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« Hell's Kitchen
Episode Recap: The Final Showdown (Part 1)
After opening with the brutally long (almost 10 minutes!) season recap, the final showdown got underway. Not that I didn't enjoy looking back on the events of this year, but it seemed like they could have edited the package a little quicker. I was shocked by how many of these people I had already forgotten about, so the opening did its job I suppose, for better or worse.
For the final challenge, the two chefs are given the task of creating their dream restaurant, picking everything from the menu and décor all the way down to the uniforms of the wait staff. Create own dream restaurant. Petrozza, as usual, got very emotional during his time of reflecting on how far he's come, while Christina seemed rather arrogant. Perhaps that arrogance was based on the fact that she knew exactly what she wanted on her menu, while Petrozza sat scratching his head, eating potato chips and ultimately going to be without finalizing his plans.
The following morning both chefs met with the designer to plan the look of their restaurant and JP to pick their waiters uniforms. Again, Petrozza and Christina were polar opposites. Petrozza cannot articulate his menu to the designer for ideas, while Christina knows exactly what she wants. Christina wants to keep everything simple, while Petrozza wants flowers everywhere (which Christina hates) in complicated arrangements. Finally, Christina hates all of the wait staff uniform choices, particularly the one that features a chef's jacket, which, naturally, is Petrozza's first choice. Overall, Christina is playing to simplicity, while Petrozza is making matter complicated, perhaps over thinking and overdoing everything.
Then Gordon calls the chefs up to his office to address his concerns about perhaps not having the right finalists. This leads to a cliff-hanger commercial break, and wouldn't you know it, my DVR flipped out on me. The next clip I could get to play is Christina and Petrozza stepping out of the limo in Times Square. (Someone, please fill me in on what I missed in the rest of the office meeting!)
Even so, once in New York, the chefs were greeted with their name in the Times Square lights and also learned that they would each be receiving a weeklong trip to Dubai. (Though Christina is going to need a map to get there!) Then the gang gets a tour of Chef Ramsay's London New York, and meets Josh Emmett, the executive chef who will be overseeing them when the London in West Hollywood opens.
While in the kitchen, they are given their chef's jackets for the final showdown, as well as the orders for their final challenge. Each chef has to prepare their signature dish from the menu and serve it to Gordon's executive chefs from each of his five restaurants. Petrozza makes a filet mignon with onion risotto and an onion paintbrush (?!) garnish. Christina serves an aged New York strip steak with a sweet corn succotash. Again, Christina is pretty cocky, mostly based on the fact that she's keeping it simple and flavorful while Petrozza is getting a little fancier, but perhaps unfocused.
As if it could happen any other way, the judging panel is split, with Mark Sargeant and Angela Hartnett picking Petrozza's dish (despite his paintbrush!) and Stuart Gillies and Simone Zanoni picking Christina's. (My biggest laugh of the evening came from Petrozza calling Simone a ding dong because he never served risotto as a side dish!) But the deciding vote came down to Josh Emmett, who ultimately decided that the risotto made Petrozza's dish the winner, earning Petrozza the chance to pick first when building his kitchen team.
Christina (whose arrogance was now showing shades of Jen) claimed she was not worried because her menu is better that Petrozza's. And then Whoopi Goldberg walked out?!? (Her appearance seemed pointless, and since I've yet to make a connection as to why she showed up — aside from being a "fan" of Hell's Kitchen — I will address it no further.)When the chefs got back to Hell's Kitchen, again, the two chefs were completely different. Petrozza was thrilled with his dining room, while Christina complained about the white window treatments and the striped wallpaper that shepicked out. (Ugh. Even though I was already putting my support in Petrozza's corner, I'm definitely rooting for him now.)
So the time comes to introduce the recently eliminated chefs who will cook on the final two's teams. Ben comes in running his mouth reminding me why I wasn't as sad to see him go as I would have been in week two. And Jen was matching him step for step. Matt didn't do anything completely ridiculous, but there's always hope for next week! Because he won the challenge in New York, Petrozza picked first and selected Bobby. He's not a terrible choice, but it opened up the door for Christina to get her No. 1 choice in Corey. I suppose Petrozza having someone he trusts by his side is a positive thing. With Corey already spoken for, Petrozza picks Ben and Christina snatches up Louross. At this point, I feel like Petrozza is picking with his heart rather than his head and perhaps handing Christina a better team in the process.
