- Previously on "food stars"...
I give you my most intense challenge so far,
Pitching live on qvc.
- This challenge is all about sales skills,
Connecting with the audience while showcasing product.
- The demo did not make you look like an expert at all.
- [bleep] - a producer's supposed
To be over their presenters.
The red team's downfall was because of not one
But two of you.
Tony, aaron,
I will not be investing in you.
We're done.
Tonight...
- Vegas! - Yeah!
- Final four!
- I need to see that you're capable
Of developing a new vegas business model,
A sensational culinary circus.
This is their last chance to prove
That they deserve a spot in the finale.
- Yeah! - Every time I come
To las vegas, I win.
And this is not gonna be any different.
- Go big. [cheering]
Because if you can't, you're going home.
- [bleep]
[plane descending]
[epic music]
♪ ♪
- I've invited the top four to meet me in a city
That is essential to my business empire,
Las vegas.
Here everything is larger than life.
So if they want to make it into the finale,
This is where they need to give it their all
And pull off an absolute showstopping performance.
- Whoo! - Vegas!
- Yeah! - Final four!
- Cheers to that! - There you go.
- Look at that sign.
- Whoo! - "food stars."
- I am so close to winning gordon's investment.
It's mine for the taking.
I just have to stay calm and not get flustered.
- I really want to make it to the finale.
I'm really excited to be in the final four.
The light's at the end of the tunnel.
I'm gonna win this competition.
- Whoo! - Look at how cool that is.
- I'm feeling excited, nervous.
I'm gonna put 100% into everything that I do.
I feel confident.
- Oh, gosh, you guys.
- What the hell?
- I am in the final four, so I am on top of the world.
And I'm going all the way.
Whatever we have to do, I'm gonna win it.
- Whoo!
Oh, my god, they're not even using a trampoline.
[laughs]
- Yeah.
[screams] - oh, my.
- [giggles] - I don't know
What gordon has in store for us.
I don't know what to expect.
- Oh, my god.
Whoa!
[cheers and applause]
[laughter]
- Come on.
Make your way down. How cool was that?
- That was awesome. - It was amazing.
- Top four. How are we feeling?
- Whoo! - Great.
- Excited. - Excited.
- Welcome to the stunning home
Of absinthe, one of the top shows in las vegas.
To stay ahead in business, you must constantly evolve.
And I've got this brilliant idea
To merge high-end cuisine from my restaurants right here
With the first-class entertainment
That vegas is known for.
- Wow.
- For your next challenge,
I need to see that you're capable of developing
A new vegas business model,
A sensational culinary circus.
- Okay.
- You'll each need to select a course
That are provided from my hell's kitchen restaurant.
You'll then pair and integrate the course
With one of the acts that I've chosen
From absinthe's award-winning show.
- Very cool.
- I've invited an esteemed panel
Of las vegas celebrities to join me here tomorrow night,
Where they will watch the premiere
Of this amazing culinary circus.
This week there's only one team,
But you're all on it.
- Okay. - But you have to shine
As individuals.
- Cool. - You've got 15 years
Of my vegas reputation on the line,
So think smart and communicate clearly.
Remember, it's vegas.
Don't play it safe. Go big.
Because if you can't, you're going home.
- Mm. - All of you,
The very best of luck.
Now enjoy the show.
- Okay. - Thank you.
- Ooh.
That's so cool.
- This culinary circus could be totally revolutionary.
The contestants need to involve their acts
As much as possible and integrate the food
Into the performance if they want to win this challenge.
There's never been a more perfect challenge,
Especially with the final four.
[upbeat music]
I've chosen four acts from absinthe's show...
- Whoa!
- That my semifinalists can work alongside
To incorporate my dishes into the acts.
- Chris definitely has not seen anything like this before.
[laughs]
- Juggling's going to be entertaining.
It looked amazing.
They looked strong.
And it captivated my attention.
- Whoo!
- Come on, how could you not love the sway poles?
The girls are super pretty.
And then when they were leaning and going all over the place--
[cheering]
- Oh, no, no, no. - Oh!
- When I first watched the sword swallowing,
I had difficult swallowing.
So how are people gonna eat their food
While watching this?
It just doesn't make sense in my head.
- That was incredible.
- Show over... - Oh, my god!
