Next Level Chef Episode 8: Next Level Pork

Episode 8 of Next Level Chef was all about change. About the competition, excuse the obvious pun, going up another level. Everything the chefs thought they knew about the game was voided as the table was reset and things took a serious turn toward the difficult.

First, the chefs discovered that the team aspect of Next Level Chef is over. Team Ramsay, Team Blais and Team Arrington are no more. From now on the chefs would be competing as individuals. Some chefs, like Reuel embraced this change while others, like Tricia, found the new dynamic a bit overwhelming.

Then it was revealed that where you cook would depend entirely on how well you cook. If you make an incredible dish, you’ll cook on the Top Level. If you cook well but not next level, you’ll be in The Middle Kitchen. If you serve the judges less then stellar food, you’ll head for elimination and if you survive, cook in The Basement the following week.

Since the team aspect has just been removed, it was decided that the Top Level Kitchen would be closed this week. The chefs were placed on a level depending on how they had performed thus far in the competition. Reuel, Tricia, Courtney and Pyet all landed in the Middle Level while Mariah, Kenny, Ae and Angie all headed down to The Basement.

Who was sent home in Episode 8 of Next Level Chef?

The chefs then were told they had to make their best pork dish. If you have ever made pork chops, you know that cooking pork correctly can be a challenge. A piece of pork can go from juicy and succulent to dry and tough in moments.

The fact the competition was now individuals was not lost on anyone, especially in the Middle Kitchen. The banter was all but gone and once the Ingredient Platform dropped, it became a full contact sport as Reuel once again took no prisoners.

It wasn’t surprising that once judging started, the chefs that had been doing consistently well continued on that track. Reuel used ground pork to make what he called Rasta Pasta and it was a massive hit with all three judges. Courtney continued her upward trend with a perfectly cooked pork chop and Tricia managed to keep her nerves under control enough to make Asian dumplings that got an A for effort.

In the end Reuel and Mariah, who wowed everyone with her Korean barbecue pork skewers, were the only two who impressed enough to be cooking in the Top Level Kitchen next week. While Courtney, Tricia, and Angie would all be cooking on the Middle Level Kenny, Ae and shockingly Pyet were all headed to Elimination where one would be going home.

For the Elimination Challenge it was all about bacon. I know, how can anyone possibly screw up making something with bacon?

All three chefs seemed to have a clear vision once the Challenge began with Pyet making bacon wrapped scallops, Ae cooking bacon drunken noodles, and Kenny preparing bacon and Cavatelli pasta that he made from scratch.

Unfortunately, it was Ae who was sent home. The judges felt her pasta dish was a bit too simple and minimalistic considering the ingredients she had at her disposal. Which meant that Kenny and Pyet would both be cooking in The Basement next week.

Speaking of next week, it looks like a real doozy and the chefs will have to prepare an international fusion dish that might send some chefs to The Basement and will send one chef home.

What did you think of Episode 8 of Next Level Chef? Were you sorry to see Ae go home? Leave a comment below and let us know what you thought or join the conversation on our Facebook and Twitter pages.