16 chefs start out. This season, the starting lineup is (from Wikipedia):
- Amanda Davenport, 27, a sous chef from New York, NY
- Andy Husbands, 39, an executive chef from Boston, MA
- Ariel Contreras, 27, a sous chef from Los Angeles, CA
- Dave Levey, 32, an executive chef from San Diego, CA
- Jim McGloin, 34, a sous chef from Nashua, NH
- Joseph Tinnelly, 27, a former US Marine and sous chef from Massapequa Park, NY
- Kevin Cottle, 35, an executive chef from Middletown, CT
- Louie (David) Cordio, 45, a diner owner from Fitchburg, MA
- Lovely (Connie) Jackson, 23, a camp chef from Chicago, IL
- Melinda Meaney, 38, a private chef from Philadelphia, PA
- Sabrina Gresset, 34, a restaurant manager from Phoenix, AZ
- Suzanne Schlicht, 24, a sous chef from Milwaukee, WI
- Tek Moore, 27, a line cook from New York, NY
- Tennille Middleton, 28, an executive chef from Fairfax, VA
- Tony D'Alessandro, 30, a culinary store manager from Chicago, IL
- Van Hurd, 26, a fish cook from Dallas, TX
In the first episode, we are introduced to the players. We start out with the contestants arriving at Hell's Kitchen and getting video introductions from losing contestants on things not to do in Hell's Kitchen.
For the first time, the signature dish presentation is a competition between the blue and red teams. The blue team wins, so they got to go out to dinner with Ramsey while the red team stayed behind and cleaned the kitchen.
At dinner service, for the first time in Hell's Kitchen history, not a SINGLE entree goes out to the dining room from one team. Because the blue team managed to get one out on their side, they were considered the winners, but he's clearly not happy with either side. Also, because of his very poor performance with the lamb, Louis is kicked out before service is done.
The red team has to choose 2 people. Those nominated: Amanda for freezing the fish instead of putting it in the cooler, and Melinda for overall performance. Going home in this episode: Melinda.
And we also get another surprise: do you remember Robert from last season, who had to leave because of health issues? Well, he comes back this season to compete again. So once Louis is gone, he is called upon to fill the men's gap. Until he's suddenly put on the women's team to strengthen them up.
The next episode, the teams are in a competition to de-vein and clean as many shrimp as possible that meet Chef Ramsey's standards. The blue team wins it by one shrimp, so the red team has to de-vein the rest of the shrimp to prepare for dinner service. The main entree: shrimp scampi cooked at the tables. Chosen to do that task: Van and Tennille. Van gets into a shouting match with Jean-Phillippe, while Tenille almost serves raw shrimp to a pregnant woman. Somehow both teams did worse this time than they did in the last service, so they both have to choose two people to put up on the block.
The red's nominations: Tenille and Lovely. Very civil.
The blue's nominations: Tony and Andy. Not as civil. When Joseph is asked to give his first choice and why, he practically refuses. While other team members are telling him to calm down and respect Chef Ramsey, he decides that this is the opportune moment to tell the other contestants to shut up and try to start a fist fight with Ramsey.
And the words "To Be Continued" flash on the screen...
Overall, good episodes. This season should be interesting.
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