- Ah, I can't believe what I just saw in there.
- The contestants now need to choose the best performer
To integrate with each course...
- Ooh, what do we have here?
- All right. - All right, here we go.
- From my neighboring hell's kitchen restaurant.
- Ooh. - Wow.
So cool. - That is so sexy.
- I've given them a choice of a cocktail...
- That is good.
- Appetizer...
- Beef tartare.
- Main course...
- All right, a rib eye.
- Or dessert...
- Salted peanut decadence.
- That they will need to showcase
In my culinary circus.
- All right, who wants to take on which course?
- Can I take dessert?
- What were you thinking about?
- I think my idea for the dessert
With the sway girls is kind of like
This naughty and nice kind of feel,
Like, delicious and sweet.
You know what I mean?
What I really want to do is close the act,
Because I truly feel that's what people will
Walk away remembering.
- I had an idea for the girl who swallows the knives.
- Yeah, that was so scary. - I was thinking maybe like,
The steak, like, maybe sliced and delivered
On different knives.
- Okay.
- I just want to show how she's a powerful woman.
It's death-defying.
It's shocking.
- I like the drink.
- If it's possible, I'd like to do that one.
- Okay. - You want that?
- I kind of have, like, an idea
For the green fairy and the boxes.
She would come down... - With one.
- Okay.
- She'd open it up, give them their drinks.
And then she would be... - I like that.
- Very seductive in drinking the drinks
As she's doing all that.
- Ashley, do you feel
Comfortable doing the appetizers?
- How could we fit an appetizer into an act?
- I feel like if you did the steak tartare,
The jugglers, and they're juggling all the components,
And, like, they're throwing it to one of the jugglers.
- I think that could work.
- Yeah, we can have them juggling the eggs.
- Juggling the eggs. - Okay.
I was given the beef tartare.
I'm not sure what really goes into it,
But no one else wanted to take the appetizer route.
In business, you need to be able to pivot,
So why not bring it on this one?
It's the semifinals.
- Choices made, the team need to meet their performers...
- So I was thinking the knives, right--
- And explain their vision for tomorrow's meal.
- And then there's, like, some sort of bloody moment.
- Uh-- - dark.
- I never want anyone to think that I'm...
- Dying. - Gonna hurt myself.
- So what I'm thinking is, when you come down,
You could be carrying this box with you.
- It is pretty heavy.
- Do you have anything that... - [laughing]
- I could work with? - You know,
What I usually do is I take off my clothes.
- Ah, [bleep].
- Juggling ideas for her appetizer...
- So here's what I'm thinking. - Ashley.
- So caroline's gonna be on this side.
Lan will be over here.
Lan will be feeding you
The items that we'll be juggling.
So we have a total of six things we're juggling.
So the spoons are what we are going to use
To scoop the beef onto the plate.
Okay, we can assemble the dishes over here.
- When they're juggling the spoons...
- Uh-huh? - We're scooping the meat?
- Yes, yes. - Okay.
- Okay? And then after that,
We will do the eggs.
So the point of it is,
As we are assembling these...
- Yeah, this will do it. - So it's gonna go--
[dishes resonate] - oh, my god, I love that.
[tense music]
Okay, this isn't my challenge, but--
I want to help wherever they need me.
If they want any of my ideas,
I'm here with them.
If they don't...
- How do you guys feel about these?
- Oh, no, those are gonna unravel.
Maybe don't do that.
- Caroline keeps butting in
On ashley's rehearsal.
Mind your own business.
♪ ♪
[upbeat music]
- This week I've invited
My four semifinalists to las vegas...
- Okay, great. Here we go.
- For a chance to win my investment
Of a $1/4 million.
- How do these feel to you guys?
- I've asked my contestants to work together as a team
To create a meal to remember that will have its launch
In front of vegas royalty tomorrow.
- Ooh, yes, I love it.
- Earlier, I left my contestants
To choose an act...
- They'll have the skewer, and you say,
"the one you have is the same one I have here."
- To combine with a dish from my hell's kitchen restaurant.
- Ladies and gentlemen, the main course.
- Rehearsing for the opening of the show...
- So what I need from you three,
Just support making the drinks.
- Chris.
- Because I'm gonna do the intro.
- Okay. - And I'm kind of
In the performance with her.
