Elimination the Great Equalizer

Elimination the Great Equalizer: Jen Leaves Right behind the One She Insulted Earlier by Roxanne McDonald

Jen Yemola goes the way of the one she had so regarded her inferior.

Remember when Jen repeatedly noted how Julia was “just” a fry cook? Uh-huh. Well, she may have gotten a kind word

from Ramsay, but Jen got no cooking school support as she too got the boot.

Not that I begrudge any talent the pleasures and privileges of winning, but I am only human and that cruel better-than ego had to get a knock back from or into reality.

And not that making hasty generalizations will do any of us any good, but did you, too, note how like a couple of other reality competitions (such as “Sheer Genius”), the winner of a morning challenge has gotten the send-off by the next night?

Jen, Bonnie, and Rock met with the challenge to come up with a gourmet remake (also a déjà vu moment, as “Top Chef” uses this particular challenge, too) of a comfort food [Chef Ramsay’s is displayed by Mum Rams: mac and cheese], which would be judged by some VERY SPECIAL guests—while we are pret-ty sure it will be either the former cheftestants or family members, they later find out…, their own mums!

Jen drew the fried chicken card and turned it (the dish concept, not the card) into fried chicken roulade stuffed with spinach, goat cheese, and crab.

Rock drew spaghetti and meatballs and turned out a trio of pastas: chorizo, pork, and veal spaghetti dishes.

Bonnie had drawn the franks and beans card, took what appeared to be one fifth of time deciding on an appropriate revamp, and ended up creating instead of recreating, I suppose, an “Italian version” with leek sauce and bruschetta?

The Mums are here and everyone’s crying in response—well, except for Rock, who will save his rare breakdown for later.

The moms of course are blind-tasting, not knowing whose is whose, but the comments are promising as Rock’s mom is nodding favorably, Jen’s mom is saying “Very good…,” and Bonnie’s mom is describing the food as “delicious”.

We can’t hear and they can’t hear the votes, but of course, and learn soon enough that all three mums chose Jen’s as the favorite.

For Jen this means her being there is not a joke.

Who said it was? Did she feel this way the whole time? Now that’s sad.

Jen gets to have lunch with the mothers and the man, while Bonnie and Rock are punished with the task of cleaning the dorm. Rock isn’t too flipped out about this, and is more irritated by the effusive yakking Bonnie.

Assertiveness training is next on the agenda, for Ramsay wants a right blimey [or maybe that’s slimy, I can’t hear] bitch on the line tonight.

He trains the three, and is seemingly impressed with the results—even with all the vented pent-up rage he knows Rock has….

Because they have all done a fine job of shrieking and/or insulting, Hell’s Kitchen is ready for dinner business.

This is where the teacher gets to test the students…without their realizing it or without their knowing he has done a sabotage set-up for each:

Jen fails to identify the sabotaged spaghetti—a crab pasta with no crab in it.

Rock adeptly identifies the missing ham/prosciutto on the monk fish dish [say THAT ten times].

Bonnie’s test seems to just flop all apart altogether, something with undercooked or overcooked risotto but there isn’t anymore so they all make more, Chef Ramsay just conceding to the disaster [oddly, without barking].

To the final three post-service, Chef R. announces that that was the best ever in the history of Hell’s Kitchen. Then again, he adds, it was good, but not perfect. [Of course not: somebody has to have enough of an Achilles’ Heel showing that he can fire him or her].

They are told to return to dorms and consider their justifications, their reasoned defense, for deserving to stay.

Jen tells us she BELONGS there, reiterating her sense of entitlement as if she has learned nothing: she adds how she has worked hard, as has Rock, both of whom she says live at their jobs.

Bonnie’s reasoning falls along the lines of her still being there, still standing, and how she has gotten better.

Rock doesn’t tell us anything relevant to earning or deserving a final two spot—you know, telling us the dream would mean so much to family thing—but does have great clarity and rationale when it’s time to speak to the one who matters here 9for, after all, WE aint the ones voting).

Ramsey does the sufficient pause thing and then, in a cold and cruel manner, says, “Rock…, you’ve got to go…, into the finals!” THAT’s when you see tears. Poor kid.

And then, after expressing how extremely difficult this is/was, he tells Jen she has to go. He takes her by the shoulders, though, and tells her not to dare being ashamed, for she has drive and talent and should never stop.

One more surprise: Rock’s wife and Bonnie’s parents. Rock whispers to his wife that he wonders if they will grant him a conjugal; and Bonnie cries to her dad that she doesn’t think she is going to be a teacher anymore. [Well, thank God for that, really.]

And the final two have beat “just” a fry cook and several sous chefs, chefs, line cooks, and other hopefuls to go head to head for the restaurant of their dreams.

Rock’s dreams, anyway. Not sure, can’t remember, what Bonnie’s true longing was/is or will be.

SirLinksAlot Hell’s Kitchen links

No Comments »

No comments yet.

Leave a comment

You must be logged in to post a comment.