So it all comes down to Matt and Jen. Petrozza understands the gravity of the choice, weighing the difference between having Matt who will whine all day and potentially have a meltdown versus Jen who doesn't take orders very well. (Especially since she confessed to only being there to make Chef Ramsay second guess his decision to send her home). So Petrozza chose…
We’ll find out next week in the season finale! I really wish they had just done one show and wrapped up this season already, but I'll be back with the results again following the final episode. So who are you pulling for? Who do you think Petrozza will choose to be the final member on his team? Share your thoughts and check back next week for more.
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Jul 1, 2008 11:08 PM
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I hope Petrozza wins. I'm sick of Christina's lispy baby talk and arrogance.
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Jul 2, 2008 6:42 AM
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I think Petrozza is more mature, has more experience and is more collected in the kitchen. That being said, he is, as Chef Ramsay says, a slob in the kitchen, a big no-no. Christina has some good ideas and a LOT of growing up to do. Plus, she's Ramsay's pet--but the hissy fit she threw when she saw the kitchen she designed made me want Petrozza to win all the way. Christina needs to learn that there's no place for Prima Donnas when you work for Gordon Ramsay--even though the five chefs who judged the competition were REALLY arrogant. I wanted to slap 'em.
As as been since about week 3, I want Petrozza to win. Let's hope he and Ben get along and that he picks poor, benign Matty over Jen--she is too self-ambitious, too volatile, and too mouthy.
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Jul 2, 2008 8:52 AM
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Basically the rest of the office meeting was him saying, Now I know I picked the right two finalists!! I couldn't see it any other way...along those lines. And then Christina was like Chef don't do that Petrozza is old he could have had a heart attack. Then, he told them to pack their bags cause they were going to New York like right then and there. Then ran upstairs packed and took a private jet to NYC.On the jet, Petrozza was downing champagne like he hadn't had it in a while but no one seemed to notice. And Christina showed more of her cockiness. Then they basically showed them riding in the limo over the bridge towards Times Square looking at the skyline
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Jul 2, 2008 9:01 AM
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I'm having a lot of trouble figuring out this last part. Where did Christina come from to earn the chef's pet award? I am sure in my own heart that Ramsey's gone a bit lovesick, and he isn't being as fair as he should. When he was introducing the food to his chief's this episode, he always added a little extra to his discription of Christina's dish, as usual, and that has her thinking she's queen of the world. Does she have what it takes to make snap decisions and to accept what is even if it's not her choice? I agree; she's become very arrogant just lately as Ramsey has heaped praise on her head. How about Corey? She's been very consistent and didn't deserve what she got.
That's my story and I'm stickin' to it!
nosher
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Jul 2, 2008 9:13 AM
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At first I was really impressed with Christina and how she really worked hard and put a lot of thought into her menu, and the design of her restraunt. But as the show went on, the cockier she got and I was just turned off by then. When the last judge was tasting her and Petrozza's dishes, the looks she was giving that judge were straight out of Corey's book. I was thrilled that Petrozza won the challenge just to take Christina down a peg or two. I'm really pulling for Petrozza now, but since GR is so into Christina, it may be an uphill battle.
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Jul 2, 2008 9:43 AM
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i don't mean to be rude, but i have been meaning to comment on your blog the whole season and never got around to it. let me start by saying i visit these blogs daily because i enjoy reading them. i enjoy getting other people's perspectives and opinions on the shows i enjoy so much. that being said, your blog never gives anything more than a recap. if i wanted a straight recap of what happened last night, i'd go to the networks website. i watch the show. i'm coming here to discuss the show and hear your thoughts. yet, i spend a few minutes reading what feels like an entire transcript of what i just watched the night before! it would be much more enjoyable if i could read your opinions and thoughts on it, rather than your commentary.
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Jul 2, 2008 9:54 AM
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I believe the final challenge is semi-rigged. I think that Gordon instructs the 1st 4 judges to make sure it's tied 2-2 leaving the decision up to the final judge.