When I harness her up and she goes up,
That's when the drinks should start getting made.
She'll come-- - or maybe even the box
Is waiting for her down here.
- Caroline has ideas for this person
And that person and this person.
Focus on your segment.
- She lands. - She lands.
- We're in. - Yeah.
- Great. - And they'd better be smoky,
And we're off--because we're gonna set the tone.
- Okay.
♪ ♪
- As my reputation's on the line...
- I'm gonna hand you the box, you're gonna walk up.
- I've come to check in
To watch a rehearsal ahead of tomorrow.
- So lights are gonna be off. Spotlight's on here.
- Got you. - I'll come onstage.
Welcome.
I wasn't expecting you so soon.
- Short and sweet, punchy.
- Short? - No drivel.
- I introduce you to the green fairy.
She'll come down.
- Hello, everyone.
- Let us know it's a cocktail.
It's the beginning of the experience.
- Yep. - Really important.
- A magical drink. - Lovely.
- Take a sip. Go on a journey.
- Got ya.
Green fairy comes down.
The rest of the team moving.
Anything? Anything? - Yep, they're coming here.
- Okay, great. - She's bringing the first box.
- Gotcha.
- Smoke's gonna come out.
We're gonna pull out the drinks,
And she's gonna sprinkle with magical fairy dust.
- Nice. - Take a sip,
And your journey begins.
- Yeah. I don't know, I mean,
Can you involve the team more?
- It's still a competition. But, you know,
We still have to work together as a team,
Which is hard because we want to beat each other.
- Not overcomplicating it, but I think we can be
A little bit more theatrical, sell it.
Yes?
- Welcome to vegas.
This will be an event that you will remember
For the rest of your lives.
- Next up with the appetizer...
- Without further ado... - Ashley.
- Put your eyes to the front.
Okay.
Ta-da.
- Um, two seconds. Sorry.
You guys juggle for an act, right?
All: Yeah. - So would you not
Just toss that?
And then, bang, we're off. - Yeah.
- Take advantage of how good these guys are.
- All right. - Right.
[tense music]
- Ready.
Catching position.
- One.
Two.
Three.
- Yay! [applause]
- There you go. - Okay
- Uh, love the performance.
Thought you guys did great.
But it felt like caroline's course
As opposed to yours.
That's all I'm saying. - Okay.
- I know little miss perfect pants here wants
To do everything, but it's your course.
Own it.
- Hearing gordon say that caroline seemed
To be taking charge of my appetizer
Was a little off-putting.
[suspenseful music]
- How do we plate this?
- Once they're done juggling the spoons...
- Yes. - We're scooping out the beef,
Putting it onto the plate. - Good.
- And it's a step-by-step process.
So we have a total of six things we're juggling.
- Right, personally, I'd get this done quicker,
But, performance, props, make it dynamic.
- Understood.
- We'll try to make this as fast as possible.
- Plating up the main course...
- I think I'm gonna be talking this time
While you guys are plating things.
- Caroline.
Think where we are. - Okay.
- Remember, the performance is key.
Here we go. - Okay.
My team is in place. Yep.
- So chris is serving them like that?
- So it'll be served like that. - Okay.
- Ladies and gentlemen, it's time for the main course.
Welcome ms. Heather.
- Excellent.
- Ooh.
- Oh, [bleep]. - Ugh.
- Oh, [bleep].
- I was just--ugh. Ah.
It's amazing and concerning that she can do that.
I think she needs to go get checked out by her doctor.
- [clapping] bravo, bravo. - That is incredible.
This is a good one, but there's a lot of missing pieces.
But use your team.
I said, each and every one you, use your team.
- Okay, absolutely. - Shine as individuals,
Come together as a team.
- The team is not as helpful to me as I was to them.
I came up with a good idea
For every single one of my teammates,
And nobody came up with a single one for me.
- See if you can grab this one.
- Delivering the dessert...
- Ooh, perfect.
- Lan.
- And then come down. - Oh, my god.
- And squeeze caramel right there.
- Squeeze! - Yeah!
[applause and laughter]
- Wow. - The last piece is going to be
The glitter, and you're just gonna sprinkle it on top.
- [squeals] - yep.
[laughter]
Amazing.
- Okay. - Yeah.
