It’s time to use their noodle — or go home.
With the competition down to seven chefs on Next Level Chef, the margin for error is shrinking fast. In this week’s “Use Your Noodle” episode, Gordon Ramsay, Nyesha Arrington, and Richard Blais challenge the remaining cooks to take on a global staple, pushing them to balance tradition with creativity in a dish that stands out.
The Time Token also returns, raising the stakes as the chefs fight to stay in the game. With another elimination looming, one wrong move in the kitchen could send a contender packing. Read on for our full recap of the “Use Your Noodle” episode airing Thursday, April 23 on Fox.
The Teams
Below are the 15 contestants drafted to compete this season, with previously eliminated chefs crossed out.
| Name | Age | Hometown | Chef Category | Team |
| Connor | 30 | Manhattan Beach, Calif. | Pro Chef | Arrington |
| Danielle | 43 | Puyallup, Wash. | Home Chef | Arrington |
| Christian | 35 | Austin, Texas | Social Media Chef | Blais |
| Darian | 34 | Buffalo, N.Y. | Pro Chef | Blais |
| Andy | 37 | Malibu, Calif. | Social Media Chef | Ramsay |
| Cole | 31 | Los Angeles | Pro Chef | Ramsay |
| Gabrielle | 34 | Palm Beach, Fla. | Pro Chef | Ramsay |
The Challenge
This week, the chefs take on one of the oldest and most beloved foods in the world: noodles.
In the “Use Your Noodle” challenge, the remaining contestants must create a Next Level dish that honors tradition while elevating the humble staple, pairing it with a standout protein as the centerpiece. They have just 30 minutes to bring their vision to life.
There’s also a major advantage on the line. The chef behind the top dish will not only earn a spot in the Top Level kitchen next week, but also claim the coveted Time Token — which can be used to add a 10-second head start to their grab or take 10 seconds away from a competitor.
Based on last week’s results, Andy and Gabrielle start in the Top Kitchen. Christian, Darian, and Connor cook in the Middle, while Cole and Danielle are left to fight their way out of the Basement.
“We’re all homies — but when that clock starts, you don’t know me.”
As the competition gets more cutthroat, Christian makes it clear he’s done playing nice.
Listening closely as Connor and Darian talk through their ideas, he seizes the opportunity to throw them off their game. After hearing Darian say he wants to cook duck, Christian jumps in at the platform and grabs it first. “I’ll do whatever it takes to win,” he says. “We’re all homies, but when that clock starts, you don’t know me.”
Darian isn’t thrilled. “Oh, OK — that’s what we’re doing now?” he fires back. “I want duck, so you want duck all of a sudden.”
Down in the Basement, things aren’t much easier. Cole is left working with hot dogs as her protein, while Danielle pulls cow tongue. “This is all my nightmares come true,” Danielle says. “I see that tongue staring me down.”
Top dish
Cole pulls off one of the biggest surprises of the season.
Working out of the Basement, she transforms hot dogs into a bold curry noodle dish that completely wins over the judges, earning her the top spot. The victory sends her to the Top Level kitchen next week and secures the coveted Time Token advantage. “Turning a $2 hot dog into something valued at $15 is exceptional,” Gordon tells her.
Joining her at the top is Darian, whose spicy black cod over Peruvian-inspired noodles delivers both visually and on the plate. After his earlier clash with Christian at the platform, the strong showing puts him right back in control of his game.
Cook-off
At the other end of the spectrum, Danielle, Andy, and Christian land in the bottom three, sending them into the Elimination Cook-off.
After working with noodles in the main challenge, the chefs must now pivot completely — creating a Next Level entrée with no starch at all and letting their proteins take center stage.
Elimination
Christian plates a seared pork chop with broccoli salsa verde, roasted cauliflower steak, and a champagne applesauce. The dish largely works, with Nyesha praising how the sauce complements the pork, though Gordon notes the salsa verde puree has an off-putting grainy texture.
Andy delivers a crispy-skin cod with coconut curry and vegetables that immediately stands out. The judges love the presentation, with Gordon highlighting the heat and Nyesha calling the sauce vibrant and well-executed.
Danielle opts for a pan-seared scallop with spinach-onion soubise and a crab-apple-dill salad. While the scallops are cooked beautifully, the soubise falls short, with Nyesha pointing out its floury texture.
In the end, it’s Danielle who is sent home, marking the end of the road for the last remaining home chef in the competition.
Next time
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