The twelfth episode of Season 17 of Hell's Kitchen aired on Fox on January 12, 2018. On that episode, the final seven competed in a series of challenges for black jackets, and it featured the elimination of the most explosive contestant in the show's history.
Intro[]
The next day, both teams came downstairs, where Ramsay explained that people who showed off their strong creativity were the ones who rose to the top before introducing them to performers David and Dania. As the pair showcased Dania's speed dressing, Milly asked the latter if she could come show his girlfriend how to change that fast. After, David showed off his skills by changing into a black jacket, and Ramsay confirmed that it was time for that phase of the competition to begin. That excited Michelle as she was the youngest of her season to earn one and wanted to become the youngest All-Star to earn a black jacket. However, only five black jackets were shown, with Ramsay revealing that two of them would be eliminated at the end of that day, causing Nick to realize that the former was not playing around. So, Ramsay announced the Black Jackets Challenge, a series of three challenges designed to have the seven prove why they deserve a black jacket.
Individual challenge 1[]
For the first challenge, Ramsay explained that this one had become a Hell's Kitchen classic, and Elise correctly guessed that it was the Taste It Now Make It Challenge. Milly recalled liking that challenge, despite losing to both Michelle and Nick back in Season 14, but was determined to win the first challenge.
The chefs had 45 minutes to recreate Ramsay's dish by taste alone. The components were a fish protein, two purées, and a multi-ingredient hash. While Robyn was confused about what type of fish it was by taste alone, she believed it was sea bass based on the bloodline, with everybody else using the same protein. For the purées, Nick deemed it a mental mindfuck due to the green and white purées and having multiple options, but decided to go with cauliflower and fava bean. However, Milly was confident that the purées were Romanesco and white asparagus but grabbed cauliflower to trip his team up as he felt they were spying on his work. Benjamin decided to work with cauliflower and edamame for his purée, while Robyn used cauliflower and fava bean for hers. Both Elise and Jennifer used cauliflower and peas for their purées, but Michelle used both green and white asparagus. For the hash component, Elise knew it was do or die, used rutabaga, fava bean, chives for her attempt, and declared that she would turn up the heat for a black jacket. Jennifer decided to use yams, fava beans, and chives knew that she was the only person that never did the challenge before and hoped that the first time was the charm. Nick decided to use celery root, apples, chives, and fava beans, Benjamin used turnips, celery root, apple and fava beans, Milly used only Yukon potatoes, Michelle used rutabaga, celery root, fava beans, and chives, and Robyn used turnips, celery root, and fava beans. Benjamin discovered that his sea bass was too brown at the five-minute mark but hoped it would be good enough, while Jennifer was frantic in plating her dish. Eventually, everybody got their dishes cooked and plated on time.
As Ramsay tasted the dishes, Jennifer was freaking out if her attempt was the best of the seven. Michelle hoped to win that challenge again like in Season 14 despite being alone. Elise struggled to explain her dish, and Nick accused her of being unsure of herself. Then, Ramsay discovered that Benjamin's sea bass was slightly toasted on the top, while Nick commented that Ramsay had a serious poker face after he had his dish judged. After tasting the dishes, Ramsay announced that while everybody got the fish protein correct, only Milly and Michelle got the right white purée, which was white asparagus. However, as Milly got the green purée correct, which was Romanesco, he won the first black jacket of that season. Proud of that, Milly hoped everybody was eating humble pie, especially Nick as the latter nominated him for the Cook For Your Life Challenge and called him one of the weakest three chefs. For the hash, Ramsay revealed that he used sweet potato, fava bean, celery root, apple, and fresh chives and pointed out that both Benjamin and Nick were the closets with four each. However, Nick won the second black jacket as Benjamin's sea bass was slightly overcooked, making the former happy as it solidified what he has been working towards. While Benjamin was disappointed, he knew he was not giving up yet.
For winning the first Black Jackets Challenge, Milly and Nick got to spend the rest of the day in the Black Jackets Lounge, and the latter said that because he fought hard for his jacket, he felt that it would be the best of the best that season. The two arrived at the lounge to find an open bar, massages, and mini-golf, causing Milly to say that he was in heaven.