- That looks amazing, lan.
How are you feeling with that?
- I feel good. - Yeah.
You need to own that bit at the end,
Because the team aren't really involved that much,
Because obviously there's so much going on up in the air.
And, yeah, I mean, let's go out with a high.
I think we know we've all got some adjustments to make.
- Yes. - In your minds,
Piece those four performances together now.
Chris, big opening.
- I really, really need to step up my game.
And it makes me very nervous.
- Love the idea with the tartare.
Ashley, just remember, use those jugglers
To really impress as much as you can.
- I have a lot of planning to do.
And I just have to juggle everything
And make it all come together.
- And then onto the rib eye,
Just get punchy with delivery.
- I'm not going to sleep tonight, there's no way.
I'm just gonna be timing this out in my head.
- Lan, like any good meal,
You always remembered that last course.
Yeah? - Yeah.
I have to, have to go big.
And I cannot play it safe.
I think that ultimately is something
That gordon's going to recognize.
- Okay, wow factor, right?
- Yep. - See you later.
- All right, let's do this.
- This challenge is all about
Blazing the trail in a new market.
But I'm worried it doesn't feel grand enough.
And if I'm gonna invest in someone,
I need to know that they can think ahead.
This is vegas. Go big or go home.
♪ ♪
[upbeat music]
- It's another morning in las vegas.
And the contestants have been
Hard at work throughout the night,
Planning their culinary circus experience.
Later today, they will premiere their show
In front of my table of vegas vips.
This is their last chance to prove
That they deserve a spot in the finale.
With only three hours before my guests arrive
For the show...
- Hi, guys. - How are you?
- Beautiful green fairy.
- The teams have enough time
To do a final walkthrough with their acts.
- While she's being harnessed up,
I want you two in the back preparing the drinks,
Getting them smoked up.
The important thing is having the drinks ready,
Because if we get stuck up on those drinks,
There's just gonna be awkward silence.
Let's get ready.
I'm really working hard right now to make this work.
I'm bringing dry ice into the situation.
I'm just hoping that the girls can get
The drinks out on time.
Get it together.
- Welcome to my house.
I conjured these drinks especially for you.
- When she says that, bring them up.
If the timing works, everything's golden.
Open the box.
If the timing doesn't work,
Then I've got to come up with something
To eat up time while things are moving along.
- Rehearsing her appetizer act...
- Ready, guys? We're gonna win.
- Ashley. [soft laughter]
- Okay, so I was up all night planning this.
I want to make sure that everything's done.
- Okay. - Okay.
- So all the eggs are hard-boiled.
Today, my plan is a little different from yesterday.
I wanted to make sure that the meal was put together
With only a few things that we needed to add to it.
Oop.
- Mm-hmm.
- All right, guys,
I feel great about the rehearsal.
I know it's going to be a smashing success.
And I have to win this challenge.
- Next up, caroline.
- I have one of these for all of you.
Ashley, it looks like a lot, but it's not.
Okay, here we go.
First sword goes in.
When I say, "you must be full by now,"
Chris brings the skewers to the diners.
Chris, you're gonna do it right--
- Yeah, when you say, "your appetite is insatiable,
We're going to have to fix that"?
- Yes. Okay?
- I wasn't surprised that I was handed a script,
But there was just too much.
So we will see how that goes.
- Do you guys feel good?
Everybody knows what they're doing?
- Mm-hmm. - Pretty straightforward.
- Yep. - Yeah.
[tense music]
- Finally, lan.
♪ ♪
- Okay, first thing is the crumble.
And then I want the glitter all at the same time,
So I want you guys to synchronize that.
Everything moves so fast in showbiz, right?
And then clap, everybody, clap.
For my own sake, I don't want to give
Caroline and ashley and chris all of these steps in my skit,
Because ultimately, my success lies within their success.
Yep. - Yep.
- And we'll just say thank you,
We'll have a couple of words, and that's it.
- Okay.
That was wild.
- Yeah. - Yeah.
- It just takes a lot of practice.
- Let's set the tone early,
Because then that'll just get us in a rhythm
For the rest of the performance.
All right? - Yeah.
- All right. - Here we go.
- Let's go.
