Tonight’s episode was basically laying the ground work for Bonnie and Rock to face off for the final dinner service competition next week. Hell’s Kitchen was split in two. Each of the chefs was given half of the restaurant to run as their own from decorating to the menu they had to do it all themselves. Well mostly. The chefs got to meet with a designer to help them decorate their restaurant, had Jean-Phillipe help them design the uniforms for the wait staff, and had sous-chefs Scott and Maryann help them develop their menus.

Rock and Bonnie could not have been more different in what they wanted. Rock wants things very traditional and uniform while Boonie wanted and eclectic European feel to her restaurant. Bonnie wanted her wait staff all in black. Fortunately Jean-Phillipe talked Rock out of Jeans for his staff. Finally, Bonnie had some definite ideas on her menu and with Maryann’s help it seemed to come together pretty quickly. Rock was struggling to come up with his menu. Considering this is his dream he really seemed unprepared.

With less than 32 hours until their restaurants opened, Chef Ramsay took Rock and Bonnie to Las Vegas to see the Green Valley Ranch Resort where the winner would get to run their own restaurant. On the flight Chef Ramsay had time to grill the two of them on their experience and their thoughts on the final competition. At the resort they were introduced to crowd of guests who cheered the final two. This was when Chef Ramsay dropped the bomb. For the final challenge each of the finalists had 30 minutes to prepare their signature dish. Rock and Bonnie’s dishes would then be judged by 7 of the top chefs in Las Vegas: the executive chef from the MGM, the executive chef from the Caesar’s Palace, the executive chef from the Michael Mina Group, Robin Leach former host of Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous, Michael Wray the winner of 1st Hell’s Kitchen, Heather West the winner of Hell’s Kitchen Season 2, and finally the GM and the executive chef of the Green Valley Ranch and Resort.

Rock prepared his fried chicken and crab cakes while Bonnie served up her shrimp and lobster pasta. The challenge of course came down to the final pair of judges. They selected Bonnie’s shrimp and lobster pasta as the winner. This win gave Bonnie a huge boost of confidence. Afterwards, Chef Ramsay invited both of the finalists to come to NYC, spend a few days in the city, and eat at his restaurant After London.

The morning of the final dinner service, the last 6 chefs eliminated from Hell’s Kitchen returned: Julia, Jen, Melissa, Brad, Josh, and Vinnie. As the reunited chefs were hanging out together in the dorm, Julia broke down in tears. She was upset because she had come so close and really thought she was going to win. After Chef Ramsay called them all down to the kitchen the chefs were divided up again into teams. As her reward for winning the final challenge Bonnie was allowed to chose who would be on her team first. She of course chose Jen. In the end I don’t think it mattered who got to select first because the teams broke down along the sexes again.

Bonnie’s team: Jen, Melissa, Julia
Rock’s Team: Brad, Vinnie, Josh

It turned out to be the girls versus the guys again. No one really wanted Julia because of her emotional breakdown. Julia said in her interview that she was actually rooting for Rock to win. I really think Rock is going to win. I can’t help but think that FOX just edited the tape to make Rock look disorganized.

Well the stage is set for the final showdown. Next week we’ll see who wins their very own restaurant and who ends up just being the first loser.

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