“ | Truffle boy's 'bout to party on a yacht, baby! | ” |
Vladheslav "Vlad" Briantsev was a contestant on Season 21 of Hell's Kitchen. He ranked in 10th place.
Season 21[]
Episode 1/2[]
- Main article: Episode 2101 - Let the Battle Begin
- Main article: Episode 2102 - Just Wingin' It
The eighteen new chefs arrived at Los Angeles in two separate limos heading to Hell's Kitchen. During their time in the limo, Vlad expressed how he worked in many fine dining restaurants with Michelin stars. He didn't care if he seemed cocky since he did his homework and was there to win. The limos arrived at Hell's Kitchen, where Marino was waiting for them. When they got out of the limos, he ran into Alyssa, who he knew from Chicago, which left him nervous since he was not there to make friends. Marino greeted the chefs and introduced them to their Sous Chefs Christina and Jason. They explained that there would be obstacles, but you can't let them get in your way. Later, Ramsay was on a monster truck and crashed into a car, shocking the contestants. Ramsay used it as an example of not letting anything get in your way. Ramsay explained like how the limos got them where they wanted to go, he wanted a chef to take him where he wanted to go. Ramsay questioned whether to hire a chef in their 20s or a chef in their 40s and told them that this season would be a battle of the ages. Ramsay told the contestants to separate between a group of 20s and a group of 40s. Ramsay announced the Signature Dish Challenge and gave the chefs 45 minutes to cook their dishes.
During the Signature Dish Challenge, when Ileana was struggling, Vlad tried to help her with her butternut squash since it was a team challenge. He was the fifth person from the red team to have his dish judged by Ramsay and went up against Tara. Before he revealed his dish, Ramsay asked him if he was trying to wow him with truffle since he had a truffle slicer. He presented a bone-in wagyu with lobster, mushrooms, and parsnip purée, finishing with white truffle. Ramsay asked how much he charged for this dish, and he replied $225. Ramsay praised it for being cooked perfectly, having great sear, on-point seasoning, and nice puree. Ramsay stated he would pay $230 for that giving him five points. When he got a five, he felt like he got the win for his team. When Alyssa scored three points, he felt like she needed to step up as he felt like only four and five were good scores. The red team won the challenge after a tiebreaker at 31, and they were rewarded with a dinner cruise with Chef Ramsay. When Ramsay announced the reward, he was happy to go on a yacht.[1]
During the Creative Chicken Wing Challenge, Vlad was one of the top three chefs from the blue team from Sous Chef Christina. He presented his buttermilk-soaked double-drenched cornflake chicken wings. Ramsay deemed it delicious because it was spicy, sweet, hot, and tasty breading. Vlad felt that he knew what he brought to the table and that the technic was there as well as the flavor, and he thought he would get the Punishment Pass. However, he lost the challenge after Cheyenne dethroned him.
During dinner service, Vlad was serving Alejandro's Mediterranean wings in the dining room with Brett. He was not seen much that night and the red team won the service.[2]
Episode 3[]
- Main article: Episode 2103 - Clawing Your Way to the Top
The following morning, Ramsay asked for a volunteer from both teams to skateboard down a half pipe. Vlad volunteered for the red team, but before he could go down, Ramsay stopped him and Mindy as he was joking. During the Whole Lobster Prep Challenge, he was the fourth person from the red team to have his attempt judged and scored. The red team won the challenge 6-5, and they were rewarded with driving European Sports Cars. During the reward, Brett ran through him, and he dropped to last place.
During dinner service, Vlad was at the appetizer station with Alejandro. When the red team was sent to the pantry due to multiple mistakes, Ramsay told him off for standing there in silence. He knew that they would lose if they did not get it together. When Sommer and Ileana bickered at the fish station, he compared the arguing to high school girls bickering despite being on the same team. The red team won the service.
