Katie McKeown

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.