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King of The Hill Challenge

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The King of The Hill Challenge is a recurring challenge in Hell's Kitchen.

Overview[]

For this challenge, Ramsay asks the chefs to cook their own dishes, and the chef with the best dish would be placed in the winner's chair, though he or she could be removed from the chair if the following person's dish would be better. The chef left on the chair at the end is named the winner, but if used as a team challenge, the last chef wins it for their team.

History[]

Season 9[]

Episode 11 of Season 9 marked the first time this challenge happened, when 7 chefs were remaining, 3 in the red team, 4 in the blue team. For that year, each chef had to spin a giant slots machine, which not only revealed what their ingredients were, but what ethnic country they were cooking. Tommy got the chair first but was dethroned by Elizabeth, who beat out Natalie. However, Paul dethroned Elizabeth, only to be dethroned by Elise, who in turn was dethroned by Will. Finally, Jennifer dethroned Will, and the red team won the challenge. They were rewarded with a day at Venice beach and got to ride inside a giant zorb bubble, while the blue team prepped both kitchens for that night's service.[1]

Season 11[]

In episode 14, the challenge happened when 7 chefs were remaining, 4 on the red team, 3 on the blue team. However, Ramsay made it an individual challenge. The chefs had 45 minutes to create a dish of their choice, with Ramsay being the judge. Ja'Nel got the chair first and beat out Anthony and Susan, but was dethroned by Jon with his dish. Jon would later beat out Mary, Zach, and Cyndi earning him the win. His reward was immunity for the next service.[2][3]

Season 12[]

In episode 12, the challenge happened when 10 chefs were remaining, 5 on both teams, and used the team variant. The chefs had to gather 5 ingredients from a dark grocery store, and use it in their dish. After Gabriel was barred from taking the seat due to his terrible dish, Scott got the chair first. However, Sandra dethroned him, only to be dethroned by Anton, and then he was dethroned by Rochelle. Rochelle was able to outlast everybody else, she won it for the blue team, and they were rewarded with a day at Le Spa, while the red team took in deliveries.[4]

Season 14[]

In episode 12, the challenge happened when 7 chefs were remaining, 4 on the red team, 3 on the blue team, and used the team variant. This time, Ramsay had each chef cook a cut of steak that they had to grab from a locker. T was the first one up on the chair and beat out Milly and Josh, but Meghan dethroned her out and beat out Alison and Nick. However, Michelle was able to dethrone Meghan at the last minute and win it for the red team. The red team went to Catalina Island with a submarine ride, a three-course dinner, and received Vitamix blenders. The blue team had to break down 250 pounds of beef for the next dinner service.[5]

Season 16[]

In episode 14, the challenge happened when 5 chefs were remaining. It was also the first black jacket challenge of the season. That time, Ramsay gave the chefs three ingredients, chicken, potatoes, and smoked bacon, and had them play cards to collect their remaining ingredients until each chef had six ingredients. Then, the chefs had 30 minutes to cook their dishes. Kimberly was the first one on the chair, but she was soon beat out by Paulie. Then, Paulie beat out Heidi and Ryan but was dethroned by Heather at the last minute. Heather won the challenge, and was rewarded with an overnight trip to Las Vegas, got to stay in the Presidential Suite at The Venetian hotel, and chose to bring Heidi with her. The remaining chefs were forced to separate garbage.[6]

Season 17[]

In episode 13, the challenge happened when 5 chefs were remaining. It was also the first black jacket challenge of the season. That time, Ramsay had the chefs teach sports All-Stars to cook the original signature dishes they planned on cooking at the start of the season. Each pair had 45 minutes to cook their dishes and Ramsay would then judge the dish. The best dish would be then seated in the winner circle, but a better dish could overthrow them during the challenge. Nick's celery root purée, peppercorn crusted scallops got the chair first but lost out to Robyn's scallops with uni sauce. While Milly's sea bass in three ways managed to beat out Robyn, he lost out to Michelle's sea bass with pasta. Michelle managed to beat out Benjamin's smoked lamb loin and roasted cauliflower and won the challenge. She was rewarded with a helicopter tour of Los Angeles and ate at the 71 Above with Nick as her take along. The remaining chefs had to participate in deep cleaning day.[7]

Season 19[]

