Hell’s Kitchen: Did Amber really deserve a black jacket?

With Jordan being sent home last week, the last of the chefs who really had no business being in Hell’s Kitchen were gone, leaving just the best of the Blue and Red Teams.

The final six chefs each have the skills and the desire to win, it was just a matter of who would get an iconic black jacket and who would be the odd man out.

Mary Lou, a bit surprisingly, got the first one followed by Declan thanks to the first challenge. They were followed by Kori, who was pretty much a lock for a jacket, and Cody, who may be a massive jerk and arrogant but knows his way around a kitchen.

By the time all was said and done, it was down to Amber and Nikki for the final jacket. Amber has had issues all season with timing, getting inside her own head, and working with the other members of her team. Nikki, by comparison, has done nothing but flourished in Hell’s Kitchen, growing stronger and stronger after each dinner service.

However, it was Amber who got the final black jacket, becoming the last member for the Final Five, and Nikki was sent home.

Nikki definitely deserved to stay in Hell’s Kitchen over Amber

Both Amber and Nikki made amazing dishes inspired by their relationship and memories of food. But of course, Amber came pretty close to screwing up her fillet and serving it to Chef Ramsay undercooked. By comparison, Nikki was calm and collected the entire time she cooked, knowing exactly what she wanted to make and how to present it.

If you looked at the pork chop Nikki cooked, it not only showed where she came from but just how much she had grown in Hell’s Kitchen. How much potential she has and how much further she can go. Amber, on the other hand, showed that yes, she can cook, but also showed why she has been put up for elimination multiple times this season.

The only reason we can come up with as to why Chef Ramsay might have chosen Amber over Nikki is experience. Amber has a decade of time in a kitchen compared to Nikki’s handful of years. Will that experience make Amber a good head chef? We kind of doubt it. She shouldn’t be running a kitchen and anyone can see that from watching her on the show.

Nikki might be a bit raw and need more seasoning (gotta love food puns) but in the long run, we’re willing to bet that she will not only be a better chef but that she will be a better head chef someday.

The admiration Ramsay has for Nikki could be seen by the simple fact he let her keep her Red Team chef coat. It doesn’t happen often in Hell’s Kitchen and when it does, it is the ultimate sign of respect from a chef who demands greatness.

Keep your eyes on Nikki. She is going to do great things in her culinary career. Meanwhile, the Final Five prepare for the competition in Hell’s Kitchen to be kicked up a notch.

Do you agree or disagree Guilty Eaters? Do you think Amber deserved a black jacket or do you think it should have gone to Nikki? Leave a comment below and let us know or join the conversation on our Twitter page.