Hell's Kitchen

Gordon Ramsay welcomes 18 aspiring chefs into the kitchen. In the first challenge of the season, Chef Ramsay splits the chefs into two teams: men (Blue) vs. women (Red) and asks them to present their signature dishes. The winning team gets treated to an exclusive dinner with Chef Ramsay, along with special guest and renowned chef, Wolfgang Puck, while the losing team must set up the new living arrangements and kitchen for this season.

Then, Chef Ramsay tests the teams’ attention to detail and challenges them to recreate his Geoduck sashimi. The team that creates 15 perfect dishes will soak up the sun on a luxury yacht with Chef Ramsay, while the losing team will clean up the sand outside and prepare the geoduck nigiri and chowder for dinner service.

In an effort to strengthen team communication, Chef Ramsay challenges the contestants to a unique recipe challenge. The team that most successfully completes the recipes printed on the back of their jackets will win a day flying across Venice beach, while the losing team will prepare for the next dinner service by grinding thousands of coffee beans. Later, during the dinner service, teams must work together as they prepare their specialty dishes for VIP guests, including talk show host Wendy Williams. As contestants struggle to send out their entrees, find out which team has to present two chefs for elimination and whom Chef Ramsay chooses to send home for good.

After a dramatic elimination, the contestants are surprised when, for the first time in HELL’S KITCHEN history, a culinary school graduation takes place in the dining room. Contestants from the Red and Blue teams are given 20 minutes to prepare breakfast for the graduates and their family and friends. The team that finishes serving their guests first will win a trip to San Francisco to meet renowned Chef Dominique Chen, while the losing team must hand-grind all the meat for the next dinner service. Later, the teams attempt to complete another successful dinner service, but tempers flare and both teams struggle with serving raw and overcooked dishes. With multiple contestants kicked out of the kitchen throughout the dinner service, find out which team is safe and who is up for elimination.

In the next team challenge, contestants face the ultimate protein challenge. The team that identifies proteins and correctly matches them to their dishes the fastest will win a beach day at the Annenberg Community Beach House in Santa Monica with special guests and water polo Olympians Genai Kerr, Shea Buckner and Tumua Anae. The losing team will prepare for the family night dinner service and hand-grate cheese. Later, it’s family night in the dining room and teams must work together to successfully complete the dinner service. While one team struggles staying organized with dish coordination, another team shines as they serve their guests. Find out which team will present two more contestants for elimination.

In the next team challenge, contestants are challenged to pick their proteins as they herd farm animals into their proper pens and decide which proteins and starch they will use next in the kitchen. The team that successfully creates unique protein and starch dishes, impressing Chef Ramsay, as well as guest judges and Animal restaurant chef-owners Jon Shook and Vinny Dotolo, will earn a relaxing wine tour in Santa Barbara, while the losing team will prepare the stock bones for the next dinner service. Later, during the dinner service, tempers flare between contestants, but both teams will have to put their issues behind them as they make their dishes and serve VIP guests, including members of the Dine LA Board of Directors, Olympic gold medalist Alyson Felix and NHL player Willie Mitchell. Find out who can stand the heat and who will be up for elimination.

In the next challenge, the teams must create Italian opera-inspired dishes and go head-to-head against a member of the other team. The team that earns the most points from Chef Ramsay and guest judge Chef Celestino Drago will win a $3,000 shopping trip and VIP dinner at Cecconi’s in West Hollywood, while the losing team will prepare the squid for the next dinner service. Later, during the dinner service, teams will prepare Italian dishes for VIP guests, including members of the Italian Consulate. After nerves in the kitchen lead to two major mistakes and one team is kicked out of the kitchen, both teams will have to present teammates for elimination. Find out who will move on and who will be kicked out for good.

After another dramatic elimination and an unsuccessful dinner service, both teams will meet new team members before heading into the next team challenge. In this challenge, each team member must prepare a tasting menu for a Best in Show competition with the American Kennel Club. With the help of guest judges and chefs Douglas Keane of Green Dog Rescue Project and Neal Fraser, owner of Fritzi Dog, the dog dishes are scored to determine which dishes will be featured at the first-ever HELL’S KITCHEN dog show. The team that scores the highest will win a trip to SeaWorld in San Diego and an exclusive dinner with Searsucker Chef and owner Brian Malarkey, while the losing team must stay behind and groom the dogs to prepare the kitchen before the dog show dinner service. Later, once the dog show starts, teams will prepare their dishes for the dog show guests. Find out who will be a top dog and whose journey could come to an end.

