S23.E11: A Soap Opera in Hell

[KeithJ]

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The top eight chefs begin the week with an international cuisine challenge; a dinner service honoring guests from charity organizations follows.

Airs: Thu, Jan 2, 2025

[Yeah No]

OMG I couldn't hate Kyle more right now. What a smug little bitch! Get over yourself, dude! The way he acted toward Joe and Egypt in those bogus meetings was awful. I was so upset that Joe went home over Amanda that I couldn't even sing hallelujah over Anne Marie's exit. At least Egypt is still there. He seems to have earned his place in the competition. I can't think of anyone else left I would want to win more than him, although I think Whit is also showing herself to be strong competition. But Joe, he has one bad moment and that's it for him while others have made several and are still there. And I know we don't see everything but I didn't understand Ramsay's sudden attitude about him when he sent him home and I didn't see whatever it was he said about him. So really, I am not loving this season anymore. I think Joe would have been a great choice for that particular HK restaurant. I live in CT and have eaten there.

It was nice to see the Pequot museum again. I haven't been there in about 15 years. I once arranged a department outing and luncheon there with my office. It's well worth seeing.

[mojoween]

Ann Marie was long past her expiration date, but Joe’s ouster came out of left field.

Also it felt like the last time I watched this show was six months ago.

[GHScorpiosRule]

46 minutes ago, mojoween said:

Also it felt like the last time I watched this show was six months ago.

🤣🤣

Same!

[milkyaqua]

I was totally fine with Ann Marie leaving but I am a little surprised about Joe.  Though I suspected two were going home when he had the teams choose two from each to send up.  Probably because we there are probably only a couple more eps left to go.

Kyle was even more annoying than his usual.  Didn't appreciate Whit throwing a small tantrum over the baking punishment.  Amanda and Brandon I'm meh on, moreso Amanda.

[seacliffsal]

I don't understand how making 2 dozen cupcakes each was a horrible punishment when compared to the other punishments of the season.  Yet, Amanda and Whit (more so Whit) were upset that they had to bake cupcakes?!?!

I, too, was surprised that Joe went home.  I must be misremembering but I thought 7 chefs went into the black jacket competition and five won their jackets.

[mlp]

2 hours ago, milkyaqua said:

Kyle was even more annoying than his usual.  Didn't appreciate Whit throwing a small tantrum over the baking punishment.  Amanda and Brandon I'm meh on, moreso Amanda.

Kyle and Whit are both creepy and unpleasant.  I can't wait until they are gone although Amanda needs to go first.  I don't mind Brandon but I think the only one worthy of winning is Egypt and I suspect Gordon thinks so too.

[Yeah No]

2 hours ago, mlp said:

Kyle and Whit are both creepy and unpleasant.  I can't wait until they are gone although Amanda needs to go first.  I don't mind Brandon but I think the only one worthy of winning is Egypt and I suspect Gordon thinks so too.

Thank you yet again for saying what I was thinking but didn't want to seem unkind or prejudiced based on looks. It's not about looks with either of them.

And yes, Amanda needs to go first. She should have gone home this time instead of Joe. Maybe it was me but I thought she looked surprised that she didn't get the axe.

So next week is black jacket time? I just can't see some of these people deserving black jackets, especially Amanda.

[GHScorpiosRule]

ARGH!!!!!!!’

Vikas Khanna is one of the easiest names to pronounce and both Gordon and Kyle mucked it up! Even the voice over dude! Gordon should know better because Vikas showed up on one of the episodes in the  U.K. version of Kitchen Nightmares! And Gordon pronounced it correctly!

It’s Vikas, with the “as” drawn out like “aahhhh” and Khanna is Khunna like “uh” you nimrods!

It wasn’t a name like Balasubramanian, for Pete’s sake!

[Yeah No]

3 hours ago, GHScorpiosRule said:

ARGH!!!!!!!’

Vikas Khanna is one of the easiest names to pronounce and both Gordon and Kyle mucked it up! Even the voice over dude! Gordon should know better because Vikas showed up on one of the episodes in the  U.K. version of Kitchen Nightmares! And Gordon pronounced it correctly!

