Hell's Kitchen: Head Chefs Only might’ve just made its most controversial elimination yet

It had been three weeks, but Hell’s Kitchen: Head Chefs Only returned to FOX with the 11th episode, “A Soap Opera in Hell.” The episode itself evoked mixed emotions, especially regarding the elimination. Just a reminder: This is a spoiler warning, so I suggest you watch the episode before you read this piece. Let’s discuss the double elimination, which seemed a bit controversial for those who have seen it.

The new episode featured a charity night dinner service, which means each chef was responsible for serving a different course on a different team. The Red Team cooked for the American Heart Association, while the Blue Team cooked for the Special Olympics Connecticut Chapter. Egypt and Amanda were on the first course with potato gnocchi. However, Egypt decided to also work on the gnocchi, leaving Kyle and Joe to start working on the second course early.

At the same time, Amanda was once again quiet while trying to address her team on what she needed, leading to inconsistent gnocchi. When it was Ann Marie and Joe’s turn to do the second course, which featured scallops, Joe made the crucial mistake of seasoning them too early, which you aren’t supposed to do until they are in the pan.

Ann Marie and Joe had trouble controlling their teams; however, when Ramsay told Ann Marie the scallops were burnt, she seemed to talk back to Ramsay, asking, “How are they burnt, Chef?” Kyle delivered the best course with no issues on the third course with the red snapper, while Whit’s leadership was a tiny bit off course. On the fourth course with filet mignon, while Hannah could execute her course well, despite the team’s weird plating, Brandon caused a fire on the filet mignon course due to boiling water being near the hot pans filled with oil, as well as having Joe ask about where to put the sauce in the middle of plating.

After the dinner service, Kyle and Hannah were named the best of the worst and asked for two nominees. Egypt and Joe were nominated, as well as Amanda and Ann Marie for the Red.

Before I move on, let me address the nomination count quickly. So far, this is Amanda’s second time nominated and Ann Marie’s fifth time nominated. Egypt has been nominated thrice until now, and this would be Joe’s first nomination. After each of them explained what happened, Ramsay chose to eliminate Ann Marie due to the lack of communication on her course and the talkback she had earlier, for which she apologized.

However, Ramsay wasn’t done and decided to eliminate Joe for being inconsistent in the past few services. The problem with this elimination is that it seems unfair to send Joe home when this is his first time being put up. Amanda caused Britany to be eliminated in the last episode, and Egypt has been put up three times now and has still survived. I also want to point out that Whit wasn’t nominated due to her recent attitude. Six are left, and the Black Jacket challenges will begin next Thursday.