# Next Level Chef (American TV series) season 1

The first season of the American competitive reality television series Next Level Chef premiered on Fox on January 2, 2022, and concluded on March 2, 2022. Gordon Ramsay hosted the season and served as a mentor, along with mentors Nyesha Arrington and Richard Blais.
The season was won by social media chef Stephanie "Pyet" Despain, with professional chefs Mariah Scott and Reuel Vincent finishing as co-runner-ups.

## Production

The series was first ordered on May 17, 2021. On October 19, 2021, it was announced that the season would premiere on January 2, 2022, before moving to its regular timeslot on January 5, 2022. A new episode was also aired on January 30, following the NFC Championship Game between the Los Angeles Rams and the San Francisco 49ers.

## Chefs

| Contestant | Age | Status | Hometown/Home country | Result |
| Gary Marandola | 33 | Social media chef | Johnston, Rhode Island | Eliminated January 5 |
| Roice Bethel | 29 | Social media chef | Corona, California | Eliminated January 12 |
| Sergio Steele | 26 | Professional chef | Trinidad and Tobago | Eliminated January 19 |
| Devonnie Black | 31 | Home cook | Bronx, New York | Eliminated January 26 |
| Amber Rebold | 33 | Home cook | San Antonio, Texas | Eliminated January 30 |
| Jonathan Harrison | 29 | Home cook | Columbiana, Alabama | Eliminated February 2 |
| Zachary Adams | 27 | Professional chef | Manila, Philippines | Eliminated February 2 |
| Ae Southammavong | 31 | Social media chef | Laos | Eliminated February 9 |
| Tricia Wang | 28 | Social media chef | China | Eliminated February 16 |
| Courtney Brown | 48 | Home cook | Cincinnati, Ohio | Eliminated February 23 |
| Angie Ragan | 47 | Home cook | Lubbock, Texas | Eliminated February 23 |
| Kenny Everett | 34 | Professional chef | St Louis, Missouri | Eliminated February 23 |
| Mariah Scott | 37 | Professional chef | Santa Clara, California | Runner-ups March 2 |
| Reuel Vincent | 34 | Professional chef | Trinidad and Tobago | Runner-ups March 2 |
| Stephanie "Pyet" Despain | 30 | Social media chef | Kansas City, Kansas | Winner March 2 |

## Elimination table

| Place | Contestant | Episodes | Episodes | Episodes | Episodes | Episodes | Episodes | Episodes | Episodes | Episodes | Episodes | Episodes |
| Place | Contestant | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 |
| 1 | Pyet | Arr | Safe | Safe | Safe | Win$^†$ | Safe | Safe | Risk | Safe | Win | Winner |
| 2 | Mariah | Blais | Safe | Win | Safe | Safe | Risk | Safe | Win | Win | Win | Runner-up |
| 2 | Reuel | Ram | Win$^†$ | Safe | Win | Safe | Win$^†$ | Safe | Win | Risk | Risk | Runner-up |
| 4 | Courtney | Blais | Safe | Win | Risk | Safe | Safe | Win | Safe | Safe | Elim | |
| 4 | Angie | Arr | Safe | Safe | Safe | Win | Safe | Safe | Safe | Win | Elim | |
| 4 | Kenny | Ram | Win | Safe | Win | Safe | Win | Safe | Risk | Risk | Elim | |
| 7 | Tricia | Ram | Win | Safe | Win$^†$ | Safe | Win | Safe | Safe | Elim | | |
| 8 | Ae | Blais | Safe | Win | Safe | Safe | Safe | Risk | Elim | | | |
| 9 | Jonathan | Blais | Safe | Win$^†$ | Safe | Risk | Safe | Elim | | | | |
| 9 | Zach | Arr | Safe | Risk | Safe | Win | Safe | Elim | | | | |
| 11 | Amber | Arr | Risk | Safe | Safe | Win | Elim | | | | | |
| 12 | Devonnie | Ram | Win | Safe | Win | Elim | | | | | | |
| 13 | Sergio | Arr | Safe | Safe | Elim | | | | | | | |
| 14 | Roice | Ram | Win | Elim | | | | | | | | |
| 15 | Gary | Blais | Elim | | | | | | | | | |
$^†$The contestant cooked the best dish overall and won safety for their team or themselves.