Later that evening, Ramsay called both teams back downstairs and made an announcement. He revealed that come the following morning, the battle of the sexes would resume. So, he, Alejandro, Brett, and Sakari was reassigned to the blue team.[3]
Episode 4[]
- Main article: Episode 2104 - Slipping Down to Hell
During part one of the Creative Sliders Challenge, Vlad revealed that the men's strategy was taking ingredients that would work with their proteins. He grabbed English cucumbers for the salmon sliders. The blue team lost part one, and they were forced to start five minutes after the red team. During the cooking, he and Billy cooked the lamb sliders. When discussing what dish to put up, he did not want to use Billy’s lamb sliders as they might be dry, but the latter thought his presentation was better. Still, the rest of the men voted for his dish. He was the third chef from the blue team to have his dish judged, and he went up against Tara. He made lamb sliders with spinach, but they were criticized for having wet spinach and having no flavor in the patty. He scored two points.
The blue team won the challenge 16-14, and they were rewarded with a trip to Palm Springs, much to Vlad’s excitement. During the reward, he wished they could share it with their loved ones as he began to miss his wife.
During dinner service, Vlad was at the fish station with Alejandro. At one point, he did not respond to Ramsay about his halibut dish, which the latter found rude as he scolded him for not talking with him. Despite that, he got his dish accepted. When the blue team was called to help the red team, he asked for a salmon from the blue kitchen. The blue team won the service.[4]
Episode 5[]
- Main article: Episode 2105 - Breakfast 911
During the Emergency Workers Breakfast Service Challenge Vlad was at the steak station with Alejandro. He was seen walking up the steaks in the blue kitchen, but they were raw, as Ramsay said he wanted mid-rare. Still, he felt Alejandro dropped the ball, as he knew they were better than that. The blue team lost the challenge and was punished by participating in trash sorting day. During the punishment, he called it the worse thing he had ever done.
During dinner service, Vlad was at the meat station with Billy. When Abe struggled with the carbonara, he said that dish was the easiest item on the menu. On entrées, he directed Billy on meat, but the latter thought he knew meat more than he did. He called Billy a ticking time bomb he must control, but as the men walked their entrées, Ramsay saw that they were missing a Wellington. He walked the missing Wellington as Billy accused him of giving him the wrong order, which he did. Billy accused him of burning him as the order went out. Later, he felt confident he could cook meat and bring it home, only to be unresponsive to Sakari’s questions. Sakari felt he was not listening to anyone and did not have a voice. Then, his lamb came out mid-well instead of mid-rare, with Billy feeling that he could not handle meat alone. After having Abe and Brett feel his lamb refire, it was accepted.
The blue team lost the service, and they were asked to nominate three people for elimination. During deliberation, Vlad refused to go up for elimination as he felt Billy was the weakest link. When asked about the Wellington incident, Billy told the men that he gave him the wrong amount, but he felt he would have been more comfortable on meat without Billy. As for the lamb, Billy said he was not involved with them as he was called to fire desserts and told him to own up to his mistakes.
Vlad was the blue team's first nominee for elimination, with Billy as the second and Alejandro as the third. When Ramsay asked Billy what happened to meat, the latter said they were fine until he went to desserts, but he argued against that. Ramsay asked who was responsible for the overcooked lamb, and he said Billy was. Still, Billy claimed that he told him it was okay. During his plea, he said he took the leadership role that night and did not want to leave. He survived elimination. While being dismissed, he wanted to step up and refused to drop the ball any longer.[5]
Episode 6[]
- Main article: Episode 2106 - Til Chef Do Us Part
During the Trenton and Macee Wedding Planning Challenge, Vlad cooked the shrimp pasta with Sakari, they were the third pair from the blue team to have their dishes judged, and they went up against Dafne. He made butter white wine noodles with shrimp and clams. They were criticized for being sloppy, as Macee knew she could not eat it without making a mess. He did not score that round, but the blue team won the challenge 4-2. They were rewarded with a rage room experience at Rage Ground LA and lunch cooked by Suzanne Goin at Cara Cara. When the blue team returned from their reward, he saw the women getting angry from their punishment.
During the Trenton and Macee Wedding service, Vlad was at the garnish station. He was not seen that night, and both teams were named joint losers. They were asked to nominate two each. During deliberation, he said the scallops doomed them from the start and he voted for Billy and Abe.