The final judge usually has is the most directly involved with the job that the winner gets. The winner of HK is working for the final judge.
Season 1: The final challenge was served to random people on the street.
Season 2: No final challenge
Season 3: 7 judges. Last 3 were the 2 owners of Green Valley and the Executive Chef. Final Vote: 4-3
Season 4: 5 judges. Last judge will oversee London - West Hollywood. Final Vote: 3-2.
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Jul 2, 2008 10:01 AM
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I'm with darklakduke above here and some of the other commenters about Petrozza, I think he should, and possibly will be, the winner. I think the reason Gordon chose Christina as the finalist is maybe because he's thinking about Petrozza over her. He did this in last year's season when he picked a female and male as the final two (I forgot the names, but he liked the girl, as well, like he does with Christine. Last year's final 2, the girl was also a blond - so that tells you a lot about Gordon's taste in women!) but the male won. So, this season seems like a repeat of last year's, choosing a male and female finalist, and then the male wins. I bet Petrozza will come out the winner over Christine; she is too arrogant and too cocky, and she does need more experience in being able to "be the boss" of her employees. Petrozza has that experience, but he does seem chided by Christine's cockiness. I was pulling for her 3 episodes ago, but now seeing her the last 2 (and I missed this last one, though!) I am more for Petrozza than Christine.
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Jul 2, 2008 11:09 AM
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I don't understand how Christina's decisiveness and confidence immediately translate into being "cocky". Yes, she won 9 challenges, whereas, Petrozza won nothing. He came in a close 2nd a couple times. Of course she is going to be confident in her abilities at this stage. Petrozza hemming and hawing over potato chips and going to bed without a menu just shows how insecure he is in his own abilities and decisions. I'm still rooting for Christina.
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Jul 2, 2008 11:34 AM
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Don't confuse confidence with arrogance.
Jen and Bobby were arrogant.
Christina is confident. She believes in her menu and herself, without over hyping herself the way Bobby and Jen did.
I think Christina misspoke. I think she wanted the wall color to be the color of the chocolate stripe, not striped. That's what she changed it to as well.
Whoopie just made, perhaps, the most useless, pointless, and needless cameo EVER.
I think when they have the 5 judges compare the 2 dishes, that they should do it in a sort of modified "Throwdown with Bobby Flay" style. Have each dish labeled (A & B or 1 & 2) and then have the judges write down their choice on a card, and then all five turn their cards over at the same time. This way there isn't any picking the winner based on anything other than taste.
I think Petrozza is a very good, kind soul. I can't see him working in, much less running a high end restaurant. This may be why he's a caterer, not a restaurateur. I think Christina has proven that she has what it takes, and I do believe that she'll win. Funny how this show and Next Food Network Star both have young, blonde recent culinary students who are serious contenders to win it all.
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Jul 2, 2008 12:24 PM
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After this episode I want Petrozza to win. Christina was just so cocky/snotty. Jeez you aren't that great. Definitely Jen alike. Ramsey looked hot as usual.
Go Petrozza!
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Jul 2, 2008 2:56 PM
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What a dilemma. I don't think either one of them deserves to win, but they're the final two remaining. So I'm sticking with Petrozza. Messy, indecisive, consistently 2nd best Petrozza.
Gotta agree with Sweetone and Ðarclyte that the taste test should have been blind. When an orchestra or choir is auditioning a potential new member, the prospect performs from behind a screen. The judges here (and in the earlier taste test with the expectant mothers) should have had no idea which contestant prepared which dish.
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Jul 2, 2008 4:26 PM
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I didn't make it past the ten minute recap. Thanks for filling me in.
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Jul 2, 2008 4:51 PM
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Also, remember that the producers encourage the contestants to talk smack in their one on one interviews. Petrozza has been pretty decent about it for the most part, and Christina mostly hammered Jen's bad attitude. Neither have been as nasty as Jen who knew that sound bites = screen time.
At the end of the day, I still think Christina is confident in herself and of her menu, her record setting wins is testament her abilities. I still don't see her remarks as arrogant or cocky, just self assured...as enhanced by the production of HK.
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Jul 2, 2008 11:13 PM
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