## Episodes

| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Original release date | Prod. code | U.S. viewers (millions) |
| 1 | 1 | "Welcome to the Next Level" | January 2, 2022 (2022-01-02) | NLC-101 | 5.08 |
| The fifteen chefs arrive at the studio in Las Vegas and meet the three mentors for the first time. Upon arrival, they were divided into three teams of five and must choose one of three keycards located near the elevator. Each team was assigned one of the three kitchens stacked on top of each other and cooked their first dishes. Challenge: Create a dish that identifies the chef's strengths and weaknesses. After the challenge, the three mentors taste the chefs' dishes for the first time and decide who is in their teams. The results for the mentors' teams were announced and each chef was drafted to one of the three mentors' teams for the rest of the season. Team Ramsay: Devonnie, Kenny, Reuel, Roice, and Tricia Team Arrington: Amber, Angie, Pyet, Sergio, and Zach Team Blais: Ae, Courtney, Gary, Jonathan, and Mariah ||||||
| 2 | 2 | "High Steaks" | January 5, 2022 (2022-01-05) | NLC-102 | 1.84 |
| The fifteen chefs return to the studio as members of the mentors' teams. The mentors' teams compete in a challenge that determines the best dish and sends two chefs to the head-to-head cook-off for the first time. Each mentor's team was assigned one of the three kitchens for the first time and cooked dishes for their mentors. Challenge: Create a dish that consists of steak and other available ingredients. After the challenge, the three mentors taste the chefs' dishes and decide whose dish is the best of the challenge. The team with the best dish of the challenge is immune from elimination. Team Ramsay's Reuel cooked the best dish of the challenge, winning safety for the team. Shortly after, Nyesha Arrington and Richard Blais were forced to send Amber and Gary to the head-to-head cook-off, where one of them would be eliminated. Head-to-Head Cook-Off: Create a dish inspired by wine. At the end of the cook-off, the three mentors taste Amber and Gary's dishes and decide who would remain in the competition. Amber won the head-to-head cook-off and remained in the competition. Gary was eliminated from the competition and finished in fifteenth (last) place. ||||||
| 3 | 3 | "Infinite Pastabilities" | January 12, 2022 (2022-01-12) | NLC-103 | 1.91 |
| The fourteen remaining chefs return to the studio to prepare for a challenge that would be based on a national cuisine for the first time. Unlike the previous challenge, the mentors' teams switched kitchens for the first time and cooked dishes for their mentors. Challenge: Create an Italian dish that consists of available ingredients. After the challenge, the three mentors taste the chefs' dishes and decide whose dish is the best of the challenge. Team Blais' Jonathan cooked the best dish of the challenge, winning safety for the team. Shortly after, Gordon Ramsay and Nyesha Arrington were forced to send Roice and Zach to the head-to-head cook-off, where one of them would be eliminated. Head-to-Head Cook-Off: Create noodles from outside of Italy with other available ingredients. At the end of the cook-off, the three mentors taste Roice and Zach's dishes and decide who would remain in the competition. Zach won the head-to-head cook-off and remained in the competition. Roice was eliminated from the competition and finished in fourteenth place. ||||||
| 4 | 4 | "Fowl Play" | January 19, 2022 (2022-01-19) | NLC-104 | 1.85 |
| The thirteen remaining chefs return to the studio to cook poultry dishes. The chefs, once again, switched kitchens and cooked for their mentors. Challenge: Create a poultry dish that consists of available ingredients. After the challenge, the three mentors taste the chefs' dishes and decide whose dish is the best of the challenge. Team Ramsay's Tricia cooked the best dish of the challenge, winning safety for the team. Shortly after, Nyesha Arrington and Richard Blais were forced to send Sergio and Courtney to the head-to-head cook-off, where one of them would be eliminated. Head-to-Head Cook-Off: Create a chicken and truffles dish with other available ingredients. At the end of the cook-off, the three mentors taste Sergio and Courtney's dishes and decide who would remain in the competition. Courtney won the head-to-head cook-off and remained in the competition. Sergio was eliminated from the competition and finished in thirteenth place. ||||||
| 5 | 5 | "The Next Level Burger" | January 26, 2022 (2022-01-26) | NLC-105 | 2.07 |
| The twelve remaining chefs go on a field trip to Gordon Ramsay Burger, a restaurant located inside Planet Hollywood Las Vegas. Once they enter the restaurant, the three mentors introduce a challenge that would be based on a specific restaurant's dish for the first time. The chefs taste the restaurant's burgers and return to the studio to start cooking their own burgers. Challenge: Create a burger that consists of available ingredients. After the challenge, the three mentors taste the chefs' burgers and decide whose burger is the best. Team Arrington's Pyet cooked the best burger, winning safety for the team. Shortly after, Gordon Ramsay and Richard Blais were forced to send Devonnie and Jonathan to the head-to-head cook-off, where one of them would be eliminated. Head-to-Head Cook-Off: Cook an ahi tuna burger with slaw and onion rings. At the end of the cook-off, the three mentors taste Devonnie and Jonathan's dishes and decide who would remain in the competition. Jonathan won the head-to-head cook-off and remained in the competition. Devonnie was eliminated from the competition and finished in twelfth place. ||||||
| 6 | 6 | "Drop In for Brunch" | January 30, 2022 (2022-01-30) | NLC-106 | 8.11 |
| The eleven remaining chefs return to the studio to prepare for a challenge that combines two main meals for the first time. Like the previous challenge, the mentors' teams switched kitchens and cooked dishes for their mentors. Challenge: Create a brunch dish that consists of available ingredients and incorporates sweet and savory elements. After the challenge, the three mentors taste the chefs' dishes and decide whose dish is the best of the challenge. Team Ramsay's Reuel cooked the best dish of the challenge for the second time, winning safety for the team. Shortly after, Nyesha Arrington and Richard Blais were forced to send Amber and Mariah to the head-to-head cook-off, where one of them would be eliminated. Head-to-Head Cook-Off: Create a coffee-infused dish. At the end of the cook-off, the three mentors taste Amber and Mariah's dishes and decide who would remain in the competition. Mariah won the head-to-head cook-off and remained in the competition. Amber was eliminated from the competition and finished in eleventh place. ||||||
