‘Next Level Chef’ Season 3: Who Went Home Tonight and Who Made the Finale

Christina Miros, Nyesha Arrington

Night 12 of the third season of Next Level Chef continued the individual competition with a challenge in which the semifinalists had to produce a dish in 30 minutes that highlights one of the classic taste elements—sweet, sour, bitter, spicy—in the “Taste of Success” episode.

Based on last week’s cooking results, Gabi Chappel, who won best dish, has the top-level kitchen all to herself. She also earned the Time Token last week and she chose to take the extra 10 seconds for her platform grab, rather than take away 10 seconds from one of the other competitors. Her thought was that since this was a challenge focusing on flavor, she wanted the extra time to see what was on the platform.

Cooking in the middle kitchen were Christina Miros and Zach Laidlaw, which put Jordan Torrey in the basement after having gone to the elimination challenge last week.

Then the four remaining chefs got cooking for a chance to boil, bake and fry their way into the semi-finals and the $250,000 grand prize and one-year mentorship.

Related: Next Level Chef Season 3 Results Tonight: Who Survived Night Eleven of the Eliminations?

Went Home on Night 12 of the Eliminations?

Jordan Torrey, 29
Social Media Chef
Tampa, FL

Advancing contestants tonight on Next Level Chef Season 3 Night 12

Christina Miros, 35
Home Cook
Dumont, NJ

Gabi Chappel, 29
Social Media Chef
Brooklyn, NY

Zach Laidlaw, 34
Professional Chef
Maui, HI

Related: Next Level Chef's Nyesha Arrington on Why She Has to Stay on Her Toes Working with Gordon Ramsay

What was the first challenge tonight, and who won it?

This week's challenge was to produce a dish in 30 minutes that highlights one of the classic taste elements—sweet, sour, bitter, spicy. With no other specifics, it left the competition open for a wide variety of entrées.

The winning dish was Gabi’s pan-seared scallops with a spiced yogurt sauce and sweet and sour beets with chanterelles and caviar.

Gordon said, “Great finesse. Beautiful choice of plates. That’s a beautiful dish. However, scallops slightly overcooked—30-seconds, they’re just a little bit too firm."

Nyesha added, “This is a really beautiful composition. The vibrancy that’s coming off of the center over here, the beautiful beets and how that yogurt adds that sour note.”

Richard commented, “When a dish is as good without the protein, that says a lot. Of course, the challenge was to cook the scallops, but the beets, the yogurt and caviar, to me, that’s where it’s at.”

A tearful Gabi said, “I made it. It’s the moment I’ve been dreaming about. I am going to be in the finale, I can’t even talk right now. I am shaking.”

Christina came in second with her charred filet of beef cooked over an open flame as well as mushrooms and asparagus cooked over an open flame with a sauce au Poivre finished with black truffle and a sweet potato puree.

Gordon said, “Stunning. Charring a filet mignon, a protein with no fat, really exceptional. The charring flavor is really coming through there, and the sweet potato puree, and wonderful sauce. This thing just gives you everything.”

Nyesha said, “It’s hard to cook mushroom and asparagus over an open flame, great execution.”

Richard commented, “To me, the filet was a little overcooked.”

“I am in the freakin’ finale,” Christina said. “I am just so proud of myself.”

Related: Richard Blais on How Next Level Chef Will Serve Up Tears, Emotion and Anger as Well as Great Food in Season 3

Who won the elimination challenge this week?

Then Gordon announced the two chefs going into the elimination challenge were Jordan and Zach.

The challenge was to cook a black-tie dish worthy of the finale using one of the most sophisticated ingredients around: champagne.

The dish that made the finale was Zach’s veal, meaning that Jordan cooked for the last time in the Next Level Chef kitchens.

Jordan said, “No frowns, baby. I feel like a kindergartener who got thrown into college. I learned so much since I’ve been here. To cook with all three of you has been the opportunity of a lifetime.”

Gordon said, “Having you on Team Ramsay has brought the energy and the vibe. Promise me you’ll look after those fingers.” Jordan had sliced his fingers during the final cook.

Jordan added, “This competition was harder than I expected. It was emotional, it was mental, physical and technical, but it was the experience of a lifetime. I am beyond grateful. Never in a million years did I think this competition would show me who I am inside.”

The Next Level Chef finale airs next Thursday night at 8 p.m. ET/PT on FOX.

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