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Hell's Kitchen 4 Finale Part One

Posted on 07/02/2008 by RealityWanted in Hells Kitchen

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Hells Kitchen

by Arthur Perkins
 
Some call it episode 14 and others the HK4 Finale part 1. Either way, it started with a lengthy review of each prior episode and why a specific chef was eliminated. Then Petrozza and Christina went to the HK4 dining room to start discussions with the John Janus about decor. Each talks about their preferences, which for Christina is various shades of brown and for Petrozza involves greens and flowers. The designers from what test panels Christina chose to consider infer that she likes stripes. Then Jean-Philippe presents the wait staff in different outfits. Christina does not like any of them and asks for simple black-on-black. Petrozza is mellow and selects one of the ones offered, one with bright colors. Christina and Petrozza finalize their menus, of which we the audience only saw small pieces. I expect to get a full menu debriefing last week.
 
Next Ramsay gives them a scare. He tells them that he is unsure of whether he chose the right finalists. After a pregnant pause, he went on to say that he is now sure based on the menus and the finalists' approach to the décor and wait staff. In my words, he thinks they are both perfectionists like him! I might agree with that statement applied to Christina but not with it applied to Petrozza. I think Petrozza is the underdog here and will have to really concentrate and focus if he wants to win. His laid back style is not going to take him to the London Hollywood West except as a customer. It it service start time minus 32 hours, so if you were planning how the chefs should prepare for the upcoming event you would probably have them focusing and refining. Not Gordon Ramsay! He has them flying 3000 miles with himself on a private jet, having a culinary competition there, and returning. Ramsay reviews past exploits of both on the plane, particularly Petrozza being resurrected from quitting by Bobby. He also states that Christina has won a total of 9 challenges, which is a Hell's Kitchen record. Will she be able to get #10 or will Petrozza win his first challenge? The three of them take a limo to Times Square, where one of the huge displays welcomes Petrozza and Christina to New York City. Ramsay states that both of them will get the opportunity to visit his restaurant in Dubai for 5 days (once this competition is over).  The task is to prepare your "signature dish" for unspecified judges (although you know that a majority of them are going to be people who will follow Ramsay's rules of drama).  Now, I was disappointed to find out that Petrozza's signature dish is now filet mignon instead of "hen in the pumpkin." His more complete meal involves caramelized onion risotto and red wine/balsamic vinegar sauce. Christina's is strip steak with a special butter, fingerling potatoes and succotash (apparently substituting Brussels sprouts for the lima beans I am use to).
 
So, who are the judges? According to Ramsay among the five best palates in the world(I'm sure he would reserve the top spot for himself). The executive chefs from his restaurants in London and New York and Boca Raton are the judges. Let me say that I expected Ramsay's rules of drama would be invoked (they always are with challenges), so that in this situation it means that judges in a specific position in the order are choreographed to accomplish a specific end result regardless of what the food actually tastes like. All make comments on the food, but after the first two judges you know exactly how the last 3 will vote. So I expected that Petrozza would win, that the score would be 3 to 2, that it be get there as a result of a tie created after the next-to-last judge and that the deciding ballot be cast by the individual with the most at stake in the final outcome of HK4. Let's "watch what happens".

1. First up is Mark Sergeant from the Gordon Ramsay - Claridges restaurant in London. He votes Petrozza.
2. Second is Angela Hartnett from the Cielo restaurant in Boca Raton FL. She votes Petrozza.
3. Third is Stuart Gillies from the Boxwood Café in London. He votes Christina.
4. Fourth is Stuart Zanoni, from the Gordon Ramsay - Au Trianon in Versailles France. He votes Christina.
5. Last is the host for the event, Josh Emmett, the Executive chef of the London New York restaurant and also the person who will supervise the Executive Chef of the London Hollywood West restaurant (and therefore either Petroza's or Christina's future boss). He votes Petrozza, who wins 3-2.
 
Petrozza states that he "really needed that" for his confidence and energy. I must add that I am not sure the extent to which Ramsay's rules of drama are his choosing or perhaps they are imposed by the FOX network, which is infamous for its reality shows. Then onstage comes Whoopi Goldberg, introduced as a really big fan of Hell's Kitchen to congratulate Petrozza and Christina. Ramsay gives Petrozza as a reward the crucial pick of the first, third and fifth helpers, which means Christina is stuck with the sixth. Who will they be? You can count on Jen being one, so that sixth pick may be forced, with Christina having to choose Jen when her real choice would want to be just about anyone else.
 
When they return, the first order of business is to inspect the décor. Petrozza is happy with his. Christina hates the stripes that the designer used and prevails on him to change it to panels of two contrasting shades of brown. Now we come to the most crucial part of the pre-event preparations, the choice of the helpers. On stage come Bobby, Ben, Corey, Matt, Louross and Jen. The first 4 picks go as expected. Petrozza picks Bobby(I might have chosen Corey, but Bobby will not harm him). Christina picks Corey as expected. Petrozza stays loyal and picks Ben. Christina picks Louross. We are now down to the crucial last choice. should Petrozza pick Jen, who has talent but is poor on teamwork, or pick Matt who he hates as a human being? The show ends, leaving this decision for the beginning of Finale, part 2 or episode 15.
 
I know what I would do. Petrozza is the underdog and has to go all out. Even though there is much risk associated with Jen, I think he should pick her for her demonstrated culinary talent much higher than Matt's. In other words, he should "go for broke."
 

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