- Well, let's just pray
That everything goes okay. - [chuckles]
♪ ♪
- Dress rehearsal complete,
I've invited some of las vegas' finest
To help me judge the team's culinary circus.
Ross mollison, ceo of absinthe
And spiegelworld's impresario extraordinaire,
Las vegas raiders president, sandra douglass morgan,
Superstar dj and entrepreneur, martin garrix,
Former mayor of las vegas, jan jones blackhurst,
Hell's kitchen's agm, manny ramirez,
And mr. Las vegas himself,
Wayne newton.
Welcome, everybody.
Thank you so much for coming to an exclusive,
First of a kind culinary circus experience.
Now, my contestants have had the last 24 hours
To put together this extraordinary show.
And honestly, I'm so excited for you to be the first
To witness this and to see what they've got in store.
So without further ado,
Let the show commence.
[dramatic music]
♪ ♪
- Oh!
You're here so soon.
- [chuckles]
- Welcome to dinner.
Get ready for a fun-filled night.
Let's kick it off with a magical whisky libation
That brings fortune and luck.
- Wow.
- To delicious pleasure
And a feast for your eyes.
- But first, I present
The enchanted green fairy.
- [vocalizes]
Hello, everyone. [chuckles]
[vocalizing]
Thank you.
- The enchanted fairy, I present to you.
[applause]
- Oh, hi.
- [bleep]
- Today we have cocktails
That we made especially for you.
♪ ♪
- They're enchanted.
So many elements to this.
♪ ♪
- Oh, my god.
We need them.
Smoke or no?
♪ ♪
- Welcome to the esteemed panel.
♪ ♪
[suspenseful music]
- Las vegas, nevada.
- Welcome to dinner.
- I've invited las vegas royalty
To an exclusive presentation of my culinary circus...
[applause]
Presented by my semifinalists.
- Welcome to the esteemed panel.
- Opening up the show, chris and his act,
The green fairy.
- Today we have cocktails.
- But there's a problem with the drinks.
- Had we known you were going to be here,
We would have brought additional fairy dust.
[laughter]
A charming potion is what I offer you.
Here we go.
- Thank you.
[jazzy music]
- Magical cocktails for our esteemed guests.
- It's always exciting when you get the scent first, right?
- Isn't it? It smells good.
- A little extra magic.
- Sip. Enjoy.
Your journey begins.
Onto the next course!
- [laughs] - cheers.
- Cheers. - To vegas, manny.
- Cheers. - [chuckles]
- Ten seconds too slow with the cocktails.
- As, uh, wayne will tell you,
Timing in live entertainment is everything.
- Yes.
- It's down to the split second.
- He got everyone's attention.
I was looking left and right at the table.
Everyone's fixated on what he was saying.
- I like the energy. Like, he's the star
Of the show, brought good energy,
And it was strong. - Yeah.
- The girls didn't bring the drinks on time,
So it didn't work out the way that we rehearsed it.
But ultimately, I think it worked out.
- Next up, ashley.
The appetizer is going to be a beef tartare,
So this should be exciting.
Lots of layers to this.
- Nice.
- Here we go.
- Hello.
Come one, come all
To the most appetizing juggling act of them all.
In this performance the heat will rise
As we prepare your beef tartare
Not only to tempt your taste buds,
But to mesmerize your eyes.
[applause]
And there you go.
[jazzy music playing]
[applause]
Now may I please have a volunteer?
These are the quail eggs
That will be on top of your appetizer.
- Oh, goodness. - Ready?
- Yeah. [indistinct chatter]
[laughter]
- Ohh.
- I can't wait to see how all these ingredients
Are going to be in the dish.
[soft laughter]
- Good job.
- Bravo.
Hm.
- All right, thank you so much.
We appreciate it.
You guys did a fantastic job.
And I know we're gonna bring home the win.
[tense music]
I've been preparing for this performance
For hours overnight.
And then in the blink of an eye,
Like that, it was done.
That's the world of show business.
- I'm trying to think of how they incorporate
The juggling and the food, because there's nothing
That came out of the act onto the plate, was there?
- A tartare is kind of a theatrical act
In a restaurant... - Mixing.
- Because they'll mix it at the table--
- That's a good point, yeah.
Tartare is one of the most-- - it is.
It lends itself to that.
♪ ♪
- Hungry for the next course, it's caroline with the mains.
- Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to your main course.
This next act is not for the squeamish.
It's extremely dangerous.
Whatever you do,
Do not try this at home.
[applause]
Oh, my goodness. Heather, no.
What are you thinking?
Oh! Oh, no!
[gasps] oh, my god!
[soft laughter]
[gasps]
[indistinct chatter and laughter]
Heather!
She has done it, ladies and gentlemen.
Bravo! Bravo!
Well, tell me, darling, you must be full by now.
What? This is insane.
I swear, this one,
You just cannot fill this girl up.
[suspenseful music]
♪ ♪
My goodness.
♪ ♪
All right, ladies and gentlemen.
- She's not gonna do that. - As you can see,
Ms. Heather has the same exact skewer
That you have on your plates.
Get ready.
Here she goes.
[gasps]
My goodness, heather!
[gasps] she has done it, ladies and gentlemen.
Bravo.
Enjoy the rest of your meal.
I hope you're still hungry.
- Uh, pretty incredible.
No? - Crazy.
- Man, what happened with the timing?
[dramatic music]
Everybody knew that the steaks needed
To be out by the second act.
- Take that up with chris.
I was not responsible for steaks.
- Chris, honestly, what the hell?
What happened?
The steaks needed to be out immediately.
♪ ♪
What the [bleep]?
- This is the challenge that gets people into the finale.
And now, right before lan's segment,
You're gonna start a fight backstage?
- Can we talk about this afterwards?
- Unprofessional.
♪ ♪
[dramatic music]
- My final four contestants
Are at caesars palace, las vegas,
Presenting their culinary circus to my esteemed guests
In the hope of getting a chance to win
My investment of $250,000.
- I'm devastated. - It was fine.
- Trying to figure out what went wrong
With her mains, caroline.
- Just--I just didn't understand.
I thought we had it down.
- The cue was "insatiable," right?
- I just said get them there
Before the second sword has been swallowed.
I told him 1,000 times, just make sure
The steaks are on the plates by the second act.
So I'm just really [bleep] upset right now.
- The note that you gave me--
- We went over this stuff 10 times.
It's fine, it's fine. - All right.
Let's just go. Let's focus on lan.
- Putting aside the argument you just heard,
What do you think about caroline?
- She had my attention from-- as soon as she hit the stage.
- They captured the feeling of the show perfect.
- Yeah.
♪ ♪
- For the final course, dishing out the dessert, lan.
This is it, final act.
- You cannot do vegas without a little naughty and nice.
Feast your eyes on a dessert round
That's bound to get your taste buds twirling and swirling.
[applause]
[upbeat music]
♪ ♪
- That's risky.
- Whoo!
[applause]
♪ ♪
- And a little glitter to glisten your night.
- [laughs]
[applause]
♪ ♪
- Beautiful!
- Oh, nice.
- Salty and sweet peanut decadence.
We just want to say thank you all so much
For coming to a immersive and culinary experience,
And we hope you all enjoy the show!
[applause, laughter]
Bye.
- Bye.
♪ ♪
- Wow. - Thank you guys.
Amazing. - Okay.
This is the semifinal.
And sadly, only three will advance to the finale.
So let's talk about lan and that dessert.
Was it the spectacle that you expected in vegas?
- I was mind-blown. I loved the dessert.
I loved the show. It all felt connected.
- It's all about vegas--
Edgy, sexy, fun.
- Let's talk about chris and the drink course.
- I thought he did a wonderful job
Of tying the green fairy
To the presentation of the cocktail.
- One of the issues with the drinks
Are that they came out a little late.
I kind of felt myself--that I was waiting a little bit.
- Ashley and the appetizer course.
Do you understand the juggling?
Did it relate to what was on the plate?
- I think there could have been a better attempt
At connecting the two.
- The jugglers were great,
But they had nothing to do with the plate...
- No.
- That was put before us.
I think she totally missed an opportunity.
- Uh, caroline and the entrée course--
That prime dry-aged rib eye.
- I think incorporating the steak on the stage
With the sword was exciting.
- What did you think of caroline's performance?
- She handled that beautifully.
- Yeah. - She was a part of the act.
- Yeah. Thank you, guys.
Cheers to good health.