It’s Vikas, with the “as” drawn out like “aahhhh” and Khanna is Khunna like “uh” you nimrods!

It wasn’t a name like Balasubramanian, for Pete’s sake!

Don't shoot me, but I would have had less problem pronouncing Balasubramanian, but then again I worked for someone with the name Subramanian once.

[seacliffsal]

I so prefer the competitions that are just two chefs going head to head rather than the crazy, messy, make no sense competitions that are often featured on the show.

And the guest judge seemed so kind.  I would totally try his restaurant, but if his reservations sell out in 30 seconds I doubt I'd ever get close to having a reservation.

[ljenkins782]

20 hours ago, seacliffsal said:

I don't understand how making 2 dozen cupcakes each was a horrible punishment when compared to the other punishments of the season.  Yet, Amanda and Whit (more so Whit) were upset that they had to bake cupcakes?!?!

I, too, was surprised that Joe went home.  I must be misremembering but I thought 7 chefs went into the black jacket competition and five won their jackets.

Yep, give me a choice of getting in a hazmat suit and separating garbage or making cupcakes and folding little gift boxes...tough choice. Especially the box folding, I LOVE mindless tasks like that, put a little music on and fold away. Of all days to complain, I did not understand why this one was such a problem.

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And the guest judge seemed so kind.  I would totally try his restaurant, but if his reservations sell out in 30 seconds I doubt I'd ever get close to having a reservation.

He was so nice and encouraging to all of them. I'm really curious what Egypt's dish tasted like, I was so sure the show was setting up a scenario where he lost a point after being so excited to draw Mexican as his cuisine, that's the usual set up.

I was surprised to see Joe go, although it was increasingly obvious that he wasn't quite loud enough or in control enough to be a head chef. He seems more like a really strong cook, but not the one to lead the group.

[GHScorpiosRule]

10 hours ago, Yeah No said:

Don't shoot me, but I would have had less problem pronouncing Balasubramanian, but then again I worked for someone with the name Subramanian once.

Easier to pronounce a seven syllable name than one with two? 

My point is that Vikas is so easy and the way Gordon and Kyle FUCKED it up is irksome to me.

And im peeved we didn’t get a food demo from Gordon. Or has the long hiatus caused a brain seizure and he did and I don’t remember?

[Red Bridey]

Because Whit is SO IMPORTANT and so ABOVE IT ALL she ( they?) can't be bothered with such petty tasks. Guess what, Whit? You're not all that. A good cook you are, but you are not all that good in the kitchen as part of, or, more importantly, leading the team. Mediocre at best. So shut it and fold the damn boxes with those fat fingers of yours.

[Tango64]

The head-to-head competitions are just pointless now. It's like a contest for second graders where everything is always wonderful and you can never hurt anyone's feelings. They bring in the sweet teacher from down the hall who tells each contestant their dish is just wonderful! and you both get a point! Yaaayyy!

But uh-oh! Now we have a tie. (Never happened before on this show.) I guess we'll have to choose one dish is that is ever so slightly better than the other totally wonderful, flawless dishes. But just by a tiny bit! Really, you're all winners! 

 

[ljenkins782]

13 minutes ago, Tango64 said:

The head-to-head competitions are just pointless now. It's like a contest for second graders where everything is always wonderful and you can never hurt anyone's feelings. They bring in the sweet teacher from down the hall who tells each contestant their dish is just wonderful! and you both get a point! Yaaayyy!

But uh-oh! Now we have a tie. (Never happened before on this show.) I guess we'll have to choose one dish is that is ever so slightly better than the other totally wonderful, flawless dishes. But just by a tiny bit! Really, you're all winners! 

 

I agree to a point, but based on all of the competitions this season, I wonder if this crop of chefs are just stronger cooks overall. There have been fewer outright disasters in the individual competitions, including the signature dish in the very first episode. 

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Also it felt like the last time I watched this show was six months ago.

it did seem like an unreasonably long hiatus.