| 7 | 7 | "A Seafood Tower" | February 2, 2022 (2022-02-02) | NLC-107 | 2.11 |
| The ten remaining chefs return to the studio to prepare for a challenge that has different rules for the first time. Unlike the previous challenges, only the chef with the best dish of the challenge is immune from elimination and the three chefs with the worst dishes of the challenge would be sent to the head-to-head cook-off. The chefs understood the rules and cooked dishes for their mentors. Challenge: Create a seafood dish that consists of available ingredients. After the challenge, the three mentors taste the chefs' dishes and decide whose dish is the best of the challenge. Team Blais' Courtney cooked the best dish of the challenge and won safety. Shortly after, Richard Blais sent Ae and Jonathan to the head-to-head cook-off while Nyesha Arrington sent Zach to the head-to-head cook-off. Head-to-Head Cook-Off: Create a shrimp with other available ingredients. At the end of the cook-off, the three mentors taste Ae, Jonathan, and Zach's dishes and decide who would remain in the competition. Ae won the head-to-head cook-off and remained in the competition. Jonathan and Zach were eliminated from the competition and finished in ninth and tenth place, respectively. ||||||
| 8 | 8 | "When Pigs Fly" | February 9, 2022 (2022-02-09) | NLC-108 | 1.75 |
| The eight remaining chefs return to the studio to prepare for changes. For the rest of the season, the mentors' teams disbanded, making each remaining chef compete against each other. Kitchens would be assigned based on the chefs' overall performances in the previous challenge(s), making the worst chefs cook in the bottom kitchen. The chefs understood the changes and cooked dishes for themselves. Challenge: Create a dish that consists of pork and other available ingredients. After the challenge, the three mentors taste the chefs' dishes and assign kitchens for the next challenge based on the chefs' performances. The chefs assigned above the bottom kitchen are safe while the chefs assigned in the bottom kitchen would be sent to the head-to-head cook-off. Ae, Kenny, and Pyet were sent to the head-to-head cook-off after being assigned in the bottom kitchen. Head-to-Head Cook-Off: Create a dish that consists of bacon and other available ingredients. At the end of the cook-off, the three mentors taste Ae, Kenny, and Pyet's dishes and decide who would be eliminated. Kenny and Pyet won the head-to-head cook-off and remained in the competition. Ae was eliminated from the competition and finished in eighth place. ||||||
| 9 | 9 | "Fusion Confusion" | February 16, 2022 (2022-02-16) | NLC-109 | 1.88 |
| The seven remaining chefs return to the studio for the last challenge before the semi-finals. Unlike the previous challenge, the top kitchen became available for use by Mariah and Reuel, who were assigned in that kitchen for their best performances in the previous challenge. The chefs went to their assigned kitchens based on their overall performances and cooked dishes for themselves. Challenge: Create a dish that consists of ingredients from two different countries. After the challenge, the three mentors taste the chefs' dishes and assign kitchens for the semi-finals based on the chefs' performances. Angie, Courtney, Mariah, and Pyet automatically moved on to the semi-finals after being safe from elimination. Kenny, Reuel, and Tricia were sent to the head-to-head cook-off after being assigned in the bottom kitchen. Head-to-Head Cook-Off: Create a dish that consists of Korean and American-Southern ingredients. At the end of the cook-off, the three mentors taste Kenny, Reuel, and Tricia's dishes and decide who would be eliminated. Kenny and Reuel won the head-to-head cook-off and moved on to the semi-finals. Tricia was eliminated from the competition and finished in seventh place. ||||||
| 10 | 10 | "Show Stopping Semi-Finals" | February 23, 2022 (2022-02-23) | NLC-110 | 1.89 |
| The six semi-finalists return to the studio for the semi-finals. Unlike the previous challenges, the semi-finalists use every skill they learned since the first challenge to create a dish. The three mentors reveal their own dishes to prove they have outstanding cooking skills. The semi-finalists went to their assigned kitchens and cooked dishes for themselves. Challenge: Create a dish that showcases the semi-finalist's skills. After the challenge, the three mentors taste the semi-finalists' dishes and decide which two dishes are the best. The two semi-finalists with the best dishes of the challenge would automatically move on to the finale. Mariah and Pyet became the first two finalists after cooking the best dishes. The other four semi-finalists were sent to the last head-to-head cook-off of the season after failing to impress the mentors. Head-to-Head Cook-Off: Create a dish that is worth for the finale. At the end of the cook-off, the three mentors taste the four semi-finalists' dishes and decide the last finalist of the season. Reuel became the last finalist of the season after winning the head-to-head cook-off. Courtney, Angie, and Kenny were eliminated from the competition and finished in fourth, fifth, and sixth place, respectively. ||||||
| 11 | 11 | "The Final Level" | March 2, 2022 (2022-03-02) | NLC-111 | 1.85 |
| The three finalists return to the studio for the finale. In the final challenge, the three finalists create a three-course meal that showcases their cooking skills. Unlike other challenges, there is no time limit for each course, making each finalist press the button every time they finish cooking. Each finalist must finish the meal in less than 90 minutes and cook each course in a different kitchen. Before the final challenge, each finalist's family visited the studio to support the three finalists. Bottom Kitchen: Create an appetizer that consists of available ingredients. Middle Kitchen: Create a seafood dish that consists of available ingredients. Top Kitchen: Create an entrée that consists of meat and other available ingredients. After cooking each course, the three mentors taste the three finalists' dishes as they progress throughout the final challenge. After tasting the final course, the three mentors decide the winner of the season. The finalist with the best meal of the final challenge would win the season. Pyet was announced as the winner of the season for her outstanding cooking skills. ||||||