[indistinct chatter]
♪ ♪
- Good job, guys. Honestly, good job.
That was teamwork and a lot of individual.
I'm done.
I made it to the semifinals.
I am in it to win it.
And you know what?
I'll see you in the finale.
- Yay. We did it.
- Yes, we did.
- It's a win-or-break situation.
I have to win this challenge.
There is no way in hell's kitchen
That I am going home tomorrow.
- Vegas, baby.
I came here to win, even if that comes with
A little side of attitude.
- This is the last challenge. - This is the last challenge.
- Oh.
- Let's see who makes the final.
That performance was one of the hardest things
I've ever done in my life.
This is gonna decide who's gonna be in the finale.
And I want to be in the finale.
- Challenge finished, it's time to head back to la,
Where tomorrow I'll reveal the results.
[dramatic music]
♪ ♪
- Thank you.
- [sighs]
- That was the hardest challenge
I think that we've done.
- Definitely, without a doubt.
- Oh, hands down. Yeah.
[suspenseful music]
- Chris, ashley, caroline, lan, welcome back to los angeles.
This week, I asked you to work as a team of four
To then put on an exclusive preview
Of a spectacular culinary circus,
One of a kind. - Mm-hmm.
- This challenge was about creativity.
I asked you to create something
That would really stimulate all the senses
And, most importantly, a performance
That needed to impress my very special guests.
None of you were perfect. - Mm-hmm.
- But let's make one thing clear.
I got great feedback from the panel.
But now, whilst there's four of you
In front of me tonight,
I'm only taking three of you into the finale.
That means, unfortunately,
One of you will be leaving tonight.
There's a quarter of a million dollars at stake.
So tonight I'll be grilling all four of you.
I'll see you in the restaurant.
- [sighs]
♪ ♪
- Ashley, sit down, please.
Caroline, sit down, please.
Lan, sit down, please.
Chris, this whole idea was about creativity.
Tell me how you think your act went.
- It was no easy task.
I...[sighs]
I had to figure out how to make the performance
Larger than life and set the rhythm and the tone
For the rest of the dinner performance.
- How did you feel your act and dish
Blended in to the whole show?
- I think that the juggling act was the perfect fit
For the beef tartare,
Because in business,
You have to learn to juggle multiple things.
- What was your strategy to stand out as an individual?
- I took a risk
To bring something innovative and creative to the table
For your guys's entertainment.
- Mm-hmm. - You know?
Sometimes you have to take risks.
- I went into the challenge knowing exactly what I wanted,
And I got what I wanted.
I understand that this is the semifinals.
And I felt confident with what I put forward.
- You shot yourself in the foot.
Because after that descent, once you saw the fairy...
[snaps] you're done.
- By picking the green fairy,
I put more on my plate to make it work.
And just like in business,
You know, something doesn't work,
I always figure out a way to make it work.
- Your timing and coordination of service was way off.
Why?
- I was really relying on ashley and lan
To deliver those drinks on time, to bring that in.
- What happened there?
- The smoke did take a lot longer than expected.
Lan was also in charge of putting the ice into the cups.
- At the end of the day, it really came down to
How long it took to put the smoke in the box.
But you know, we--
I tried my best to get it out there.
- Day one, do you understand
The line between suggesting things
And steamrolling?
- I went the extra mile
For every single person there.
Ashley's performance could have been
At a child's birthday party
Rather than a vegas performance.
- I was really excited about your plan.
- Mm-hmm. - Beef tartare
Is one of the most creative dishes ever.
What I was hoping to see
Was more theater from the jugglers.
Why not crack the eggs at the end
And put a yolk on top of our tartare?
- Sure. - Did you not see that?
- I see. Now I see it
As you're, I guess, telling me.
♪ ♪
- After your performance... - Mm.
- What was going on behind the scenes?
My panel could hear this over-spewing.
In business, that's unprofessional.
Why was it necessary for you to vent like that?
- Chris didn't get the food out by the second act.
He said he was waiting for a line that I didn't say.
- What was the cue?
- The cue was a line that started
With "insatiable hunger."
- Yes.
- And that cue never came.
- So just so I'm clear...
- Mm-hmm. - Did you forget that line?
- I don't know that I forgot the line.
I--I believe that I said every line
That I was supposed to say.
