Episode 207: Raising The Standards

The chefs compete in the Relay Challenge, while one chef completely explodes at their team, and a chef gets eliminated mid-service.

## Intro

While being dismissed, Brent said that he felt that Yanny was gonna be a problem, and expressed how scared he was that his team were gonna get crushed. Yanny noted how pissed she was, and wanted to have a team meeting with the red team. Yanny held a meeting with all the red team, and she started cursing them for putting her up for elimination, Brent told her to calm down and stop acting so defensive. Tara noted to Yanny that if she can prove herself, she will be an asset to the red team. Still, Yanny left crying, as Rachel thought it was going to be hard working with the former.

## Challenge

When both teams went downstairs, Vaughan surprises them and tells the chefs that they will be participating in the Relay Challenge where they had to make different dishes, the chefs were tasked by making Beef Wellington, New York strip, and rack of lamb. Rachel said she was ready of what's thrown at her, and states that she knows that messing up could cost the challenge. Phillip expressed how stoked he was, and said that he can accomplish the task.

Vaughan called AJ and Brent from the red team, and Phillip and Jennifer from the blue team into the kitchen and the 10 minutes started. AJ and Brent were shown trying to cook the wellington, while Phillip and Jennifer were helping each other. Vaughan told Phillip and Jennifer to hurry up as they were dragging behind and the time was nearly up. Then Vaughan called Kennedy and Rachel, and Declan and Spencer into the kitchen. Kennedy and Rachel, were smoothly picking up the pace, and working out the cooking time of the New York strip. Meanwhile, Declan was working on the New York Strip, and Spencer told him to work on the previous course first, the former responded that they should work onto the second course before continuing the first. Spencer said in his confessional that himself and Declan were working on different things, and stated that they should be working together. Vaughan called the last two pairings into the kitchen, and Yanny and Tara were shown arguing which led Vaughan into telling both of them to calm down and work together. On the blue side, Nicole was shown overcooking the lamb, but could not as there was only 3 minutes to go. Ross said in his confessional that the blue team were screwed if they could not pull their weight. The chefs finished and plated in time.

On the first round, AJ and Brent scored on all courses, while Jennifer and Phillip only failed to score the New York Strip, giving the red team a 3-2 lead. Kennedy and Rachel scored all, while Declan and Spencer scored all as well giving the red team 6-5. The two last pairs went up, and Yanny and Tara only managed to score one, while Nicole and Ross failed to score two except from the beef wellington giving the red team the win.

## Reward

The red team were rewarded by going zip lining. Rachel expressed how happy she was that the red team pulled out their a-game, Yanny expressed that she carried the red team, Tara retorted and stated that Yanny fucked up in the challenge. Yanny decided to annoy all the red team, and Brent said in his confessional that he is starting not to like Yanny.

## Punishment

The blue team were punished by taking in 100 pounds of lemon. Declan expressed how pissed he is doing another punishment and is getting sick of doing them, Phillip asked Nicole and Ross why they caused the defeat, but Ross said that Nicole completely took charge and caused the blue team's loss. Nicole told Ross to shut the fuck up and go fuck himself, and Ross completely exploded on Nicole which caused Jennifer and Spencer to defuse the situation.

## Before Service

After the red team got back from their reward, both teams started prepping until Vaughan lined both teams up, then Vaughan told both teams that they'll have a good service and Vaughan tells Aldo to open Hell's Kitchen.

