Next Level Chef Episode 5: Next Level Burgers

After last week’s elimination, the teams on Next Level Chef are all even at four chefs each and the pressure is continuing to build. All the chefs know that having the Best Dish not only saves your team but gives you a massive confidence boost going forward.

Week 5 begins with a trip to Gordon Ramsay Burger and a quick demo by all three mentors on the finer points of making a great burger. Was it a crass commercial for Ramsay’s restaurant in the midst of a television show? Sure. But it helps make the point that creating a really good burger is not as simple as you may think.

Once the key cards are chosen, Team Ramsay once again ends up in The Basement while Team Arrington lands in the Middle Level and Team Blais gets the Top Level. Despite it being Week 5, the chefs are all still having issues with the Ingredient Platform, forgetting to grab key elements for their dishes.

This week it’s Amber on Team Arrington that has to improvise when she forgets to grab bread for her Bison Burger. She ends up makes a play on a Juicy Lucy but with a lettuce wrap instead of a bun. Jonathan also has bun issues when he flattens the one he grabbed off the Platform.

Which chef was sent home on Episode 5 of Next Level Chef?

The twist for this week was potatoes, because what’s a burger without a side of fries? Most of the chefs handled the twist pretty well, with the exception of Kenny, who became so focused on making his fries that he almost didn’t have enough time to get his burger cooked.

In fact, it turned out the biggest issue for most of the chefs was making sure their burgers were cooked all the way. While a rare beef burger is hardly a bad thing, many of the chefs were using poultry as their protein. And if you undercook that, someone could end up next level sick.

Of course, there is such a thing as a beef burger that is just too raw to eat, which is something Jonathan is now all too aware. His burger was both burnt and raw at the same time, which is a stunning feat when you think about it. It led to Gordon Ramsay spitting out the bite he took, which is never a good thing.

In addition to Jonathan, most of Team Ramsay had issues with undercooked meat or bizarre choices that left the judges bewildered. Tricia’s pork burger was a huge flop that lacked flavor and the mentors couldn’t even try Devonnie’s turkey burger because it was raw.

Once it was all said and done Nyesha Arrington’s team walked away with a win that wasn’t even close. Pyet won Best Dish with a Wagu Short Rib burger that showcased her Native American roots and took a huge step away from the rest of the pack. Arrington’s entire team was in the zone and it showed with some outstanding dishes.

Meanwhile, two teams headed for Elimination. Gordon Ramsay chose Devonnie for her undercooked turkey while Richard Blais went with the obvious choice of Jonathan.

For the Elimination Challenge the two chefs had to make an Ahi Tune Burger with Onion Rings and Slaw. Jonathan got himself so nervous and worked up that he ended up cutting his finger and needed medical attention. However, he had a clear plan for his burger and once he calmed down regained focus.

By contrast, Devonnie spent too much time listening to her teammates, in particular Reuel, and her vision for her burger became muddled. It showed in the tasting where both Ramsay and Blais picked Jonathan’s tuna burger, sending the home cook and mother home.

Team Ramsay is now down to three chefs, which will make getting the best dish that much more difficult. Could Gordon Ramsay see his whole team eliminated before the finale? Can Team Arrington keep up their hot streak? We’ll see when Next Level Chef returns for a special Sunday episode.

What do you think Guilty Eaters? Did Devonnie deserve to go home? Would you have tried Jonathan’s tuna burger? Leave a comment below and let us know your thoughts on Next Level Chef or join the conversation on our Twitter and Facebook pages.