- You closed up your act... - Mm-hmm.
- And then you announce to the table,
"I hope I can bring home the win."
♪ ♪
- I don't--um,
I didn't mean anything by it, but--
- That's how it came across. - Sure.
- We are moments away from entering the finale.
Tell me why you think you deserve a spot in there.
- I'm the only person in this challenge
That handled seven people:
Three supporting casts and four performers.
I was on beat and I executed, ultimately.
- When it came to pulling out risks and creativity,
I feel like I did the best.
♪ ♪
- I know that this was not my strength, being in vegas.
But I am still willing to give 100% of what I can
At every task that's given to me.
- I made it work the best that it could possibly work.
No matter what I feel or what obstacles are in front of me,
I will finish what I have said I'm going to do.
- Chris, thank you.
Ashley, thank you.
Thank you, lan.
- Thank you.
- Caroline, thank you.
♪ ♪
[suspenseful music]
♪ ♪
We started this incredible journey with 15,
And now we're down to the final four.
But after considering all the feedback
From my esteemed guests,
I've had to make a very difficult decision
To choose my final three.
The first person entering the finale,
Congratulations goes to...
[suspenseful music]
♪ ♪
- The first person entering the finale,
Congratulations goes to...
♪ ♪
Lan.
Young lady, you had the ultimate showstopper.
And my panel unanimously said that your dessert course
Was the favorite of the show.
Congratulations.
- Thank you.
- The next person going to the finale,
Congratulations goes to...
♪ ♪
Chris.
You opened the show,
And you had to deal with some missteps.
But the panel agreed that your drink course
Really set up the entire show beautifully.
Congratulations.
- Thank you.
♪ ♪
- This next decision has been the most difficult
I've had to make all season long.
♪ ♪
The final person heading to the finale,
Congratulations...
♪ ♪
[sighs]
♪ ♪
Caroline.
♪ ♪
Young lady, listen carefully.
The panel made it clear
That you tied your dish and the artists together
Very well. - Thank you.
- I'll be honest, your methods may have been
Somewhat unorthodox, but I cannot argue
With the results or my panel.
Ashley, I am so sorry, and here's why.
It's evident that you are a very strong businesswoman.
You have great skills in management and operations.
But in this challenge,
I needed to see more of your creative side.
And honestly, I was so excited
When you told me the theatrical insights
Across your rehearsal.
But when it came to the final performance,
I was very surprised to see that you oversimplified that.
And if there's ever a time
That I never want you to play it safe,
It was there.
For those reasons, unfortunately,
I will not be investing in you.
We're done.
I know you'll go far.
And that incredible product, happy grub,
What it stands for, where it's going,
I know this is only the beginning
Even without my investment.
- Thank you. - Thank you.
- Mm-hmm.
- I wish you the very best of luck.
- Okay. Thank you.
♪ ♪
- Unfortunately, ashley was a weak link in that chain.
She dialed back the creativity
And the theatrics at the wrong time.
And in this competition, timing is everything.
♪ ♪
- Hmm.
♪ ♪
I am not supposed to go home.
I am supposed to be here.
You have to know when there is a diamond in the rough,
And I was that diamond.
But unfortunately, gordon couldn't see it.
- I love you.
- Love you too.
[sniffles]
It was the wrong decision.
- [exhales sharply]
I'm in the finale.
This is what I've been working for.
This is what I wanted.
One more challenge,
And gordon's investment is mine.
- Bye, caroline. - Bye.
- I'm on top of the world right now.
I'm really proud of myself, you know?
And this dream is no longer a dream, right?
It's a reality.
- Do it for all the women out there, and the dads.
[chuckles]
♪ ♪
- Whoo! Ah!
Congratulations, guys.
Be professional, caroline.
I'm so excited that I'm going to the finale.
I am one challenge away from gordon ramsay's investment.
And I know that I've worked so hard for this
And that I deserve to be here.
- In next week's finale...
- Top three, guys.
- Whoa.
- This week, I'm asking each of you
To take a leap of faith.
- Oh. - [gasps]
- Bring the future.
- Welcome to my pizza girl pop-up.
- This opportunity is life-changing.
The win is so close now.
Um...
- Are you okay?
- Oh, my god.
- I have a very tough decision to make.
The person who I'll be investing in is...