‘Next Level Chef’ season 3 episode 3 recap: Who makes the cut in ‘Auditions – Pros’? [LIVE BLOG]

Denton Davidson
·7 min read
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Tonight on “Next Level Chef,” the auditions conclude as eight professional chefs enter the kitchen and battle for one of the coveted five spots that advances them to the mentorship team draft, taking them one step closer to winning the grand prize of a 1-year mentorship and $250,000. One chef is eliminated after each challenge until only the top five are left standing in the all-new “Auditions – Pros” episode of “Next Level Chef” airing Thursday, February 8 (8:00-9:02 PM ET/PT) on FOX.

In an epic three-story kitchen, the only way to move to the top is to cook your way up. Each week professional chefs, home chefs and social media chefs have seconds to grab, minutes to cook and moments to deliver their dishes to mentors Gordon Ramsay, Richard Blais and Nyesha Arrington. Who will rise to the challenge? Gordon promises the toughest, most competitive and most grueling season of “Next Level Chef” yet. With an amazing one-year mentorship and $250,000 on the line, only one contestant can climb their way to the top.

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Follow along with our live blog recap of tonight’s episode below.

SEE ‘Next Level Chef’s’ Richard Blais on Season 3 feuds with Gordon Ramsay and Nyesha Arrington: ‘It gets a little heated this year’ [WATCH]

8:00 p.m. — Previously on “Next Level Chef”! In episode 2, five home chefs cooked their way into the team draft: Alexandra, Christina, Lauren, Mada and Wendy. Along the way we lost Daniel, Monika and Joe. Which five professional chefs will survive this week? Let’s go!

8:05 p.m. — The professional chefs descend into the basement kitchen where they’ll be mentored in the first round by Gordon. He explains their first challenge is to change the scraps coming down on the platform into something special. Their 20 minutes starts now! The competition immediately heats up when Jennie, a 41-year old from Waxhaw, North Carolina tries to wrestle some shrimp away from Summer, a 31-year old pregnant chef from Austin, Texas. Jennie ends up with chicken livers instead. Meanwhile, Ari, a 31-year old San Diego native is concerned how she will transform hot dogs into a Next Level dish.

8:10 p.m. — In the basement we learn more about Zach, a 34-year old who moved to Maui, Hawaii in 2017. In 2023 his life was turned upside down when the Lahaina fires took everything from him. His house and everything he owned was gone. Now Zach’s main focus is feeding displaced individuals with farm-to-table dinners. Across the kitchen is Chris, a 37-year old food truck owner from Orange County, California. He hasn’t had an easy life, landing himself in juvenile hall as a teenager. When he got bailed out his dad pulled him into the restaurant business and made him wash dishes. His dad is a Michelin star chef and Chris is dedicating this competition to him.

8:20 p.m. — With minutes remaining in this challenge the lights go out. The chefs spend precious time cooking in the dark before lights come back just before they started plating. Time is up! Richard and Nyesha join the party and begin judging each dish. Summer’s prawn fritters have good head, but they’re oily and overcooked. Ari’s hot dog meatballs have great sauce and Gordon calls them “exceptional.” Jennie’s chicken liver pasta is described as “unpleasant” and “a bit weird.” Zach’s chuck steak is seasoned well and tastes like a filet. Charity‘s play on chicken parmesan has an “odd” and has “a lot going on.” Von‘s blackened catfish and grits is beautifully cooked and tastes delicious. Angela‘s cod cheeks is cooked “with conviction.” Chris’ chicken strips tastes good and Richard says, “It’s all about the sauce.” After a brief deliberation, the judges decide the first professional chef to go home is Jennie. She heads back to North Carolina feeling proud of herself for just getting food on the plate.

8:30 p.m. — Nyesha will mentor round two in the middle kitchen. She instructs them to think about a dish they can put on a “fast, casual menu.” After 30 seconds of chaos at the platform, the remaining seven chefs have 20 minutes to cook. Chris is thrilled with his grab, saying he’s got a trick up his sleeve and has the perfect ingredients to make his delicious meatballs. As they cook we learn more about Ari, the 31-year old chef from San Diego. She calls leaving her career as a model to become a private chef her “biggest risk.” In this competition she wants to prove you don’t need a culinary degree to be a top chef. We also learn more about Von, a 37-year old from Scranton, Pennsylvania who runs a restaurant with his mother. After running some of the biggest restaurants in the country, Von returned home to help his mom achieve her dream of owning her own — now they have Chef Von & Mom. Across the kitchen is Charity, a 27-year old from Charlotte, North Carolina who describes herself as a Southern belle. Her mother was an event planner and her dad was a chef in the Navy. Both inspired her on her current career path. She’s currently a traveling chef who started her business at age 22.

8:40 p.m. — Angela has a brief scare when she cuts her finger — but the problem isn’t her finger. It’s the pork chop she left on the stove while she receives medical attention. Will be it badly overcooked? We’re about to find out. Time has expired and Gordon and Richard return to judge round two. Chris’ meatballs look appealing, but taste just “a little sweet.” Gordon thinks they’re delicious. Von’s cod is “phenomenal” with “great depth of flavor.” Charity’s chicken thigh with chorizo and peanut sauce is “a little charred.” Gordon calls it “a shame.” Angela’s pan-roasted pork chop has good flavor, but the meat is dry and overcooked. Zach’s crispy-skin sea bass is “stunning” and “delicious.” Summer’s clams with cauliflower puree lacks clam juice and the tomatoes feel like “an afterthought.” Ari’s top round steak is “slightly overcooked.” The judges step away to deliberate. The second chef leaving tonight is Summer. She leaves proud of herself for coming out and competing while she’s six months pregnant.

8:50 p.m. — It’s the final challenge and this round will be mentored by Richard. He wants one beautiful Michelin star plate. They scramble around the platform before the 20-minute clock starts. Which five will move on to the draft? On this top level we learn more about Angela, a 33-year old chef from Atlanta. All her cooking memories come from her grandma Ramona, and now, Ramona cooks for high profile clients such as Timbaland, Dwight Howard and Lil Wayne. She’d love to win this competition for her grandmother. While watching from the lounge, Gordon and Nyesha question why Charity has began cooking her prawns so early. Across the kitchen, Von hits a snag when he knocks his sweet potatoes on the floor. How will he recover?

9:02 p.m. — Time has expired and it’s time for the final judgement. Ari’s ocean trout with crushed peas is “gorgeous” and the fish is cooked beautifully. Zach’s beef filet with blue cheese foam is “rustic” and “under-seasoned.” Von’s New York strip with a sweet potato hash has a “great sear” and “depth of flavor.” Angela’s pork tenderloin with rice is “cooked beautifully,” but the rice is bland. Chris’ pan-seared turbo has a “very sweet” sauce, but the fish is beautifully cooked and seasoned. Charity’s red prawns come with a “delicious” champagne tomato sauce, but the prawns are overcooked. After one final deliberation, the judges name the five professional chefs moving into the draft: Ari, Chris, Zach, Von and Angela. That means Charity will be heading home, but he leaves saying she had a lot of fun. Next week, the mentors will draft their teams!

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