## Service

 **Meat** | Brent
 **Fish** | Rachel and AJ
 **Garnish** | Yanny and Tara

The first order came in, and Brent sent his lamb to the pass and it got accepted, then Vaughan asks AJ how long for the halibut but she responded 2 minutes. AJ sent her halibut, but it got brought back for being raw not impressing Vaughan and he told her to refire. Meanwhile with the blue kitchen, Nicole sent up her risotto, but it was deemed a rice full of bullets. Phillip sent his garnish, but Vaughan asked him of where was the wellington garnish, which he responded that he forgot frustrating Vaughan and Spencer. On the red side, Yanny sent up the garnish, and it got accepted impressing Vaughan, while AJ sent out her refired halibut which also got accepted. Meanwhile with the blue kitchen, Nicole was shown cooking her risotto off-heat and was berated for that. Phillip sent his refired garnish, but was rejected for being burnt. Jennifer managed to perfectly cook her salmon and sent it out which led her to get praised, and the customers were shown tasting and enjoying Jennifer's salmon. Jennifer said in her confessional that she is on a roll, and states that she's not gonna stop. Back with the red kitchen, Kennedy sent out the scallops which got accepted, while Rachel's halibut also gets accepted impressing Vaughan. Back with the blue kitchen, Nicole undercooked her risotto which made Vaughan ask her what she was doing, which she responded that she was having an off night. Nicole said that she is having a hard time, and states that she needs to focus and bounce back.

Back with the red kitchen, Kennedy was asked by Vaughan for her scallops, then she sent out her scallops which got accepted, along with Yanny's garnish. On the blue side, Nicole sent out her refired risotto, but it got rejected again for being undercooked, while Ross sent out the lamb, but the lamb got brought back for being raw and an annoyed Vaughan sent the blue team into the pantry. Vaughan asked the blue team what was going on, then asked Nicole why she was struggling on the appetizers and then told her to give him her jacket and fuck off upstairs. Nicole expressed how sad she was getting ejected, and stated that she had a good time in Hell's Kitchen. Yanny undercooked her garnish which led Vaughan into berating her, while AJ's halibut was deemed raw and Vaughan told the red team to wake up. Back with the blue kitchen, Ross sent out his refired lamb which got rejected for still being raw, while Phillip's garnish was also sent back for being burnt, which led Vaughan into telling him to bounce back or get out of Hell's Kitchen. Phillip expressed how pissed he was with himself, and stated that he was going to bounce back and not give up. On the red side, Brent sent out his lamb which was deemed perfect but was waiting for Yanny's garnish. Eventually, Yanny sent out her garnish which was accepted, both teams finished service. Brent then said that tonight he did good in tonight's service, and was proud of himself.

## Post-Mortem

After service, Vaughan lined both teams up and congratulated them for bouncing back. Vaughan named both teams winners, and told the chefs two nominate two people for elimination.

During deliberation, Jennifer wondered why Phillip messed up, which he responded that he just had a bad night, then promised to his team that he was never gonna do that again. Spencer called out Ross for his poor performance on the meat station, which Ross said that he knows he screwed up but stated that he's gonna fight for his life.

Meanwhile with the red team, Brent called out AJ for her raw halibut, Tara said that if she actually served the halibut she could've killed someone. AJ stated that Yanny fucked up on garnish and she also should be nominated, Yanny deflected the blame and said that she had a perfect service, but Tara told her that she did not and said that she made rookie mistakes. Yanny completely lost it and exploded on her team, then Brent managed to calm her down.

## Elimination

Vaughan praised both teams for their good service and commended them for bouncing back. Rachel announced AJ as the first nominee, and Yanny being the second. Phillip announced Ross as the first nominee, and himself being the second. During their pleas, AJ said that she was passionate, a fighter and was determined to be Vaughan's next head chef. Yanny noted that she's full of energy and a hard worker, then accuses her team of sabotaging her. Vaughan asked the red team if that was true, but Brent stated that the red team were trying to help her but she was not accepting the help. Ross stated how much hard work he'd done over the past days, and noted that he was not ready to leave Hell's Kitchen. Phillip said that this was his first time being nominated, and stated that everybody behind him knows that he's puts in the hard work and supports them. Vaughan sent Phillip and AJ back in line, before sending Ross back in line. Vaughan told Yanny to step forward, before telling her that she has another chance to wake up. Vaughan noted that both teams had a good service, and said that he couldn't send anyone home, then Vaughan dismissed the chefs.

While being dismissed, Yanny stated that her team was bullying her and claimed that she was the best chef in the kitchen. Phillip said that his first nomination was a wake-up call, and expressed how happy he was getting another chance to prove himself.

Vaughan's comment: ''At the start of the competition, Nicole showed lots of fire. Unfortunately, her fire has now gone out.''