she denied it, and blamed it on Petrozza?
Jim | Jun 25, 2008 9:29:00 AM | #My guess is Petrozza will win, if only because both Jen and Matt hate her, and she has to get stuck with one of them on her team.
Frank | Jun 25, 2008 9:31:33 AM | #Chris hit it on the head: Jen was "good" TV. She spoke to the camera a lot when most didn't — in fact, Petrozza was pretty much a non-entity for a long while as only "the pig who cooks good food."
As for who wins: fans ALREADY know that the winner does not get that job — they get a lower position.
Christina's lack of experience in the kitchen plays into that more. And Ramsay displays a strange favoritism to her — three challenges won in a row, all with Petrozza running a 'close' second. The only way for Christina to lose at this point is sabotage by one of her former teammates but that's not much saying much as the rest of the returning competitors, well… most didn't appear to deserve to be there in the first place.
Brian from Canada | Jun 25, 2008 10:11:41 AM | #What a lousy episode. Thank goodness for the fast forward. And next week will be worse. Strictly filler until the final week. I think once the field is trimmed, the shows get worse.
First, they all say "we don't know what's next." Haven't you ever watched Hell's Kitchen? Three chefs left always means "family time." I also love it how they all break into tears like they are war soldiers back from leave after a year. These show is filmed over 30 days. Spare us the teardrops. Every year, same blubbering people.
Also, by now you'd think when running the pass, they'd be suspicious of anything the sous chefs hand over. Every year, Ramsey has them screw up on purpose. But I guess if the chefs can't figure out they need to cook risotto, beef wellington and scallops, that might also go over their heads.
Has to be Petrozza winning the title. I was shocked Ramsey sent Corey packing after Christina messed up in the kitchen yet again. Kinda like Bonnie and Virginia revisisted.
I'll watch the last 15 minutes of the last episode.
Belmont | Jun 25, 2008 10:17:37 AM | #whoever gets jen next week will probably lose.
wednesday | Jun 25, 2008 10:18:37 AM | #Forgot one thing. Didn't Ramsey say he was cooking breakfast for the families and then serves meat?
Belmont | Jun 25, 2008 10:18:49 AM | #Wed., June 25
Hell's Kitchen: I missed last nights episode. Will it be rerun again on Fox Reality channel in the near future?
I think Petrozza will probably win. Just a hunch.
Terry | Jun 25, 2008 1:27:52 PM | #"And next week will be worse. Strictly filler until the final week."
Isn't next week the final week?
Beth | Jun 25, 2008 1:34:34 PM | #No, there are 2 more weeks to go. The finale is in two parts. I expect that part 1 is the culinary trip to New York and possibly the selection of staff from among the eliminated chefs. Part 2 will be the actual division of Hell's Kitchen into 2 for what TopChef calls Restaurant Wars.
apskip | Jun 25, 2008 3:03:23 PM | #Thanks, apskip. As you may have guessed, I'm a Hell's Kitchen newbie. :-)
Beth | Jun 26, 2008 9:20:44 AM | #It looks like Petrozza should win. However, if you were trying to make an impression on Ramsey looking to find someone to run a restaurant wouldn't you at least try to be cleaner?
Jen stayed as long as she did because she was a very good cook. She just was such a jerk to everyone. I think she was always kind to Petrozza and he was the only person who even came close to working with her. If she goes to Christina's team it will be game over for the young student.
Brian | Jun 26, 2008 9:53:39 AM | #Christina will walk away this season winners - and well deserved. Okay - I don't know that for fact, but between her and Petrozza - she clearly outshines all fronts in the kitchen. Petrozza has the talent but he doesn't have the love and devotion. For the guys - I'm glad he's the one who made it to the final episode. Christina reminds me of the S2 winner who is now the Executive Chef of one of the Vegas restaurants: talent and love of the profession.
Samuel | Jun 27, 2008 8:44:28 AM | #petrozza should have won. chef ramsey just wants to hit it with the chick
daniel | Jul 8, 2008 8:03:15 PM | #
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