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Presentation Challenge

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The Presentation Challenge is a recurring challenge in Hell's Kitchen.

Overview[]

Mostly done during the individual format, Ramsay challenges the chefs to create a dish that not only tasted good but looked good as well. Judging is based on both taste and presentation, and the winner is determined by both factors. When used during the team format, the team with the most points at the end would win.

History[]

Season 6[]

Episode 12 had it when 5 chefs were remaining, and it was the first time the challenge was done. For that year, Ramsay gave the chefs 45 minutes to cook any dish of their choosing, and for the presentation judging, some of Bon Appétit’s staff members were invited. Afterwards, both Ariel's prosciutto-wrapped John Dory and Kevin's Caribbean sea bass with orange and papaya were deemed the best looking and were chosen for tasting. However, after the tasting, Ramsay deemed both of them joint-winners. Ariel and Kevin won a Bon Appétit photoshoot with Ramsay and Editor-in-Chief Barbara Fairchild at Shutters on the Beach in Santa Monica, while the remaining chefs had to clean up a street Hell’s Kitchen adopted in garbage crew jumpsuits and rode on a prison bus.[1]

Season 7[]

On Episode 11, the challenge happened when 6 chefs were remaining and was the first black jacket challenge. The same rules from last season were applied, and the chefs had 30 minutes to cook. For judging on presentation alone, a food photographer took photos of the dishes, with the judging handled by culinary students. Both Ed's pan-seared striped bass and Benjamin's pan-seared halibut were deemed the best looking, but the latter won the tasting round, earning him the win. Benjamin won a photoshoot for Epicurious and a makeover, while the remaining chefs cleaned the dining room under Jean-Philippe's supervision.[2]

Season 8[]

On Episode 11, the challenge happened when 6 chefs were remaining and was the first black jacket challenge. That year featured a change to the rules where a panel of five judges would rate the chef's dishes on both presentation and taste on a 1-10 scale each, with the maximum points being 100. Also, the chefs had to make five portions of an amuse-bouche dish of their choosing in 30 minutes. Russel's Hamachi Crudo with apple celery broth won the challenge with a perfect 100 and won a VIP tour of the LA Market by Kerry Simon, and lunch with him and Ramsay. He was allowed to bring Gail with him, while the remaining chef had to clean up the dorms, and prep for the next service.[3]

Season 9[]

On Episode 13, the challenge happened when 5 chefs were remaining and was the first black jackets challenge. It kept the changes from Season 8, and for that year, the chefs had 50 minutes to cook a dish that normally did not look appetizing. Will won the challenge with a score of 87 and was rewarded with a dining tour in Los Angeles driven in a Rolls Royce. He was allowed to bring Elise with him, while the remaining chefs had to do laundry day the old fashion way, by hand.[4]

Season 11[]

On Episode 11, the challenge happened for the first time during the team format. It happened when 10 chefs were remaining, 5 on each. To collect their ingredients, Susan and Anthony collected for their respective teams in a vacuum air chamber, and each chef had to cook with a maximum of five ingredients in 45 minutes. Jennifer Garcia from People's Magazine came to guest judge, and she and Ramsay looked at the dishes to decide three chefs from each team to taste. Each dish was scored 50 points between Garcia and Ramsay, with a maximum total of 100. The blue team was represented by Jon, Anthony, and Zach, and the red team was represented by Ja'Nel, Cyndi, and Mary. Jon scored 92, Ja'Nel scored 89, Anthony scored 82, Cyndi scored 90, Zach scored 83, and Mary scored 90. The red team won the challenge 269-257, and they won a photoshoot for Star watch and received Vitamix blenders. Also, Mary's dish was chosen to be featured in People's Magazine. The blue team was forced to clean the dorms, and Zach and Jon had to deliver champagne to the red team by tricycles.[5]

Season 13[]

On Episode 13, the challenge happened when 6 chefs were remaining and was the first black jackets challenge. It returned to the rules used back in Seasons 6 and 7, and for that year, the chefs had 45 minutes to cook a steak dish of their choosing. After Bruce and Todd Simon from Omaha Steaks looked at the steaks, only Roe, Santos, and Sade was called up for tasting. In the end, Roe's ribeye and petit filet with Swiss chard won out, and she was rewarded with a spokesperson deal with Omaha Steaks, a photoshoot featuring her challenge-winning dish, a $1000 shopping spree at Surface for kitchen supplies, and her dish being featured in the following service. The remaining chefs had to clean both kitchens, take in deliveries of 200-pound beef shoulders, break it down, and portion it.[6]

Season 20[]