In episode 13, the challenge happened when 5 chefs were remaining. It was also the first black jacket challenge of the season. That time, Ramsay gave the chefs 40 minutes to cook a dish using ingredients from five different domes. For the judging, Michael Cimarusti came in to help Ramsay. The best dish would be then seated in the winners seat, but a better dish could overthrow them during the challenge. Declan got the chair first, and stayed over Amber, but was dethroned by Mary Lou. Afterwards, Mary Lou lasted over Cody and Kori, therefore wining the challenge. She was rewarded with driving luxury sports cars, lunch at the Palm Las Vegas with the Sous Chefs, and an All-Clad cooking set. Mary Lou picked Kori to join her on the reward, leading the others to participate in recycling day.[8]

Season 21[]

In episode 13, the challenge happened when 5 chefs were remaining. It was also the first black jacket challenge of the season. For that year, Ramsay gave the chefs 45 minutes to cook a dish using ingredients from five different American cities. For the judging, Michael Cimarusti came in to help Ramsay. The best dish would be then seated in the first class airplane seat, but a better dish could overthrow them during the challenge. Alex got the chair first, and stayed over Alejandro, but was dethroned by Sommer. However, Cheyenne dethroned Sommer, and the former managed to win after lasting over Dafne. Cheyenne won an off-road trip through the Los Angeles canyons and a complete OXO cooking set. She brought Sommer to come with her on the reward, leaving the others to take in peppercorns, separate them by hand, grind them, and prep pistachios for that night’s services.[9]

Season 22[]

In episode 14, the challenge happened when 4 chefs were remaining. The chefs had two minutes to run a circuit and gather ingredients to put in their shopping carts. But at the end of the circuit, Ramsay revealed that the chefs were cooking with ingredients that the other chef collected for them. Ryan got Sammi's cart, Sammi got Johnathan's cart, Johnathan got Carmen's cart, and Carmen got Ryan's cart. Afterwards, the chefs had 45 minutes to cook their dishes. Sammi got the chair first and stayed over Ryan, but was dethroned by Carmen. However, Johnathan won the challenge after dethroning Carmen. His reward was hosting a pop up event at the Sunseeker Resort in Charlotte Harbor, Florida, with two round-trip tickets and a jet ski experience. Johnathan brought Ryan for the jet ski reward, leaving the others to prep coconuts for the following service.[10]

Trivia[]

  • This is the first challenge that happened during the team phase of the competition where the chefs competed individually.
  • This is one of the few challenges that happened during both the team phase of the competition and the individual one.
  • Seasons 17 and 19 are the only seasons that used aspects from another challenge.
  • Michelle (Seasons 14 and 17) is the only contestant to win this challenge in two different seasons. She is also the only contestant to win the challenge in both the team format and the individual format, as well as the only one who had the best dish overall in both formats.[4][6]
  • In the team format, the red team won this challenge the most with two seasons.[1][4]
  • In the individual format, a female won this challenge the most with three seasons.[5][6][7][8]

Gallery[]

References[]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 (August 22, 2011). "Episode 911 - 7 Chefs Compete". Hell's Kitchen (U.S. TV series). Season 9. Episode 11.
  2. ↑ (May 30, 2013). "Episode 1114 - 7 Chefs Compete Part 1". Hell's Kitchen (U.S. TV series). Season 11. Episode 14.
  3. ↑ (June 6, 2013). "Episode 1115 - 7 Chefs Compete Part 2". Hell's Kitchen (U.S. TV series). Season 11. Episode 15.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 (May 29, 2014). "Episode 1212 - 10 Chefs Again". Hell's Kitchen (U.S. TV series). Season 12. Episode 12.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 (May 19, 2015). "Episode 1412 - 7 Chefs Compete". Hell's Kitchen (U.S. TV series). Season 14. Episode 12.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 (January 19, 2017). "Episode 1614 - Playing Your Cards Right". Hell's Kitchen (U.S. TV series). Season 16. Episode 14.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 (January 19, 2018). "Episode 1713 - Stars Heating Up Hell". Hell's Kitchen (U.S. TV series). Season 17. Episode 13.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 (December 3, 2020). "Episode 1913 - It's Time!". Hell's Kitchen (U.S. TV series). Season 19. Episode 13.
  9. ↑ (January 26, 2023). "Episode 2113 - The Fab Five Take Flight". Hell's Kitchen (U.S. TV series). Season 21. Episode 13.
  10. ↑ (January 18, 2024). "Episode 2214 - Don't Be Fooled". Season 22. Episode 14.
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 • 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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