Scoring[]
| Taste It Now Make It | |
| Chef | Score |
|---|---|
| Benjamin | 2/3 |
| Elise | 1/3 |
| Jennifer | 1/3 |
| Michelle | 1/3 |
| Milly | 2/3 |
| Nick | 2/3 |
| Robyn | 1/3 |
| Results | Milly and Nick |
Individual challenge 2[]
For the second challenge, Ramsay explained that there were five domes with five ingredients each, and at different time intervals, he would ring the bell, reveal the dome, and the chefs would grab the ingredient they wanted for their dish. But with only limited ingredients, Robyn knew that it would get ugly quickly. With 30 minutes of cooking time, Ramsay revealed the first dome as it was protein, and while Elise pushed Michelle for the protein, the latter, who got veal chop, said that she was not here to argue as the former's lobster could bite her in the ass. The second dome contained starches, but Michelle was forced to run to the other side of the pass as her couscous fell during the scuffle. Robyn, who had sea bass and sweet potatoes, wondered how she would create a dish with her first two ingredients. Then, Ramsay revealed the third dome, which was vegetables. While Michelle grabbed leeks, Jennifer, who had chicken, purple potatoes, and broccoli, felt nothing that could wrong with her dish. However, Michelle was struggling in creating a dish with her oddball choice of ingredients. Then, Ramsay unveiled the fourth dome, which contained wildcard ingredients. Elise, who now had lobster, jasmine rice, asparagus, and parmesan cheese, felt that she thrived under pressure and wanted to shine in the black jackets, while Benjamin, who had filet, cauliflower, Swiss chard, and truffles, felt that the challenge was made for him as he was used to making special requests. The fifth and final dome was garnishes, with Michelle grabbing sundried tomatoes after wrestling them from Robyn. Eventually, the chefs got their dishes cooked and plated on time.
Robyn was the first person to have her dish judged, said that she waited five and a half years to get another black jacket, and added that her emotions were starting to hit her. Her pan-seared Chilean sea bass with sweet potato, corn, and Hala hash with honey was deemed a strong effort, but Ramsay was confused about why Robyn would use honey when she already had sweet potatoes. Benjamin's filet mignon with braised Swiss chard and cauliflower, and truffle toppings were praised looking beautiful, and the filet being nailed, with the only nitpick being that the sauce was not reduced enough. Jennifer was the third up, but while her heir-lined chicken with potatoes and broccoli was praised for having a light lemon taste to it, Ramsay criticized the potatoes for being undercooked, dismaying her as she did not taste them before plating them. Then, Michelle's veal chop with couscous and leeks were praised for a great sear on the chop, and while Ramsay questioned the number of spices on the dish, she admitted that it was her first time in the competition where she went crazy with spices and that it would help her win. Elise was the final person up to have her dish judged, was confident that she was the strongest chef on the red team, hoped she could win a black jacket and presented her poached lobster tail with parmesan rice and asparagus. However, Ramsay instantly saw something wrong and showed everybody that Elise forgot to remove the shit sack from the lobster, much to her great dismay. After Ramsay lectured Elise that one bite could destroy the taste of the lobster, he handed her dish back without tasting it, while Benjamin mockingly said boop about her efforts.
After Ramsay announced that Michelle won the third black jacket, she was excited to be the first one from the red team to win one, and she hurried over to the black jackets lounge to meet Milly and Nick as Season 14 reunited. Then, Benjamin was named the fourth chef to receive a black jacket, he knew that winning one showed that he was serious in the competition and met with the other three black jacket chefs. Meanwhile, the three remaining women were sent back to the dorms to await their final challenge, where they all broke down into tears as the weight of there being only one black jacket left started to hit them. Jennifer whispered to Robyn that she had to get a black jacket as they had to beat Elise and refused to see the nice guys finish last anymore, while Robyn tearfully admitted that she respected Jennifer a lot and did not want to go up against the latter. While going back downstairs, Elise refused to go home now as she put a lot on the line for her second chance.
Individual challenge 3[]
After the three women came downstairs, Ramsay said that for their final challenge, they had 30 minutes to cook any dish of their choice, with a wide variety of ingredients in the kitchens. As the challenge began, Jennifer knew she had to focus and cook her ass off, and back at the black lounge, the four black jacket chefs received a live stream of the challenge off the TV. While Michelle was excited to see the action, Nick thinks that Robyn should play it smart as the multiple choices could fuck her up, while Michelle hoped that Elise did not get a black jacket. Meanwhile, Elise was struggling to decide on what dish she would be making, and while she was upset at herself for getting herself into the final challenge, she wanted a black jacket more than anything. Robyn decided to cook a halibut dish with a mango Berblanc and chimichurri sauce, while Jennifer went with corn succotash with pan-seared scallops as it was something she did all the time. Back at the lounge, Michelle noticed that Jennifer looked focused on her dish, while Nick felt that Elise was more confused as she was staring and not cooking, and the four saw that the latter put her potatoes into the blender. Michelle said that they would turn out gummy, and Jennifer said that culinary 101 was out of Elise's brain while being happy that the latter was cracking under pressure. At the 10 minute mark, Robyn decided to scrap the halibut protein in favor of lamb loin as she wanted to be creative, and the four black jacket chefs were surprised by that move, with Nick knowing that it was risky. Then, Elise finally revealed that she was making a pan-seared filet mignon with Swiss rainbow chard, mushroom duxelles, and potato purée before accusing Robyn of not doing anything remarkable and that Jennifer was not a leader. Then, Elise accused the two of being in a clique and said she could do it by herself before asking for more thyme at the 90-second mark, which Robyn mistakenly heard as asking for more time. Back at the lounge, the feed cut off near the end of the challenge, leaving the four in the dark of what happens next, but Benjamin said that he would still beat whoever walk through those doors. Eventually, the three chefs got their dishes cooked and plated on time.