He was not nominated for elimination.[6]
Episode 7[]
- Main article: Episode 2107 - Wok This Way
During the Dome Challenge, Vlad grabbed tiger shrimp and soba noodles for his dish. He was the fifth chef from the blue team to have his dish judged, and he went up against Tara. He made a tempura shrimp and soba noodle salad. They were juicy and flavorable, and he tied that round with Tara. The blue team lost the challenge 2-4, and they were punished by prepping beets for a beetroot risotto for a special that night.
During dinner service, Vlad was at the fish station. As both teams got their first orders, he did not respond to Ramsay's questions, leading the latter to call him rude. He began to communicate, and Alex said that getting him to speak was to get a baby turtle to come out. Still, he got his scallops out. When Abe struggled with garnish, he could not believe they were slowing down on garnish. Although both teams were named joint winners, Ramsay still asked them to nominate two each. During deliberation, he pointed out that Brett took the lead on meat that night and felt the latter should take responsibility. Then, he pointed out Abe's sluggish performance on garnish.
He was not nominated for elimination.[7]
Episode 8[]
- Main article: Episode 2108 - Game On!
During the Game Meat Challenge, Vlad failed to get figs during the game show portion. During the cooking, he and Brett cooked the venison, but he splattered Sous Chef Jason while blending some ingredients. While he admitted that the ingredients he had would never work, he wanted to ensure they did that day. His dish was not chosen for judging as Brett's dish was deemed better. The blue team lost the challenge 1-2, and they were punished by pitting olives and making two pounds of olive tapenade and pesto.
Because Vlad did not have his dish judged earlier, he was forced to compete in the Cook For Your Life Challenge with Alejandro, Alex, Ileana, and Tara. Hearing that made him nervous on the inside as he might lose his chance at the grand prize. Still, he planned on cooking his best and proving to Ramsay he belonged in the competition. During the cooking, he tried to focus on his dish despite the nerves and decided to add truffles to his dish, refusing to let anything get in his way. He was the final chef to have his dish judged by Ramsay and presented his roasted airline chicken breast with truffle pomme purée, crispy maitakes, and charred Cipollini. Ramsay asked him why he had all his crispy elements sitting under a fat puddle as they left everything soggy. While Ramsay praised the chicken for having a nice cook and the mashed potatoes tasting nice, the former told him that he should have set the mushrooms on top of the chicken. As Ramsay struggled to make a decision, he wondered if he was going home as being the final man standing sucked. In the end, Ramsay deemed his dish better than Ileana's, and he was the final chef sent back to the dorms. As he returned, he began tearing up as he fought for his life and succeeded.[8]
Episode 9[]
- Main article: Episode 2109 - Putting the Carne in Carnival
Vlad returned to the dorms and was given a big hug by the men.
Before the Creative Steak Challenge, Vlad said goodbye to Brett as the latter was reassigned to the red team. During part one, he faced off against Tara in the rib cap round, and they played whack-a-mole. He whacked with two hands and lost to Tara 28-31, meaning he started cooking five minutes after her. During part two, he decided to make an Oscar Meyer steak in the blue kitchen and was confident because he was a Sous Chef at a steakhouse. He was the second chef from the blue team to have his dish judged by Ramsay, and he made a lump crab and Hollandaise rib cap. Although it had a bland puree, Ramsay liked the seasoning and cooking on the steak. He scored over Tara. The blue team lost the challenge 2-3, and they were punished by cleaning the dorms and prepping vegetables for Steak Night. That frustrated him as he scored a point and felt he did not deserve the punishment.
During the Steak Night dinner service, Vlad was at the meat station. He tested the steaks for a temperature check and gave Alejandro the okay to walk his salmon, only for the latter to serve raw fish. Ramsay showed it to the blue team and revealed that the ribeye was also undercooked. He got the refire accepted, and on the following order, he felt confident as he used a cake tester to feel the warmness. When the entrées were sent up, Ramsay dragged the blue team into the back pantry room and showed that the filets were cold. Ramsay deemed it a joke and warned the blue team to get a grip or leave. He felt embarrassed and compared his situation to sinking like Jack at the end of the Titanic. He had Alex help him on the steaks, even though Abe felt he should know what he was doing. Still, the refires were accepted. Both teams were named joint losers, and they were asked to nominate two each. During deliberation, Vlad knew he would be a nominee as everyone on the blue team agreed it was not their best service. Alex nominated him for elimination, which Abe and Sakari agreed with.