After the most successful dinner service so far this season, both teams are eager to compete in the next team challenge, during which they will roll dice to determine the ingredients for their team challenge dish. Each team member must use all six of the ingredients from the HELL’S KITCHEN craps table. The winning team will win a trip on a private plane to Las Vegas, while the losing team will stay behind and unload the delivery truck for the next dinner service. Before the next dinner service, one contestant’s injury will cause his/her time in HELL’S KITCHEN to end, while the remaining contestants prepare for Rock and Roll night in the dining room, where they will serve music legends and VIPs including Stewart Copeland of The Police and Steven Tyler of Aerosmith.

After two contestants leave the competition, Chef Gordon Ramsay challenges the remaining contestants to an Indian cuisine challenge. Contestants must match complimentary ingredients to create four Indian-inspired meals. The team that earns the most points from Chef Ramsay and guest chef Sundar Bains of All Spice Indian Restaurant, will win a day of pampering at the luxurious Willow Spa, while the losing team will prepare for the next dinner service. Later during the dinner service, the teams will once again attempt to impress the HELL’S KITCHEN VIP guests at the Indian Cuisine night. As one team leads the dinner service due to effective communication, the other team can’t stand the heat – or each other – and continue to mess up their stations. Find out who is safe and who will be up for elimination.

In the next team challenge, the remaining contestants are tasked with the signature HELL’S KITCHEN blind taste test. When contestants incorrectly identify a dish, one of their teammates will be dunked in a dunk tank. The team that correctly identifies the most dishes will win a day at the Santa Monica pier and a dinner at The Lobster, while the losing team will clean the dorms, floors and bathrooms of HELL’S KITCHEN. Later during dinner service, the two teams prepare dinner for special VIP guests honoring firefighters. Although the guests leave pleased and satisfied, Chef Ramsay is disappointed in both teams’ services and asks for each team to present teammates to be up for elimination. Find out who stays afloat and who will be sent home.

Chef Ramsay challenges the remaining contestants to an artistic dish challenge. Inspired by a special appearance from speed artist Tim Decker, each contestant must create two servings of the same amuse-bouche. The contestants who earn the most points for their team, while impressing Chef Ramsay and guest judge and Epicurious Editor-in-Chief, Tanya Steel, will win a helicopter ride to Catalina Island and a meal at Bluewater Avalon. The losing team will unload and crack hundreds of coconuts in preparation for the next dinner service. During dinner service, both teams struggle with communication and getting dishes out on time to the VIP dinner guests, leading Chef Ramsay to send home a contestant before the elimination ceremony begins. Find out who will stay and who will be kicked out of the kitchen for good.

After receiving their coveted black jackets, the remaining six contestants will compete in their first individual challenge, during which they must create a unique dish using Omaha steaks. Determined by Chef Ramsay and guest judges Omaha Steaks President and CEO, Bruce Simon, and SVP, Todd Simon, the winner of the challenge will be featured in a nationwide advertising campaign, as well as receive a gift certificate to culinary store Surfas and one other surprise.

During the dinner service, the contestants will team up to face their toughest competition yet and one contestant will be kicked out of the kitchen for good. Then, the remaining contestants will prepare gourmet dishes for glampers. The contestant who receives the most votes from the glampers will win a luxury glamping trip for two. Find out who will stay and who will be eliminated.

Chef Ramsay presents the HELL’S KITCHEN classic “Taste It, Now Make It” challenge. The winning contestant will be treated to a luxurious afternoon with special guests – members of his/her family! Meanwhile, the other contestants will remain at HELL’S KITCHEN to prepare for the 200th dinner service. After an emotional elimination, two contestants will advance to the exciting finale.

Chef Ramsay sets the stage for the remaining two contestants when he challenges them to create five unique dishes in one hour before a cheering audience. In each round, the finalists’ dishes will be judged by some of the most renowned chefs in Los Angeles: Josiah Citrin (Melisse); Dominique Crenn (Atelier Crenn); Matthew Kirkley (L20); David LeFevre (M.B. Post); and Randy Lutz (Ame). Find out which contestant will be crowned HELL'S KITCHEN winner and receive a life-changing grand prize: a Head Chef position at Gordon Ramsay Pub & Grill at Caesars Palace Atlantic City, a total prize value of $250,000.