On Episode 13, the challenge happened when 5 chefs were remaining and was the first black jackets challenge. The chefs had 45 minutes to cook their dishes. Ludo Lefebvre came in as a guest judge and he and Ramsay judged each dish on a one to five scale, ten being the total. Additional, Ramsay took photos of the final five's dishes and posted them on his Instagram account, using his followers to help decide the winner. In the end, Trenton's scallops scored a perfect 15 and he won the challenge. Trenton won a private VIP tour of Hell’s Kitchen from Season 17 winner Michelle Tribble and a meatball master class at Rao’s restaurant. He brought Steve along with him, and the two also received an Oxo coffee kit. The remaining chefs had to separate peppercorn.[7]

Season 21[]

On Episode 14, the challenge happened when there were four chefs remaining. The chefs had 45 minutes to cook seafood inspired dishes. Gerrad Hall of Entertainment Weekly came in to guest judge. Dafne's ocean-inspired dish with polenta, clams, and lobster was deemed the best and she won the challenge. Dafne had her dish featured in Entertainment Weekly, a two-top lunch at Republique and a $5,000 shopping spree at American Rags. She picked Alex to join her, leaving the remaining chefs to churn butter for the compound butter.[8]

Season 22[]

On Episode 13, the challenge happened when there were six chef remaining and it was the first black jacket challenge. The chefs had 45 minutes to cook their dishes. Kevin Meehan came in as a guest judge and he and Ramsay judged each dish on a one to ten scale, twenty being the total. Additional, Ramsay took photos of the final five's dishes and posted them on his social media account, using his followers to help decide the winner. In the end, Leigh's pan-seared scallops and noodles in a Thai coconut broth scored 27 points and she won the challenge. Leigh won a day at the Muscle Lab in Pasadena and a high tea ceremony at Langham Huntington. She brought Carmen with her, and the two received a complete Spiceology set. The remaining chefs prepped almonds for the lamb.[9]

Trivia[]

  • Except for Season 6, this was the first Black Jackets challenge used in the seasons mentioned.
  • A male has won this challenge the most with four seasons.[1][2][3][4][7]
  • This is one of the few challenges to produce a tie.[1]
  • This is one of the few challenges to be used during the team format and the individual format.

Gallery[]

References[]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 (September 29, 2009). "Episode 612 - 5 Chefs Compete". Hell's Kitchen (U.S. TV series). Season 6. Episode 12.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 (July 20, 2010). "Episode 711 - 6 Chefs Compete". Hell's Kitchen (U.S. TV series). Season 7. Episode 11.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 (November 17, 2010). "Episode 811 - 6 Chefs Compete". Hell's Kitchen (U.S. TV series). Season 8. Episode 11.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 (September 5, 2011). "Episode 913 - 5 Chefs Compete". Hell's Kitchen (U.S. TV series). Season 9. Episode 13.
  5. ↑ (May 13, 2013). "Episode 1111 - 10 Chefs Compete". Hell's Kitchen (U.S. TV series). Season 11. Episode 11.
  6. ↑ (December 10, 2014). "Episode 1313 - 6 Chefs Compete". Hell's Kitchen (U.S. TV series). Season 13. Episode 13.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 (September 6, 2021). "Episode 2013 - Young Guns: Social Media in Hell". Hell's Kitchen (U.S. TV series). Season 20. Episode 13.
  8. ↑ (February 2, 2023). "Episode 2114 - Lights, Camera, Sabotage!". Hell's Kitchen (U.S. TV series). Season 21. Episode 14.
  9. ↑ (January 11, 2024). "Episode 2213 - HellishHangover". Season 22. Episode 13.
Recurring Challenges
Team Challenges
Attention to Detail Challenge • Blind Taste Test • Burger Challenge • Consistency Challenge • Exotic Meat Challenge • Farm Animal Challenge • Head to Head Challenge • Ingredient Spelling Challenge • Jacket Challenge • Last Chef Standing Challenge • Meal Course Challenge • Multi-Way Cooking Challenge • Pasta Making Challenge • Pizza Challenge • Potato Challenge • Protein Cut Challenge • Protein Identification Challenge • Ranking Challenge • Relay Challenge • Service Challenge • Special Events Planning Challenge
Individual Challenges
Black Jackets Challenge • Cook For Your Life Challenge • Final Signature Dish Challenge • Final Tasting Challenge • Menu Addition Challenge • Portions Challenge • Tableside Challenge
Individual/Team Challenges
Alcohol Challenge • American Classics Challenge • Budget Challenge • Cooking Method Challenge • Cooking School Challenge • Craps Challenge • Creative Dessert Challenge • Creative Steak Challenge • Dome Challenge • Flambé Challenge • Foreign Cuisine Challenge • Fusion Cuisine Challenge • Holiday Dish Challenge • Ingredient Number Challenge • King of The Hill Challenge • Leftovers Challenge • One Time Challenges • Presentation Challenge • Seafood Challenge • Signature Dish Challenge • Taste It Now Make It Challenge
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