Robyn was the first chef to have her dish judged, was shaking on the inside, and presented her seared lamb loin with potato and corn hash and chimichurri sauce. Ramsay praised the dish for having a refined presentation. He was surprised by how Robyn nailed the sear on the lamb despite switching proteins in the middle of the challenge and being a special he would want. The only complaint was that he would like more potatoes to balance out the corn. That relieved Robyn, and she remarked that switching out proteins was the smartest thing she did all day. Elise noted that it had been a rough day for her and presented her pan-seared filet mignon with potato purée, mushroom duxelles, and rainbow chard. While Ramsay was impressed with the sear, he noticed that the filet was not medium rare like Elise wanted, even though it was still praised for tasting tender and that the potatoes tasted strange. Before Jennifer presented her dish, she recalled how Paul and Will backstabbed her back in Season 9 due to Elise's influence, and wanted to beat the latter very badly. She presented her seared scallops and shrimp with corn succotash, it was praised for the presentation, the taste of the succotash alone, but criticized for having inconsistent searing on both sides of the scallops and having them a little bit undercooked. After, Jennifer knew that she still felt that she was better than Elise despite the critique and that she was a chef compared to the latter, who was just a cook.
Elimination[]
After the judging, Ramsay praised the three for not only putting effort into the three challenges but throughout the competition as All-Stars, and that they should be proud of their accomplishment. However, only one could receive a black jacket, and after the three anxiously awaited Ramsay's decision, he announced that Elise was the first chef eliminated. While Ramsay praised Elise for her passion, he told her that her dish felt short before allowing her to keep her jacket and told her to keep her head up high. During her exit interview, Elise argued that she was better than the three dishes she put up that day, was very disappointed in not getting a black jacket, and felt that the pressure got to her.
After Elise left, Ramsay asked Jennifer and Robyn to bring their dishes up one more time. While Jennifer called it redemption to see Elise go home, she and Robyn were in anxious tears over Ramsay's decision. Robyn deemed the former an amazing cook and that it sucked to go up against a person she respected. After a tough decision, Ramsay asked Sous Chefs Christina and Jocky to help him decide on the winner. After the Sous Chefs tasted the dishes, Ramsay announced that the final person to receive a black jacket was Robyn, meaning that Jennifer was eliminated from the competition. Before leaving, Ramsay praised Jennifer for improving since Season 9, hoped that she could continue her journey, and she told Robyn to win it for them. After hugging Ramsay and the Sous Chefs, Jennifer was allowed to leave with her jacket, and during her exit interview, she admitted that while she did not expect to go home now, she beat Elise, which was a win her books.
After Jennifer left, Robyn received her black jacket and went back to the black jackets lounge to meet the four other chefs. While they were happy to see Robyn in a black jacket, Michelle was happy that Elise was finally gone. Soon after, Ramsay and the Sous Chefs came in with champagne to celebrate their milestones. After Ramsay said how proud he was of their accomplishment, Benjamin knew that things were only going to get tougher now and that it would be a mad dash to the grand prize. Meanwhile, Michelle knew it was every man for itself, and Milly believed he would keep being number one through the rest of the competition.
Ramsay did not comment on either Elise or Jennifer's eliminations, and neither received the burning picture sequence.
Trivia[]
- Title Reference: The title refers to the fact that five of the seven remaining chefs received black jackets. It is also a reference to the Netflix original series "Orange is the new Black".
- The winners of each round, including the final round, bring in similarities to previous seasons:
- Nick and Milly: Both won their black jackets together in Season 14, and both were the first people of that season to win one (alongside fellow contestant Meghan Gill).
- Michelle and Benjamin: Both were on the red team at different points of their first seasons, and both finished third.
- Jennifer, Elise, and Robyn: Both Jennifer and Elise were in Season 9 together. Both Jennifer and Robyn were the first black jacket chefs to be eliminated. Both Elise and Robyn were known to be the most argumentative chefs of their respective seasons.
- Regardless of who moved on, this marks the first time five chefs received black jackets in two different seasons.
- The marks the first time two chefs won black jackets after surviving the Cook For Your Life Challenge.
- Following Elise's and Jennifer's eliminations, Robyn managed to make it further on her second run, becoming the second chef after Jason Zepaltas to accomplish this. She also becomes the first female chef to do so.