## Ratings

Viewership and ratings per episode of Next Level Chef (American TV series) season 1 :
| No. | Title | Air date | Timeslot (ET) | Rating/share (18–49) | Viewers (millions) | DVR (18–49) | DVR viewers (millions) | Total (18–49) | Total viewers (millions) |
| 1 | "Welcome to the Next Level" | January 2, 2022 | Sunday 8:00 p.m. | 1.6/9 | 5.08 | 0.2 | 0.68 | 1.7 | 5.76 |
| 2 | "High Steaks" | January 5, 2022 | Wednesday 9:00 p.m. | 0.5/3 | 1.84 | 0.2 | 0.89 | 0.7 | 2.73 |
| 3 | "Infinite Pastabilities" | January 12, 2022 | Wednesday 9:00 p.m. | 0.5/4 | 1.91 | — | — | — | — |
| 4 | "Fowl Play" | January 19, 2022 | Wednesday 9:00 p.m. | 0.5/4 | 1.85 | 0.1 | 0.75 | 0.6 | 2.61 |
| 5 | "The Next Level Burger" | January 26, 2022 | Wednesday 9:00 p.m. | 0.5/3 | 2.07 | 0.3 | 0.91 | 0.7 | 2.98 |
| 6 | "Drop In for Brunch" | January 30, 2022 | Sunday 10:00 p.m. | 2.6/19 | 8.11 | — | — | — | — |
| 7 | "A Seafood Tower" | February 2, 2022 | Wednesday 9:00 p.m. | 0.5/4 | 2.11 | — | — | — | — |
| 8 | "When Pigs Fly" | February 9, 2022 | Wednesday 9:00 p.m. | 0.4/3 | 1.75 | — | — | — | — |
| 9 | "Fusion Confusion" | February 16, 2022 | Wednesday 9:00 p.m. | 0.4/3 | 1.88 | — | — | — | — |
| 10 | "Show Stopping Semi-Finals" | February 23, 2022 | Wednesday 9:00 p.m. | 0.4/3 | 1.89 | 0.2 | 0.85 | 0.7 | 2.73 |
| 11 | "The Final Level" | March 2, 2022 | Wednesday 9:00 p.m. | 0.4/4 | 1.85 | 0.2 | 0.85 | 0.6 | 2.70 |