Hell's Kitchen, Season 2 Episode 8, Recap 7/31

31-July-2006Written by BuddyTV Staff Columnist

The chefs are charged with preparing lunch for 100 construction workers. Virginia wins the challenge while the rest of the chefs must shuck the meat off live crabs. At dinner Virginia's errors nearly cost the team a complete service and Chef Gordon Ramsey stripes her of her immunity. But at elimination Ramsay allows Virginia to decide who goes home. She chooses to stay, eliminating Sara instead.

The final four meet with Chef Ramsay, who explains for the next challenge each chef will get his or her own restaurant and face off to see who the strongest chef really is. He also mentions the winner of this challenge will receive immunity and a pass to the final three. The chefs are led to a construction site with four catering trucks parked outside. Their job is to prepare lunch for the construction workers who will help determine the winner.

Back at HELL'S KITCHEN, Ramsay reveals the results. The construction workers voted Virginia's sandwiches as their favorite, giving her passage to the final three, while the others must shuck the meat off live crabs.

As the chefs prepare for the night's service, Chef Ramsay informs them that top chefs David Myers, Josie Le Balch and Michael Mina, will be attending dinner. HELL'S KITCHEN opens and the chefs get off to a strong start, pushing out the appetizers in record time. The top chefs arrive and things start to unravel. Sara informs Chef Ramsay she's run out of salmon, while Virginia's problems continue to plague the kitchen; she burns a cabbage, which slows down Sara and Heather's entrees. Incensed, Ramsay stripes her of her immunity.

Despite all the problems, the chefs complete their service. Ramsay tells Heather to choose two chefs for elimination. Back at the dorms, Virginia confides in Heather and tells her she doesn't think she's ready to open a restaurant and she wants to go home.

At elimination, Heather nominates Virginia and Sara. Virginia begins to go into one of her trademark rants questioning whether she deserves to be here anymore. Ramsay respects her honesty, telling Virginia if she wants to retain her immunity she can, essentially leaving Sara's elimination up to her. Virginia decides she wants to stay and Ramsay asks for Sara's jacket.