Vlad was the blue team's first nominee for elimination, with Alejandro as the second. They joined Brett and Tara from the red team. During his plea, he felt he was adapting and at the top despite letting the meat station get the best of him. He was eliminated for his poor performance on meat and poor use of a cake tester. He felt he stayed true to himself during his plea and said the cake tester bit him.
Ramsay's comment: "It's called cake tester for a reason. It tests cakes, not steaks. Vlad, that was bad."[9]
Episode 15/16[]
- Main article: Episode 2115 - A Finale for the Ages, Part 1
- Main article: Episode 2116 - A Finale for the Ages, Part 2
Vlad was one of the seven chefs that returned for the final dinner service. He watched the Final Menu Challenge with the others. He was Dafne's third pick for her team, after Sommer and Sakari, and was followed by Abe.[10] Back at the dorms, he believed that Dafne's menu was better, but Alex reminded him that he got three perfect tens over the latter.
During dinner service, Vlad was at the fish station. When the red team got to entrées, he said that truffle boy would bring Dafne the win and got his halibut accepted. Dafne eventually lost the finale to Alex.[11]
Nomination History[]
Week 1 | Safe |
---|---|
Win | |
Week 2 | Win |
Week 3 | Win |
Week 4 | Nominated |
Week 5 | Safe |
Week 6 | Win |
Week 7 | Nominated |
Week 8 | Nominated |
Trivia[]
- He and Alyssa are the third pair of contestants that knew each other before coming to the show, following Gizzy and Scotley (both from Season 18), and Adam and Amber (both from Season 19).
- He is the sixteenth male contestant who switched teams without making it to the black jackets, following Robert (Season 6), Scott (Season 7), Anton (Season 12), Frank, Sterling (both from Season 13), Hassan, Chad (both from Season 15), Matt, Andrew (both from Season 16), Josh (Season 17), Kevin, Trev (both from Season 18), Payton, Sam, and Antonio (all from Season 20).
- He is the eighth contestant, fifth male, and fifth non-returning chef to score a perfect 5 in the Signature Dish Challenge without making it to Black Jackets, following Van, Elise (both from Season 17), Kevin, Gizzy (both from Season 18), Marc (Season 19), Morgana, and Sam (both from Season 20).
Quotes[]
- (About the first reward) "Truffle boy's 'bout to party on a yacht, baby!"
- ”Stress levels are high right now because Billy is on my station.”
- (About going to Palm Springs in a reward) "Blue team's going to Palm Springs, baby!"
- (After being eliminated) "You know I'm walking out of this competition with my head held high. I brought my style, you know. I stayed true to myself. The cake tester, you know, definitely was my fault. I've done it before, and it worked out. And today, you know, it bit me in the ass.
Gallery[]
External links[]
- Vlad Briantsev on Instagram
- COOKING WITH VLAD on YouTube
References[]
Hell's Kitchen: Battle of the Ages |
---|
Staff |
Gordon Ramsay (Head Chef) • Jay Santos (Blue Team Sous Chef) • Christina Wilson (Red Team Sous Chef) • Marino Monferrato (Maître d'hôtel) |
Contestants |
40-Somethings |
Alex Belew • Tara Ciannella • Nicole Gomez • Zeus Gordiany • Mindy Livengood • O'Shay Lolley • Abe Sanchez • Charlene Sherman • Billy Trudsoe |
20-Somethings |
Brett Binninger-Schwartz • Vlad Briantsev • Ileana D'Silva • Dafne Mejia • Alejandro Najar • Cheyenne Nichols • Alyssa Osinga • Sommer Sellers • Sakari Smithwick |